Amazon DSP Driver Raise 2026: What Changed, How Much, and What Comes in 2027
Yes, DSP pay went up in 2026, and Amazon has already funded another increase for 2027. Here is what was announced, what was only reported, and what it does to the cost of every minute your drivers spend sorting.
Did Amazon DSP drivers get a raise in 2026?
Yes. After Amazon's October 2025 DSP conference, industry sources reported that Amazon would raise the per-package rate it pays delivery service partners by 20% starting January 2026, along with higher minimum pay for drivers. One DSP-industry newsletter called it the largest single rate adjustment in the program's history. Amazon did not publish a per-package figure, so treat the 20% as reported rather than official.
Amazon DSP pay raise 2026: the numbers
| Item | Figure | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Per-package rate paid to DSPs | +20% from January 2026 | Reported by industry sources |
| Driver minimum hourly pay | About $20.50–$27.50, by location | Reported by industry sources |
| National average delivery associate pay (2027 target) | Nearly $24/hr, about +$1 | Amazon announcement, Sept 21, 2026 |
| Pay growth over the past three years | About 16% | Amazon announcement |
| DSP program investment for 2027 | $1.9 billion | Amazon announcement |
| Total program investment to date | $21.7 billion over eight years | Amazon announcement |
Amazon DSP pay 2027: what's coming next
On September 21, 2026, Amazon announced another $1.9 billion for the DSP program in 2027. The money covers pay and recruiting support, safety and delivery technology. Amazon said DSPs are expected to raise delivery associate pay to a national average of nearly $24 an hour, roughly $1 more than now.
The same announcement listed new tools DSPs will see: surround-view cameras on Rivian delivery vans (expected in half of them by the end of 2026), hazard alerts in the delivery app, the Wellspring AI mapping system, and smart delivery glasses, with more than 20,000 expected in the field by the end of 2027. Amazon did not say how much of the $1.9 billion goes to wages specifically.
Who actually sets your pay
Amazon funds the program, but DSPs are independent companies that employ the drivers. Each DSP sets its own pay rates, schedules and raises within Amazon's minimums. Two drivers in the same city can earn different rates if they work for different DSPs. If you want your exact number, your offer letter, pay stub or DSP manager is the only reliable source.
Do Amazon DSP drivers get raises every year?
Not automatically, but the pattern so far points that way. Amazon says average pay rose about 16% over the last three years, and the company has announced new DSP funding around its fall DSP conference in recent years. Whether a given driver gets a raise still depends on the DSP.
What the raise means for last-mile labor costs
At Amazon delivery stations, packages are sorted and staged by Amazon's own associates, so the raise mainly affects DSP payroll on the road. It also sets a benchmark for driver pay across last-mile delivery. At stations outside Amazon's network, where drivers often sort their own routes before leaving, every paid minute of that sort now costs more. A simple way to see it:
| Drivers sorting | Minutes each | Hourly cost | Daily sort cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 30 | $24 | $240 |
| 20 | 60 | $24 | $480 |
| 35 | 45 | $24 | $630 |
Illustrative arithmetic: drivers × minutes ÷ 60 × hourly cost. Use your loaded cost (wages plus taxes and benefits) for your own station; it will be higher than base pay.
Divide the daily figure by parcels sorted to get cost per parcel, then compare it with an automated option. Our manual vs automated sorting cost comparison walks through when a sorter pays and when it does not, and the driver sorting cost calculator does the math for your station. If you run or deliver from a station where drivers sort, see station and delivery partner sorting.
Automation on the horizon
Amazon itself is studying how to take sorting off people's hands. Business Insider reported an internal plan, Project Tetromino, for automated delivery stations starting with a 2028 pilot; Amazon called it an early-stage concept. Read our breakdown: what Project Tetromino means for DSPs.
Frequently asked questions
Did Amazon DSP drivers get a raise in 2026?
Yes. Industry sources reported a 20% increase in Amazon's per-package rate to DSPs from January 2026 and higher driver minimum pay, about $20.50 to $27.50 an hour depending on location.
Will Amazon drivers get a raise in 2027?
Amazon announced $1.9 billion for the DSP program in 2027 and said DSPs are expected to raise average delivery associate pay to nearly $24 an hour, about $1 more. Individual raises depend on each DSP.
How much is the Amazon DSP pay raise for 2026?
The reported change was a 20% increase in the per-package rate Amazon pays DSPs. How much of that reaches each driver depends on the DSP that employs them.
Do Amazon DSP drivers get raises every year?
There is no automatic annual raise, but Amazon says average pay rose about 16% over three years and it has announced new DSP funding each fall in recent years.
Who sets Amazon DSP driver pay?
The DSP. Delivery service partners are independent companies that employ the drivers and set pay within Amazon's minimums.
What is the average Amazon DSP driver pay in 2027?
Amazon expects the national average to reach nearly $24 an hour in 2027.
Sources
- Amazon press release, Sept 21, 2026: Amazon invests another $1.9 billion in the DSP program
- The Next Web: Amazon puts another $1.9bn into its delivery partner programme for 2027
- Go HQ: Ignite 2025, what Amazon's updates mean for DSPs (Oct 23, 2025)
- SupplyChain247: Amazon delivery partners investment, driver pay and safety tools
SortLease is not affiliated with the companies or agencies named here. Third-party facts are summarized from the sources above; SortLease capacity figures are rated specifications, not measured results.