Amazon Is Hiring 300,000 for the Holidays: What It Means for Bakersfield Jobs

BAKERSFIELD, CA — Amazon said Tuesday it will hire more than 300,000 people across its U.S. operations network for the holiday season, its biggest seasonal push in years, with seasonal pay averaging $20 an hour. For Kern County, where the Shafter and Highway 99 freight corridor carries a big share of the region's jobs, it is the clearest seasonal hiring signal of the fall. The catch: Amazon has not said how many of those jobs are in Kern.

Amazon's 2026 holiday hiring is open now, with new roles posted weekly through December. Seasonal workers average $20 an hour, and those working 30 hours a week qualify for health coverage starting January 1, 2027.

Need work now? Skip straight to the Kern County warehouse job links →

📍 At a Glance

Employer	Amazon, U.S. core operations network
Announced	Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Hiring nationwide	More than 300,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time roles
Seasonal pay	Average of $20 an hour
Full-time pay	$20 an hour minimum start, averaging nearly $24
Seasonal health care	At 30+ hours a week, coverage from January 1, 2027
Where to apply	amazon.com/localjobs, or text NEWJOB to 31432 for alerts
Kern County headcount	Not announced

💵 What Amazon Holiday Jobs Pay This Year

According to Amazon's announcement, seasonal employees will average $20 an hour nationally. Full-time operations workers start at a $20 minimum and average close to $24, and Amazon puts total compensation including benefits at more than $32 an hour.

Those are national figures. Amazon did not publish a Kern County rate, so read the pay on the actual listing. For context, California's statewide minimum is $16.90 this year and rises to $17.40 on January 1.

The bigger change is health care. Seasonal workers who put in at least 30 hours a week get coverage beginning January 1, 2027, with plans starting at $5 a week and $5 copays. Anyone hired on or after that date is covered from day one. "It's rare for companies in our industry to offer healthcare starting on the first day on the job," said J. Ofori Agboka, Amazon's vice president of people experience and technology for global operations.

Where Amazon Hires in Kern County

Amazon has been in Kern for years. Its first local fulfillment center is in Bakersfield, and in 2021 it announced a second, a softlines building in Shafter topping a million square feet for apparel, shoes and accessories, with more than 1,000 jobs planned at the time. Seasonal work typically means picking, packing and sorting, often on nights and weekends.

Amazon is not the only name in the mix. UPS has separately announced more than 100,000 seasonal hires nationwide, Macy's holds its walk-in holiday hiring day at Valley Plaza on Ming Avenue this Thursday, and Ross Stores is planning a large distribution center in southeast Bakersfield for the longer run.

⚠️ Read This Before You Apply

No local headcount. Amazon has not said how many of the 300,000 roles are in Bakersfield or Shafter. Do not count on a set number of openings.
Apply online. Postings go up weekly through December, so check more than once.
Health care has an hours line. The coverage applies at 30 or more hours a week. Part-time seasonal shifts below that do not qualify.
Seasonal means seasonal. Amazon says seasonal roles can lead to full-time jobs, but that is an opportunity, not a promise.

🔎 Start Searching Kern County Warehouse Jobs

Seasonal warehouse work goes fast. Line up a few options now so you are not waiting on one employer.

Start here:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Amazon hiring in Bakersfield for the 2026 holidays?

Amazon announced more than 300,000 U.S. holiday hires on October 20 and posts new roles weekly through December. It has not released a Bakersfield or Kern County number, so check local listings directly.

How much do Amazon seasonal jobs pay?

Amazon says seasonal workers average $20 an hour nationally. Pay at a specific Kern County site is shown on each posting.

Do Amazon seasonal workers get health insurance?

Yes, if they work at least 30 hours a week. Coverage starts January 1, 2027, with plans from $5 a week.

How do I apply for Amazon holiday jobs?

Apply at amazon.com/localjobs, or text NEWJOB to 31432 for job alerts.

Get Ahead of the Holiday Rush

The best seasonal shifts go to the people who apply in the first wave. Create your free LocalJobPage profile to get alerts for new Kern County openings, and explore the Career Center for longer-term paths.

Employers: staffing up for peak season in Bakersfield or Shafter? Post your openings on LocalJobPage Bakersfield and reach local candidates who are already searching.