Updated: 23.06.2024
If you are pursuing an opportunity to work at Amazon, chances are you’ve heard about the term “Amazon Levels”. Amazon Levels, or Amazon Salary Levels (a.k.a. Job Levels or Amazon Employee Levels) are the internal designations of different ranks of people Amazon employs for its business.
Even though Amazon has a flat organizational structure, there are many differences between an Amazon Level 7 and an Amazon Level 6 employee, and it is crucial to aim for the right level when applying for a job at the tech giant. Getting hired at the right level not only ensures that you’re set up for success at the company, but it also could potentially save you several years on your path to promotion.
As Amazon continues to grow, and with the advancement of artificial intelligence tools and processes, Amazon hires for a wide variety of roles (from Area Managers to Machine Learning Scientists) for a wide variety of locations and in different experience levels. Amazon salary levels differ a lot depending on the role, location and the level of the job, and it is crucial to know these when applying to Amazon. (btw, whether you’re just beginning your career or a veteran professional, it is always good to brush up your interview skills by studying the 150 Most Common Interview Questions.)
To shed light on all of these, we put together a comprehensive list explaining different Amazon salary levels, employee levels (Amazon levels), and how these map to different roles at Amazon for different locations. Let’s get started!
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Table of Contents
What Are Amazon Levels?
Amazon Levels (also affects the Amazon Salary Levels) are internal company designations to its employee’s ranks. They range from Level 1 to Level 12, with only the CEO being Level 12. There is no Level 9 at Amazon (more info below!). It is estimated that in the corporate side of the business, the most crowded Levels are Level 6 and Level 5 which equates to Amazon Senior Manager and Amazon Manager, respectively.
It is important to know that, although Amazon Levels are offered based on your previous experience, there are no set age brackets for any level. So there might be 45-year-old Level 6s as there can be 30-year-old L6s, but obviously if you are a new grad, your level would ideally be Level 3 or Level 4.
Amazon Levels Explained
Typically Amazon Levels 1-3 will be for temps or contractors. Levels 4 through 12 are for full-time employees.
Amazon Level 4 & 5
Entry-level managers are Level 4 and mid-level managers are Level 5. Amazon Marketing Managers, Product Managers, OPS Managers, AWS Sales and Account Managers with 2-6 years of experience would typically be an L5 at Amazon. Amazon Salary Levels will also differ quite a lot in terms of total compensation packages depending on the location/environment of the role and the team (e.g. corporate vs. warehouse managers, Area Managers vs. Software Development Managers).
Amazon Level 6
Amazon Level 6 Managers are senior managers with significant professional experience. Depending on your team’s size, your title could be a “Head” or Snr. Manager (e.g. Head of Vendor Management). The L6s will have between 8-15 years of experience and L6s are kind of internally famous for having a large Amazon Pay Bands variability. Amazon Level 6 is also where interviews will get tougher and at this point you’re required to know the Amazon Leadership Principles by heart.
To be promoted from an L6 to an L7, you’ll need to be performing better than 90% of all the L6s in the company. So it is needless to say that this promotion is not very easy. As interviewjoy, we suggest the candidates who think they are in between Level 6 and Level 7 based on their previous work experiences, apply to L7 positions if they can.
so apply to L7 roles if your work experience fits.
Amazon Level 7
Amazon Level 7s are “principles”. A “Head” of a team or division or a “director” can also be an Amazon Level 7, but he/she would have substantial leadership experience in their professional life. Many senior leaders who are directors or sometimes VPs in previous companies (P&G, Unilever and the type) would be hired as L7s at Amazon. Amazon Level 7’s are also known as Principal Managers internally.
From a hiring perspective, getting hired as an L7 is rare, and the job interviews would be correspondingly tougher. It is not uncommon that a hiring manager will request a slot for a new Level 7 hire, but will try to offer a Level 6 role to the candidate after the interviews. The reason is that getting a headcount OK from HR/management for an L6 is much easier than an L7, so the hiring manager would try to keep his L7 slot empty as a backup.
So, as a rule of thumb, during your interviews, we suggest candidates try to learn the job level during the first stages of the interviews because candidates’ Amazon Salary Levels cannot be altered (if any), after the hiring manager sets your level.
Suggested Reading: Amazon Interview Cheat Sheet
Amazon Level 8
Level 8s at Amazon are directors and their external title would typically be General Managers (GM) or Assistant GMs. They would typically have 15 to 25 years of previous work experience with significant leadership and P&L responsibilities. They can be heads of large multi-country teams (e.g. Head of Europe Digital Marketing) or Country Managers of smaller regions.
