Amazon is upping its minimum hourly wage for operations workers — and offering employees a new Whole Foods discount

Amazon said it raised its minimum pay for core operations workers and added grocery discounts to their benefits.

John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Amazon raised its minimum pay for workers at its warehouses and other core operations facilities.

Employees will also now get a 20% discount at Whole Foods stores.

Amazon has spent years building its grocery business.

Now, it's benefiting employees.

Amazon is upping its minimum pay for core operations workers to $20 an hour and giving all US workers new grocery discounts.

The $1-an-hour raise applies to full-time employees, many of whom work in Amazon's warehouses picking, packing, and sorting orders.

Amazon's average hourly wage is now about $24, the company said on Wednesday.

The company is also adding new benefits for all US Amazon employees, including a 20% discount on in-store purchases at Whole Foods stores.

The discount applies to groceries as well as the chain's hot bar and salad bar.

Employees will also get a 10% discount on eligible fresh groceries and essential items ordered on Amazon.com.

Both discounts take effect on October 1.

Amazon has grown its delivery network for fresh groceries over the past decade to compete with Walmart and other grocers.

The e-commerce giant bought Whole Foods in 2017.