Amazon raises minimum wage to $20

(CNN)– Amazon is raising its minimum starting pay for U.S. full-time core operations workers to $20 an hour.

The company says the one-dollar-an-hour increase brings average hourly pay for those employees to nearly $24.

Amazon is also adding new benefits aimed at helping workers stretch their paychecks.

Starting October 1st, U.S. employees will get discounts on eligible groceries and everyday essentials through Amazon and Whole Foods.

The company is also rolling out a banking benefit through First Tech Federal Credit Union offering services including no overdraft fees and no account minimums.