Amazon Level 9
Amazon does not have a Level 9 employee and the reason is symbolic. During the early days of Amazon, Jeff Bezos and Co. did not want to create a hierarchical company so they omitted hiring L9s. And they do not have L9s even to this day.
Amazon Level 10
Amazon Level 10s are VPs. They are normally reached out by senior HR managers and Amazon would not have public job posts for this level. Internal promotions from L8 to L10 are also possible, but after spending a significant amount of time (>5 years) at L8 and showing a stellar performance consistently at L8.
Amazon Level 11
Amazon Level 11 is also known as the Amazon S-Team. Level 11s are direct reports to the CEO of the company and would mostly be SVPs and sometimes VPs.
Amazon Salary Levels and Pay Bands
When looking at Amazon salaries, you’ll notice they vary a lot. That’s because compensation is determined by many factors, including experience and qualifications.
One of the main reasons there’s a range is to ensure that Amazon can offer competitive wages and attract the best talent available with a sign-on bonus or target bonus.
The hiring process considers many things such as the actual job requirements and current market salary range for similar positions, as well as educational qualifications and certifications, another reason that Amazon Salary Levels can very a lot..
For internal promotions, Amazon also takes tenure with the company into account, past performance reviews, and performance on past projects to determine the salary level for each employee.
By doing this, Amazon can ensure it rewards its team members fairly for their dedication and commitment to their work.
Tech companies usually go through the same system, so this should not come as a surprise.
Also, one more piece of information is there are different job types. Full-time positions and work-from-home jobs should have different salary levels.
Now that we explained how the salary systems work and based on what, it is time to look at the 12 different levels of Amazon salaries.
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 1
Amazon Salary Level 1 is for entry-level employees. Workers at this level are often hired as seasonal or part-time associates, which can be a great opportunity for recent graduates.
In other words, Amazon level 1 employees are typically those who have just started out in their careers and are looking for a way to get their foot in the door. As such, they usually earn around $25,000 $30,000 per year, depending on the region.
The good news is that Amazon does not require much experience from its level 1 employees. As long as they perform their tasks correctly and efficiently, they will be able to move up the ranks quickly and start earning higher salaries.
This makes Amazon an attractive option for those who want to start a career in the tech industry but don’t necessarily have the experience or qualifications needed for higher positions.
Salary Levels 1 & 2 are both considered the base-level rates of pay, but some locations may offer higher starting salaries due to the cost of living in that particular city or region.
Depending on the type of job you do, you could potentially earn a lot more money than those at the lowest entry-level salary levels with generous sales commissions or bonuses awarded for outstanding work performance!
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 2
Amazon Salary Level 2 is a good beginner level for those looking to start their career. It pays slightly more than Amazon Salary Level 1, with the average salary ranging from $25,000 – $35,000.
At this level, you’ll likely fill roles such as Customer Service Representative, HR Specialist, or Software Developer. You’ll work in a team, but with considerable autonomy in managing your assigned duties.
Remember that Amazon offers several paths to upward mobility; you can utilize internal resources to advance your career once you’ve become established in your current position.
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 3
Amazon Salary Level 3 is also another position fit for entry-level employees who have less than 2 years of experience in their respective fields. It’s the lowest rung on Amazon’s salary ladder, and the base salary usually ranges from about $30,000 to $40,000 per year.
Salary level 3 is open to anyone who has a Bachelor’s degree or higher and relevant knowledge or experience in their chosen career field. Not only do you get a decent starting salary but Amazon also offers generous benefits such as stock options, discounts on products, health care benefits, and more!
As you work your way up Amazon’s salary ladder you will qualify for bonuses as well as a yearly review that could possibly lead to higher salaries.
In addition to that, employees can take advantage of company programs like career development activities and tuition reimbursement programs to help advance their careers and increase their income potential.
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 4
Amazon level 4 is a great opportunity for those who have at least 1 to 2 years of experience in the field (or your academic performance is stellar if you’re a new grad). It is an excellent way to gain more experience and knowledge while earning a good salary.
The average salary for this level starts from around $60,000, for non-technical roles (HR manager) and can go as high as $140,000 for software development, systems design and AI engineers. The reason engineers’ compensation shot up this high is due to the recent developments in AI and the high demand for those who are experienced in artificial intelligence processes. This base compensation is quite competitive compared to other companies which makes it an attractive option for those looking to advance their career.
