Do Amazon Hire Felons In 2024?

Amazon is currently offering a $3,000 sign on bonus for new warehouse workers. Being a warehouse worker is one of the easiest jobs for a felon to get!

Moreover, Amazon announced that it is hiring additional 100,000 workers for its 100+ warehouses in the US, to keep up with surge in online orders.


Additionally, Amazon is hiring about 30,000 new employees for development/programming, and other office jobs.

If you have a felony and are looking for a job, consider applying with one of the biggest employers in the US today – Amazon!

That’s right, Amazon does hire felons! With a conviction, your best bet is to get a job at one of hundreds of Amazon’s warehouses, which are located all across the states.

Don’t miss this opportunity to get hired and earn some money. Even if its only a temporary position, it will look great on your resume and will make it easier to get the next job. If you work hard, you may be able to become a permanent employee at Amazon.

In this guide we will review how much Amazon pays its warehouse employees, what the job requirements are, background check, etc.

[SALARY] As of 2021, Amazon has announced that a new company-wide minimum pay is $18/hr for transportation and fulfillment workers. Both are possible for people with felony convictions to get hired for.

Can a felon work at an Amazon fulfillment center?

Currently, there are over 200 associate level positions across various Amazon warehouse fulfillment centers around the US.

If you are not able to get a job at an Amazon warehouse, consider applying to Walmart or Home Depot. Both companies have a lot of warehouses all over the US and always need workers.

Overall, Amazon’s employment policy does not discriminate against individuals with felony convictions. However, your chances of getting hired will depend on the following factors:

What type of felony conviction do you have?

If you have been charged with any type of violent crimes, sex related crimes, theft and drug related crimes you will most likely not be hired.

Still, we strongly encourage you to apply regardless of what your crime is, because by applying to as many positions as possible you increase your chances of eventually getting hired.

How long have you had a criminal record?

Many states don’t allow employers to access records that are over 7 years old. Moreover, on the application itself, you will be asked if you have been convicted on a felony in the past 7 years. This means that if your charges are older than that, you have a greater chance of being hired.

Your previous work experience and how good your resume is

If you have no work experience, a good option is to volunteer at a local church or community center. Helping others will allow you to get very good recommendations and will show that you are trying hard to be a productive member of our society.

Your level of transparency

Being 100% honest about your conviction is a key factor that can determine your chances of employment. All felons that report about getting a job at an Amazon fulfillment center, share that they have been very forthcoming about their criminal past.

They volunteer and fully disclose all information both on the application and during the interview process. If you try to hide anything, you will not be offered a job.

Build rapport with the hiring manager

During the interview, make an effort to establish a personal connection with the manager and try to get him/her to empathize with your situation. If the hiring managers likes you, they will be much more willing to offer you a job, despite the felony conviction.

If you are denied employment at Amazon because of your conviction, there are hundreds of felon-friendly jobs that you can apply for. Don’t get discouraged by rejections – if you persist, you will eventually land a job.

What is an average salary for an associate at an Amazon warehouse?

Overall, the reported pay rate for a fulfillment center associate starts at $15 per hour for day shifts. For night shifts and overtime, you can get payed $16-17 per hour, depending on the center’s location.

Keep in mind that salaries will vary locally depending on where the center is located. Some states and cities have a higher standard of living (more expensive rent prices, food, gas, etc) and therefore average salaries there will be higher compared to less wealthy places.

In addition to a good salary, Amazon offers a great perk: tuition assistance. This means that you can be studying to earn a professional degree and Amazon will help you pay for some of its cost.

Job requirements

Amazon has various types of warehouses: order fulfillment centers, sorting centers, delivery stations, Prime Now Locations, College Campus Pick Up Points. Associates working in these different centers need to do different types of tasks.

These are general guidelines to give you an idea of what type of work you would need to perform as an associate at a fulfillment center. Every position and particular center may have additional requirements that you will find out about during your interview.

– Have a High School Diploma or equivalent
– Be at least 18 years old
– Read and take direction in English
– Able to lift up to 49 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation
– Able to stand/walk for up to 8 hours
– Willing and able to frequently push, pull, squat, bend, and reach
– Continuously climb and descend stairs safely (applies to sites with stairs)
– Willing and able to operate carts, dollies, hand trucks and other moving equipment to move large quantities of merchandise

Other preferred requirements include, but are not limited to:

– Possess a professional demeanor
– Be an effective verbal communicator
– Have basic ability to navigate the Internet, email and instant messenger tools
– Ability to complete multiple tasks simultaneously
– Willingness to work in fast paced team oriented environment

If you are applying for a back-end position, you will not be asked to worked with customers. You will be dealing with packages, and moving equipment.

However, if you are applying for a front-end position, such as a clerk at a Campus Pick-up point, you will also need to deal with customers. For a felon this job may be harder to get, especially depending on the nature of your conviction.

Does Amazon do a criminal background check and drug testing?

Yes, the company always does both for all of its prospective job applicants. After you have successfully passed your initial interview, you will be asked to agree to criminal background check. Once you pass it, the drug test is the last stage of the selection process. If you pass it, you will be offered employment.

Keep in mind that it may take 10-14 days for your background check results to come back and be processed. You will be notified via email whether or not you have successfully passed the background check.

Then, you will be asked without notice to come in a do a drug test. Some centers ask for a mouth swab, and others ask for a urine sample.

Keep in mind that its best to stay away from any drugs, including weed for at least two weeks prior to your potential drug test, because the active ingredients in those drugs, such as the THC in weed stay in your system for many days.

Moreover, Amazon reserves the right to administer random drug testing on the job. If the test comes back positive, your employment will most likely be terminated.

What is the best time to apply?

Amazon always has some warehouse positions open. However, they create many more seasonal jobs around the times of the holidays: September, October, November, December. Y

ou can also apply to be a delivery driver for Amazon, as these jobs also go up in demand during the holiday season.

It may be easier to get your foot in the door as a seasonal employee. If you do a good job, you have greater chances of being asked to stay in a part-time or full time permanent position.