Amazon is hiring 1,000 employees in Gates and Rochester — but how much are they paying?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — People in suits lined up behind people in sweatpants at an Amazon hiring event at Gates on Friday. At a busy community center with a line out the door, hundreds put their hats in the ring to work at one of three local Amazon warehouses. Many of the open spaces are for the massive new yet-to-open fulfillment center in Gates, where full-time, part-time and seasonal workers are needed.

“I just wanted to apply for a job, I needed a job, I needed some work,” 26-year-old Justin Duck said.

Marcus Henry (37 years old) said he was looking for a “better job.” [and] better future.”

Will working in the factory provide a better future? Amazon’s pay starts at $16 per hour, which works out to $33,280 per year for full-time employees. That’s a hair more than the $15.89 per hour ($33,051 per year), which MIT found is the living wage in Rochester.

Local jobs on Amazon’s website — which are legally required to show their salaries as of last week — were listed at $18.90 per hour ($39,312 annually), with many stopping by for less — $17.50, $17.10, and $16 were all listed. At max.

Keisha Albers said if she were offered a position, the lowest salary she would accept would be $17.50.

“Because I’ve been in the game so long, I think I deserve it,” she said.

Kaylee Kelsey, who lived in Tennessee for a while, was a little happier.

“I know they said […] “It’s about $16.50 an hour, which isn’t bad where I come from,” she said. “So it’s definitely a step up from where I’ve worked in the past.”

Others earn less. Nevin Snyder, 19, works in the food service sector, where he says he earns $13.75. The minimum wage for most jobs in New York State is $14.20.

In Rochester, many are close to minimum wage. Census data shows that one in three people live in poverty, with the city’s per capita income at about $27,000. The average family income is about $40,000.

While none of these numbers directly reflect the average full-time worker’s salary, they do paint a bit of the economic picture for Rochester.

While some were waiting for Amazon’s semi-exclusive benefits. Snyder said he needs nights because he takes care of his grandmother during the day. Likewise, Kelsey needed to work part-time to support her daughter. Others, like Dak, said they came here to pay the bills.

“When you’re applying for a job, it’s not about applying for the job you want,” Duck said. “It’s about applying for the job that will give you the money you need to survive.”

Mark Heinzmann, Amazon’s New York state representative, said there is no set date for when the Gates facility will open. He also said they were unsure how many people would be needed before the company was fully staffed, and he could not say how many positions would be full-time. However, they are hiring for the holiday season at that location.