Those with more than 3 years of experience can work at higher levels than Amazon level 4 and earn even more money.
For instance, if you are a seasoned data analyst with 5 years of experience, you can begin at level 5 upon being successful in the interview and reap more economic returns.
This makes Amazon level 4 an ideal stepping stone for those looking to move up the corporate ladder and increase their earnings potential.
L4 salary levels for various positions
- L4 Data Scientist / Applied Scientist: $120K – $140K (AI related)
- L4 Technical Product Manager / Technical Account Manager: $110K – $140K
- L4 Ops / Program Manager / Project Manager: $70K – $110K
- L4 Business Analyst / Financial Manager: $80K – $130K
- L4 Hr Manager / HRBP: $60K – $80K
- L4 Software Development Engineer / Software Architect: $110K – $140K
- L4 Area Manager / Marketing Manager: $70K – $90K
- L4 Vendor Manager: $65K – $90K
- L4 Customer service: $60K – $75K
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 5
The salaries for level 5 in Amazon usually range from $90K – $220K depending on your location, the job market, and what you bring to the table, with SWD engineers again leading the bunch.
This level is for experienced professionals who have a proven track record of success in their respective fields.
At this level, you can expect to receive substantial stock options, bonuses, and other benefits that come with working at Amazon.
You will also be able to take advantage of the company’s various career development programs and tuition reimbursement programs to help advance your career and increase your earning potential!
When interviewing for an L5 role, we suggest you take a look at our Amazon Interview Cheat Sheet to get an idea about the Amazon interview Process.
L5 salary levels for various positions
- L5 Sales: $90K – $130K
- L5 Data Scientist / Applied Scientist: $150K – $220K (AI related)
- L5 Technical Product Manager / Technical Account Manager: $130K – $150K
- L5 Ops / Program Manager / Project Manager: $100K – $130K
- L5 Business Analyst / Financial Manager: $110K – $130K
- L5 Hr Manager / HRBP: $80K – $110K
- L5 Software Development Engineer / Software Architect: $140K – $200K
- L5 Area Manager: $80K – $120K
- L5 Marketing Manager: $100K – $135K
- L5 Vendor Manager: $110K – $125K
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 6
Amazon Salary Level 6 (senior manager) sits at the sweet spot for compensation: You don’t have to be as experienced as a senior director who would be an L7, but your compensation is nevertheless is significant. Leadership positions like senior manager at this level will generally require 8 or more years of experience, and a Masters degree or equivalent in a relevant field is often preferred.
Employees typically receive base salaries between $140K – $400K at this level and may be eligible for additional bonuses, profit sharing, and equity awards. Depending on the role, we even saw offers around 450K USD for AI-related roles at Level 6.
Individuals who have worked their way up to Amazon Salary Level 6 have likely earned executive knowledge and understanding that allows for quick decision-making at nearly any job.
Having achieved such a high salary level demonstrates excellence in professional ability and truly shows what it means to succeed in business!
L6 salary levels for various positions
- L6 Senior Sales Manager: $180K – $240K
- L6 Data Scientist / Applied Scientist: $280K – $420K (AI related)
- L6 Snr. Product Manager / Technical Account Manager: $180K – $260K
- L6 Sntr. Ops / Program Manager / Project Manager: $180K – $240K
- L6 Snr. Financial Manager: $170K – $220K
- L6 Hr Manager / HRBP / Senior Recruiter: $140K – $170K
- L6 Snr. Software Development Engineer / Software Architect: $270K – $380K
- L6 Snr. Area Manager: $130K – $170K
- L6 Snr. Marketing Manager: $120K – $180K
- L6 Snr. Vendor Manager: $130K – $190K
Do you have an interview with Amazon?
Pro Tip
Make sure to check out our top-selling Amazon Interview Guide which comes with a full refund guarantee in case you fail your interviews.
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 7
At Level 7 (principal), Amazon employees are typically business unit leaders, very senior software engineers, and other higher-level employees with expansive experience and expertise in an area.
The base salary offered to Level 7 employees would generally be between $250,000 and $550,000 and can go as high as $750,000+ with stocks and bonuses.
This level is for those who have achieved a high level of success in their respective fields and are looking to take on more responsibility and leadership roles within the company.
