Amazon.com Inc.

06/19/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/19/2026 10:55

5 ways Amazon is investing in Washington

Key takeaways

  • Amazon has invested more than $400 billion in Washington and contributed over $380 billion to the state's economy.
  • The company had more than 95,000 full- and part-time employees and supported more than 250,000 indirect jobs in 2025.
  • Amazon's Puget Sound headquarters supports 80,000 employees in the region.
  • Amazon partners with 21 educational institutions in Washington through its Career Choice program and has upskilled over 3,000 employees since 2019.
  • More than 455 million items were sold by Washington-based independent sellers through Amazon's store.
For more than 30 years, Amazon has been investing across the United States, strengthening local economies, and creating opportunities for communities nationwide. Washington is a prime example of this commitment, with Amazon building a substantial presence in the state since its founding here in 1994.
Today, the Evergreen State serves as Amazon's home base and a thriving innovation and logistics hub, with investments spanning corporate headquarters and fulfillment centers to Whole Foods Market locations and pharmacy operations. The company's economic impact extends beyond direct employment, supporting hundreds of thousands of additional jobs in construction, logistics, and professional services, and helping local businesses reach customers around the world.

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Here are five ways Amazon is investing in Washington.

1. Investing in our employees

Amazon provides competitive wages and comprehensive benefits from Day 1. Operations employees in customer fulfillment and transportation earn an average hourly base wage of more than $23, with total compensation averaging more than $30 an hour when including benefits. These benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance starting on Day 1, free mental health resources, up to 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave, a 401(k) with 50% company match, and flexible time-off options that increase with tenure.

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Beyond more than 95,000 direct jobs, Amazon's presence in Washington supports approximately 250,000 indirect jobs in industries such as construction, logistics, and professional services-suppliers and partners whom we rely on every day.

2. Supporting workforce development and upskilling

Amazon is committed to preparing its workforce for future opportunities through comprehensive education and skills training programs. Since 2019, more than 3,000 Washington employees have participated in these free initiatives.
Amazon's satellite technician certification is available to eligible Amazon hourly employees via Career Choice and members of the general public through Lake Washington Institute of Technology.
In Washington, Amazon partners with 21 educational institutions through its Career Choice program, which pre-pays 100% of tuition for employees pursuing further education. These partnerships with colleges and universities across the state help Amazon employees gain in-demand skills that can propel them into new careers. From Machine Learning University to Career Choice, these programs represent Amazon's investment in developing talent and creating pathways to opportunity for its workforce.

3. Building infrastructure across the Evergreen State

Since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $400 billion in Washington's infrastructure and employee compensation, contributing more than $380 billion to the state's gross domestic product.
Robots moving yellow pods inside the Amazon's Robotics research facility in Sumner, Washington.
These investments include 16 fulfillment and sortation centers, 16 delivery stations, five rural delivery stations, three Prime Now fulfillment centers, a pharmacy location, and other facilities across the state. The company has also expanded its retail footprint with 10 Whole Foods Market locations across Washington.

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4. Empowering Washington's small businesses

Amazon provides a powerful opportunity for Washington's entrepreneurs and small businesses to reach customers worldwide. Washington-based independent sellers-primarily small and medium-sized businesses-sold more than 455 million items through Amazon's store, with the average seller generating more than $555,000 in annual sales.
These independent sellers represent more than 60% of sales in Amazon's store. Their success contributes significantly to local economies, with more than 65% of U.S. independent sellers employing at least one person within 50 miles of their primary business location. By providing infrastructure, logistics support, and access to millions of customers, Amazon enables Washington's small businesses to scale their operations and create additional jobs throughout the state.

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5. Investing as a good neighbor

An Amazon volunteer checks inventory of humanitarian aid supplies in a Disaster Relief Hub.
Amazon uses its global scale and strengths to make a positive impact in communities. Working with trusted community partners, we address critical needs-food security, education, disaster relief-using our logistics, technology, and innovation, while investing as a good neighbor in the communities where our employees live and work. In Washington, Amazon donated more than $47 million to over 300 local community organizations in 2025.

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In addition, Amazon delivered more than 3 million meals on behalf of food banks across the state and contributed more than 60,000 disaster relief items to communities in need. The company has reached more than 30,000 students and 1,000 teachers through education programs and supported more than 400,000 computer science learning hours. More than 10,000 Amazon employees have volunteered in communities across Washington.
Read more about how Amazon is investing in Washington and the U.S.
Amazon.com Inc. published this content on June 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 19, 2026 at 16:55 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]