How Amazon hires for hourly jobs
- Choose a job, schedule and location, then click Apply.
- Create an account (email plus a six-number PIN) and verify it.
- Complete the online application. There is a three-hour time limit. Some job types include a brief assessment.
- Accept a contingent job offer (contingent on the background check).
- Complete background check consent forms.
- Schedule an in-person pre-hire appointment, where you complete a drug test if applicable and Form I-9.
- Submit the application.
- Attend the pre-hire appointment with proof of identity and work eligibility. It is unpaid.
- Check the contingent offer status (background check and drug test results), accept the formal offer, order safety shoes, set up the A to Z app, then start Day 1.
| Amazon | |
|---|---|
| Interview | No interview for most hourly roles. Delivery driver roles require an interview. |
| Assessment | Some job types ask for a brief assessment during the application. The warehouse jobs page lists 'Work assessment' as step 2. |
| How long it takes | The hiring process page says the application usually takes about twenty minutes; the FAQ says about an hour including shift choice and appointment scheduling. The application must be finished within 3 hours. Amazon does not say how long it takes from applying to your first day. |
| Pay | Published September 16, 2026: minimum starting pay for U.S. full-time core operations roles rises to $20/hour, average pay nearly $24/hour. hiring.amazon.com banner: hourly rates for seasonal and regular warehouse associates increase effective Sep 27, 2026. |
| Background check | Yes. The job offer is contingent on a background check, which you consent to during the application. |
| Drug test | Drug test at the pre-hire appointment if applicable to the role. Results are checked before the formal offer. |
From Amazon's own careers pages (hiring.amazon.com, www.aboutamazon.com), checked 2026-10-20.
Questions to practice for an Amazon job
Amazon's hourly hiring site does not list interview questions. If your role does interview (for example, delivery driver), practice these common questions out loud:
- Tell me about yourself and why you want to work here.
- Tell me about a time you helped a customer who was upset. What did you do?
- How do you keep up on a busy shift with a lot to do?
- What would you do if you saw a coworker skip a safety rule?
- Tell me about a time you worked as part of a team to get something done.
- What hours and days can you work?
Answer each with a short, true example: what happened, what you did, and how it turned out.
Apply to Amazon
Apply on Amazon's careers site.
Applying to more than one employer? See openings near you and get your resume written for each one.
Want to practice the interview out loud first? Use the practice box at the top of this page; your first answer is free.