Grocery delivery is booming in the United States.
As it proves to be an essential service for 21st century consumers, Amazon is doubling down on its position as one of the top two leaders in the industry.
But in order for Amazon Prime Now — Amazon’s main grocery delivery service — to function, the online retail giant needs Amazon Whole Foods Shoppers working on the ground.
Just like Instacart and Shipt Shoppers, Amazon Prime Now Shoppers work within grocery stores (specifically, Whole Foods Markets) to compile all the items that customers order.
The biggest difference is, you’ll always be working behind the scenes — no delivery needed — so you don’t even need a car to get started.
Once you’re in the role, you can focus on the grocery shopping instead of scrambling to get from one part of the city to another by a deadline, and still get paid well for doing so.
We’ll take you through all the must-knows about becoming an Amazon Whole Foods Shopper in this article.
How To Apply To Be an Amazon Whole Foods Shopper
Amazon almost always has open positions for Amazon Prime Now Shopper roles.
If the easy job description already appeals to you, you can head straight to the Amazon job portal to find opportunities near you.
When you find a position you’re interested in, just tap on the listing and scroll down to select “Apply Now.”
From there, you’ll just have to follow the prompts to complete a short assessment, provide basic documents to confirm you qualify, and schedule an in-person appointment to become a team member.
You could start in as little as seven days.
Not totally gung-ho about the position quite yet?
Keep reading to learn about what it takes and what the role entails, so you know why so many job seekers are flocking to this opportunity.
Amazon Whole Foods Shopper Requirements
The majority of people will qualify for the Amazon Whole Foods Shopper role.
It has bare-minimum requirements that are easy to meet.
To qualify, you simply must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent diploma
- Be able to read and speak English
- Pass a drug test
You also need to be located in an area that offers Prime Now, such as Austin, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and Seattle.
You can find out if you live in a serviced market by heading to primenow.amazon.com and entering your ZIP code.
Prime Now is available throughout the U.S. and in a handful of international cities.
Amazon recommends for shopper team members to be familiar with mobile tech to take on this role, but you don’t actually need to own your own smartphone to land the job.
In-store shopper gigs are available as part-time and full-time positions in most markets.
Only shoppers in full-time roles are required to select a set schedule — though shifts are available early mornings, evenings, and weekends in addition to standard work hours — while part-time workers get the perk of super flexible hours.
The part-time role allows you to work up to 20 hours per week, and you only need to work at least one four- or five-hour shift per month.
No previous work experience is required, so if you meet these basic qualifications, are able and willing to stay on your feet throughout the day, and have spare time to commit to the role, this may be a good fit for you.
Amazon Whole Foods Shopper Role
So what happens when you’re actually on the field? During your shift, you’ll use an Amazon-provided smart device that will provide all the information you need to do your job well.
Not only will it tell you what you need to pack in each grocery order, but it will also help you select the products of the best quality.
Using your device as your guide, you’ll simply walk around your assigned Whole Foods store to pick up requested items.
Since you’re working in a Whole Foods store that’s owned by Amazon, you won’t even have to deal with long checkout lines once you’re done shopping — just package your order and you’re all set.
Once an item is packaged, an Amazon driver will take care of the actual delivery.
You can stay comfortable in your familiar store setting, while still being an essential part of Amazon’s amazing same-day delivery services.
This makes it a flexible alternative to the many driving-heavy roles you see in the gig economy these days, like ridesharing or food delivery.
Getting Paid as an Amazon Whole Foods Shopper
Amazon boasts competitive wages for all its shoppers.
While offers can vary by market, Amazon Prime Now Shoppers can depend on making at least $15 per hour — which is the company’s own minimum wage — though you can make over $22 per hour in some markets.
Shoppers get paychecks weekly via direct deposit for completed shifts.
What makes these earnings even better is the fact that you’ll be an actual employee of Amazon, rather than an independent contractor (as you’d be with Instacart or Shipt).
This means you won’t have to pay self-employment taxes and you could qualify for benefits.
Most employees qualify for employee discounts and 401(k) savings plans, while full-time employees can access great healthcare benefits.
Being an employee also means that you may get opportunities for promotion, so becoming an Amazon Whole Foods Shopper could actually be a great path toward a better, higher-paying job in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Amazon grocery shopping gigs are an essential part of the Prime Now delivery service, and they’re available throughout the year.
To learn more about this earning opportunity, read our answers to these frequently asked questions:
Does Amazon Fresh offer in-store shopping gigs?
Amazon Fresh — the retailer’s other grocery delivery service — does not offer in-store shopping jobs because it doesn’t exclusively offer Whole Foods products.
However, in markets where the service is available, you can apply to be an Amazon Fresh warehouse team member, which similarly requires you to compile and package requested items for customer orders.
Does Amazon Prime Now offer any shopper jobs outside of Whole Foods Markets?
Some Amazon Prime Now Shoppers work at different grocery stores, so if Amazon has partnerships with other businesses in your area, you may be able to work at those locations.
However, Amazon Whole Foods Shopper gigs are by far the most common opportunities.
Some markets offer Amazon Prime Now warehouse jobs as an alternative to in-store shopping job opportunities.
In this role, you’ll pack grocery orders from an Amazon warehouse, instead of from a Whole Foods Market.
The general job requirements and pay rates for this role are usually the same as for shoppers.
Can I get an Amazon Prime Now delivery gig instead of a shopping gig?
If driving is more your style than working in the same building all day, you can deliver for Prime Now through the Amazon Flex independent contractor program.
This program allows you to use your own car to pick up prepared customer orders, then deliver them straight to people’s doorsteps.
Through this program, you can usually claim available shifts from early morning to 10 p.m. whenever it works with your schedule.
Prime Now opportunities are usually two- or four-hour shifts, but you can also choose from other delivery types (like Amazon.com package delivery and Amazon Fresh delivery), which may offer longer or shorter shifts.
Become an Essential Grocery Delivery Worker
The Amazon Prime Now service is helping thousands of Prime members around the world access groceries, as well as electronics and other critical supplies.
As an Amazon Whole Foods Shopper, you have the opportunity to make money while being a key part of a one- or two-hour delivery process that’s high in demand today.
The role is a perfect fit for anyone who loves grocery shopping for just about anything and knows their way around a mobile device.
If you want to consider delivering for Amazon (and working on your own schedule) before you apply to shop, read our guide on how to apply to Amazon Flex, so you get all the information you need to compare your choices.
