How Amazon is investing in North Carolina

Key takeaways

Amazon has invested over $20 billion in North Carolina since 2010, including infrastructure and compensation to employees.
The company had more than 26,000 full- and part-time employees and supported more than 20,000 indirect jobs in 2025.
Amazon is investing $10 billion in data center infrastructure in Richmond County, creating hundreds of jobs and supporting critical operations.
The company donated over $10 million to 25 community organizations across North Carolina in 2025.

For more than 30 years, Amazon has been investing across the United States, strengthening local economies, and creating opportunities for communities nationwide. North Carolina is a prime example of this commitment, with Amazon building a substantial presence in the state since 2014.

Today, the Tar Heel State serves as a thriving innovation and logistics hub for Amazon, with investments spanning fulfillment centers, Whole Foods Market retail locations, data centers, wind and solar farms, and more. The company's economic impact extends beyond our 26,000 full- and part-time employees to supporting 20,000 indirect jobs and helping local businesses reach customers around the world.

Here are seven ways Amazon is investing in North Carolina.

1. Creating good, safe jobs

Amazon provides competitive wages and comprehensive benefits for most employees 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.

Amazon delivery truck being cleaned.

Since 2019, we’ve invested more than $2.5 billion in our safety efforts, including innovations, ergonomic improvements, and training programs. One of the keys to continuously improving safety year after year is our Prevention Through Design approach, which applies engineering controls to reduce or eliminate potential risks before they enter the workplace.

An anchor of our safety culture is our Safe to Go philosophy, which guides how our employees operate each day. Safe to Go encourages everyone across our operations to be proactive, and it empowers employees and leaders alike to speak up, slow down, or stop work if something doesn’t feel right.

Beyond direct jobs, Amazon's presence in North Carolina supports more than 20,000 indirect jobs in industries such as construction, logistics, and professional services.

2. Providing upskilling opportunities for operations employees

Amazon is committed to preparing its workforce for future opportunities through comprehensive education and skills training programs. Since 2019, more than 4,300 employees in North Carolina have participated in these free initiatives.

Skills-based programs offered through Career Choice are designed to provide Amazon employees with a unique path to a new career in high-demand industries.

In North Carolina, Amazon partners with 11 educational institutions through its Career Choice program, which prepays 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 operations across the Tar Heel state

Since 2010, Amazon has invested over $20 billion in North Carolina infrastructure and employee compensation, contributing over $20 billion to the state's gross domestic product.

These investments include 15 fulfillment and sortation centers, 12 delivery stations, and six rural delivery stations, among others. The company has also expanded its retail footprint with 16 Whole Foods Market locations and two Amazon Pharmacy locations across the state. Amazon continues to grow its sustainable infrastructure as well, with two solar farms and one wind farm estimated to generate enough carbon-free energy to power over 76,000 U.S. homes each year once fully operational.

4. Investing in critical infrastructure

In 2025, Amazon announced $10 billion in planned investment in cloud computing infrastructure in Richmond County, which is estimated to create 500 high-skilled jobs and support thousands across the data center supply chain. This infrastructure will support critical operations for small businesses, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and government agencies across North Carolina and beyond.

Amazon's multibillion-dollar Corning deal will create 1,000 new jobs at Corning's manufacturing facilities across North Carolina, and support hundreds of additional construction jobs to expand Corning’s facilities. Photo by Corning Incorporated.

To prepare job seekers for high-demand career pathways in the growing field of data center construction and operations, as well as the broadband expansion industry, we’ve committed support for North Carolina community colleges, technical schools, universities, and workforce development organizations to design, develop, and grow training programs and work-based learning opportunities.

Hamlet Fire Chief at an event announcing Amazon's investment in a new fire substation, trucks, and equipment for the community.

As part of our broader partnership with Richmond County, we also committed $1.5 million to the City of Hamlet Fire Department to enhance public safety services for southeastern Hamlet and surrounding communities. This includes funding for a new fire substation, two fire trucks, equipment, uniforms, and staffing costs for the first two years.

5. Building responsibly

Amazon also continues to grow its sustainable infrastructure in North Carolina, with wind and solar farms that, once fully operational, will generate enough carbon-free energy to power over 766,000 homes each year. In Richmond County, Amazon data centers won’t use water for cooling for approximately 93% of the year. During the hottest periods when water cooling is needed, Amazon prioritizes reclaimed water whenever possible.

Pine forest with tall trunks and lush green undergrowth

Amazon's North Carolina project with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a high-quality longleaf pine savanna.

As part of our efforts to become water positive by 2030, we have a project with the the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation that aims to restore and protect 20,000 acres of longleaf pine forests in the Pee Dee River basin. By bringing these forests back to health, such as by using prescribed burns to remove competing vegetation, the project will help more rainwater soak into the ground and nearby rivers—resulting in an expected 1.6 billion liters of water replenished annually.

6. Empowering North Carolina's small businesses

Amazon provides a powerful opportunity for North Carolina's entrepreneurs and small businesses to reach customers worldwide. In 2025, North Carolina-based independent sellers sold more than 65 million items through Amazon's store, with the average independent seller generating approximately $270,000 in annual sales.

These independent sellers—most of which are small and medium-sized businesses—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.

Elijah Morey and his dad, founders of Elijah's Xtreme, a hot sauce sold in the Amazon store.

North Carolina’s Elijah’s Xtreme skyrockets to success while fighting local hunger.

By providing infrastructure, logistics support, and access to millions of customers, Amazon enables North Carolina's small businesses to scale their operations and create additional jobs throughout the state.

7. Being a good neighbor

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, and housing—using our logistics, technology, and innovation, while investing as a good neighbor in the communities where our employees live and work. In 2025, Amazon donated over $10 million to 25 local community organizations across North Carolina.

Amazon partners with MANNA to hand out food supplies after Hurricane Helene in Asheville, NC.

Amazon partners with MANNA to hand out food supplies after Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina.

We used our transportation network to deliver more than 100,000 meals to local organizations tackling food insecurity and to families experiencing hunger in North Carolina. Amazon reached over 40,000 students and 2,000 teachers through education programs and supported over 600,000 computer science learning hours.

We also launched the Amazon Richmond County Community Fund, a grant program aimed at supporting initiatives focused on STEM education; sustainability and environment; economic development; future workforce development; and homelessness, hunger, health, and well-being.

Through job creation, workforce development, infrastructure investments, and small business support, Amazon continues to partner with communities throughout the Tar Heel State to build a stronger, more resilient local economy.

Read more about how Amazon is investing in North Carolina and the U.S.