Overall, Amazon offers competitive salaries across all levels and provides employees with the opportunity to advance their careers and increase their earning potential.
If you want to work for Amazon full-time on a permanent basis, you’ll need to get hired into one of their higher-level roles and reach Amazon Salary Level 7. With dedication, the right skill set, and our Amazon-related articles to ace your interview, you can absolutely make it there!
L7 salary levels for various positions
- L7 Sales Director: $310K – $350K
- L7 Principal Data Scientist / Applied Scientist: $390K – $550K (AI related)
- L7 Principal Product Manager / Technical Account Manager: $320K – $380K
- L7 Ops / Program Manager / Principal Project Manager: $270K – $310K
- L7 Principal Financial Manager: $340K – $400K
- L7 Hr Manager / HRBP: $250K – $280K
- L7 Principal Software Development Engineer / Software Architect: $400K – $490K
- L7 Marketing Director: $290K – $350K
- L7 Vendor Management Team Lead: $280K – $330K
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 8
Employees who secure an Amazon Salary Level 8 (director) position will typically enjoy salaries of more than $500,000 per year in addition to a variety of benefits that Amazon offers.
This level implies a higher-than-average job role and brings with it increased responsibilities and notoriously high pay levels so it can go up to $1,000,000 depending on your role.
Overall, Salary Level 8 demonstrates Amazon’s commitment to rewarding their top employees while allowing them to reach their fullest potential in their respective areas of expertise.
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 9
As famously known, Amazon does not have a Level 9 employee and skips to Level 10 from 8.
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 10
Now we are in the Million Dollars territory here. Amazon GM’s would typically make more than $1M when you add up the stock options and bonuses.
This level is reserved for the most experienced professionals who have a proven track record of success in their respective fields and are responsible for leading teams, managing projects, and driving business results.
At this level, you can expect to receive stock options, bonuses, and other benefits that come with working at Amazon.
So, if you want to reach the highest salary levels at Amazon, you will need to work your way up to Level 10. With dedication and hard work, it is possible to achieve success in this field!
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 11
Salary level 11 is reserved for people like senior VPs and CXX positions, and just know that there are only a handful of L11s at Amazon. Andy Jassy was one of them, who replaced Jeff Bezos as CEO in 2021.
The information on these well-payed Amazon salary levels is not as accessible to the public but generally, the estimate made is over multiple million dollars.
Overall, Amazon is a company which competitive salaries across all levels and provides employees with the opportunity to advance their careers and increase their earning potential.
Because Amazon salary levels are determined by the level of experience and expertise that an employee brings to the table, as you move up in the ranks, you can expect to receive higher salaries and more generous benefits packages.
Amazon Salary Levels: Amazon Level 12
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is the sole level 12 employee, but his annual salary remains unknown (and, obviously as the founder of the company, he is exempt from the typical Amazon salary levels). It is important to note that in July 2021, Jeff Bezos left his post as the CEO of the company, and he now assumes the role of Chief Executive Chairman now.
What we can tell you though, is how much his net worth is.
So, at the time this article was written, his net worth was approximately 190 billion USD as of early 2024.
Bonus: AWS Salary Levels
Although AWS is part of Amazon and the levels are the same, it is worth mentioning the fact that salary ranges are different for AWS. Typically AWS employees tend to get offers near the upper limit of the Amazon salary levels we mentioned above, mostly due to the fact that many AWS employees are technical people (or at least have a lot of technical expertise). AWS being the profit driver of Amazon does not hurt as well!
Amazon Salary Levels Final Thoughts
As much as this article might get you excited about applying etc., it’s also important to remember that the Amazon salary levels you see here are averages and may not reflect your individual salary situation.
Keep in mind factors like geographic location, job market conditions, and skill set when evaluating Amazon salary levels for yourself or others.
Last but not least, the biggest determinant of your Amazon salary is the experience you bring to the table – both in terms of years of related work experience as well as those special skills that make you uniquely qualified for a position.
Your salary negotiation skills also make a huge difference, remember that!
With the right qualifications and an understanding of what other employers are paying in this competitive market, you can use Amazon salary levels as just one of many tools in your search for a great job!
If you found this article helpful, you will surely find our Amazon Interview Guide even more insights if this is something that interests you!
Also, make sure to check our post about the Top 25 Updated Amazon Interview Questions & Unique Sample Answers.
Photos by Sebastian Herrmann and Cytonn Photography on Unsplash
