Whole Foods Market is investing more than $230 million over the coming year in higher employee pay, expanded benefits and new workforce programs affecting more than 100,000 U.S. team members.
The initiative includes wage increases beginning September 28, 2026 and access to a broader set of Amazon employee benefits beginning January 1, 2027.
Whole Foods said the changes will increase the average store team member’s total compensation to more than $29 per hour when the value of elected benefits is included.
Beginning January 1, eligible full-time Whole Foods employees will be able to access Amazon health plans with options starting at $5 per week.
Those plans include access to primary care and behavioral health providers with $5 copays as well as One Medical memberships offering same-day and virtual physician visits.
Amazon said the expanded health plans generally include lower deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses than existing options.
The benefits package will also expand access to fertility and family-building care, cancer support and care navigation.
The total value of benefits available to full-time team members is expected to increase by more than 75%.
Eligible employees will also receive company-paid short- and long-term disability insurance at no cost.
Parental leave will expand to as much as 20 fully paid weeks for birthing parents and up to six weeks for supporting and adoptive parents.
The benefits expansion will also reach part-time workers.
Nearly 20,000 employees working at least 20 hours per week will become eligible for dental and vision insurance as well as free basic life insurance.
Hourly employees will also receive free Amazon Prime memberships, valued at $139 per year, access to low-cost prescriptions through Amazon Pharmacy and additional savings.
Those benefits supplement Whole Foods’ existing 20% employee discount.
Whole Foods is also changing how hourly compensation progresses over time.
Beginning September 28, every hourly store employee will receive additional compensation.
Frontline employees will move toward a more predictable annual wage increase structure based on time in their roles, replacing the previous model primarily tied to performance reviews.
The investment will increase the average store employee wage to more than $21 per hour before benefits.
Later in 2027, Whole Foods employees will gain access to Amazon Career Choice.
The program prepays tuition for college programs, skills training and professional certifications.
More than 300,000 Amazon employees have participated in Career Choice since the program launched in 2012.
Whole Foods also said it promoted more than 12,700 store team members in 2025 and expects to create thousands of additional leadership positions over the next several years.
KEY QUOTE:
“Today, I am proud to share the next step in investing in our team members: $230 million in higher pay, expanded benefits, and new programs supporting the health, families, and futures of more than 100,000 U.S. Whole Foods Market team members.”
Jason Buechel, VP of Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores and CEO of Whole Foods Market
