Working at Amazon vs. Starbucks: Which is a better place to work?

Amazon and Starbucks are two different companies with two different cultures. I embarked on research to see how these two workplaces compare. I wanted to know how the differences in work-life balance, culture, career growth, and other human resources factors affect workplaces. When one is seeking to advance in a career or is looking to change jobs in the two companies, it is easy to get confused. In this post, we will bring these two giant companies head-to-head and see how they compare. By the end of this post, you will know which company is better, so keep reading.

What are the differences between working at Amazon vs. Starbucks?

Features	Amazon(Based on 120,000 reviews)	Starbucks(Based on 52,000 reviews)
Work-life balance	43% work for 8 hrs. or less	80% work for 8hrs or less
Career Opportunities	3.9/5	3.5/5
Compensations and employee benefits	3.9/5	3.8/5
Positive business outlook	67%	54%
Culture and values	3.7/5	3.8/5
CEO approval	85%	69%
Job Postings	Over 41,000 current openings	Over 20,000 current openings
Salaries	Average $15 hourly	Average 17$ hourly

Amazon vs. Starbucks-How does working there compare?

Work-life balance

Almost half of Amazon employees work for 8 hours or less a day. A small percentage work for 12 hours or more. According to reviews, most employees agree that Amazon has a healthy work-life balance with fixed shifts. This means one can plan for a personal time around their working schedule. Some employees have complained of mandatory overtime in peak seasons, but majority are comfortable and have ample time for their personal lives.

At Starbucks, over 80% of employees work for 8 hours a day or less. The work-life balance at the coffee chain has earned an A+ by most employees who feel that their work and time are balanced. This is also true, as employees can study part-time while still working full-time at Starbucks. When we looked at reviews, most employees complained about other things except the work-life balance. We can confidently say that Starbucks is on top of its game in this category.

Starbucks takes a lead in this one due to the great reviews by current and former employees.

Career Opportunities

Amazon hires thousands of employees from all walks of life. These people work in various departments and gain relevant experience in their respective careers. Amazon is a blue-collar workplace and offers lucrative career opportunities for skilled and unskilled workers. According to Glassdoor, this giant company has a career opportunity rating of 3.9. It has great career advancement opportunities, and promotions are granted on merit.

Starbucks is the best entry-level employee for baristas. The company offers training and equips one with a lifetime skill. The company has opportunities that require skills, and due to its expansive network of stores, it is easy to get employed here. There is a wide range of job opportunities for all job seekers on different career levels. Most of the international job boards will always have an opening from Starbucks.

The two companies have many career opportunities, but Amazon ranks higher than Starbucks and wins in this category.

Compensations and employee benefits

Amazon has great perks for employees ranging from great compensation to health insurance. Some notable perks include estate planning and financial counseling, paid accident and life insurance, paid long-term and short-term disability insurance, and 401(k) Participation. The minimum age is $15, which is above the national average, and employees are entitled to 20 weeks of parental leave. You can also own stocks at Amazon as an employee if you opt to. Amazon has the interest of its employees at heart as it also pays holiday overtime and health insurance for the employee beneficiaries.

Starbucks is best known for treating its employees with dignity and fair compensation. The most popular perks are the hefty health insurance and study advancement. Starbucks insurance covers both full-time and part-time employees who meet the threshold. It covers all areas, including gender assignment, abortion, vision, dental, and many more. The coffee giant allows its employees to study a four-year degree course online from ASU. Every Friday, the partners are entitled to shared tips according to the hours worked.

This category gives us a draw as both companies have lucrative compensations and benefit for their employees.

Positive business outlook

Amazon ranks at 67% positive business outlook. When a business is viewed in a positive light by both the employees and the customers, it is always sure to attract growth. Amazon has mastered the art ad has seen a positive outlook due to its efficiency and satisfactory services. Employees are optimistic about working here, and it translates to the services they offer. Amazon has thrived in having a positive business outlook, and has worked in its favor.

Starbucks ranks at 54% in its positive business outlook. The company’s management refers to employees as partners to show that they are shareholders in the coffee chain. With all that in mind and the great perks, the employees have a positive outlook and show it with friendly interactions. Most of the partners are happy working at Starbucks and like the company’s policies.

The companies rank fairly, but Amazon takes the lead as it has a higher positive business outlook than Starbucks.

Culture and values

Amazon is a fast-paced work environment that is customer-centered. The retail giant is governed by four pillars, which include long-term thinking, customer obsession, passion for invention, and commitment to operational excellence. The work culture revolves around productivity and innovation. According to employees, the company ranks at 3.7 out of 5 in culture and values. It is comprised of strong teams with some of the smartest employees ever. However, the retail giant is more focused on customers and not as much on employees.

On the other hand, Starbucks promotes a warm culture that incorporates the community into their one person, one cup, and neighborhood mission. The ambiance and the culture of the employee promote a warm and friendly environment for all. The culture is diverse, inclusive, and gives a sense of belonging. The employees are friendly and make it easy to be a regular at the coffee chain. This company is rated 3.8.

Starbucks takes a lead in this category due to its promotion of a warm environment to both employees and customers.

CEO approval

Amazon has 85% CEO approval, which is quite great. Almost all employees at Amazon feel that the CEO is doing a great job while only 25% think otherwise. The current CEO is Andy Jassy, who took over the retail giant in 2021. As it shows, the employees are satisfied with the CEO and his management.

Starbucks’ CEO, Howard Schultz is rated at 69% after a review by 1300 employees. This is above average and shows that most employees are satisfied with their current CEO and are happy with the leadership. When employees approve of the CEO, it shows that they are doing something right in terms of policies and management. Employees were pleased with the CEO’s response to issues

Both of the CEOs in these companies are highly ranked by employees, but the Amazon CEO ranks higher. In this category, Amazon takes the lead.

Job Postings

Currently, there are over 40,000 jobs on Glassdoor. All these jobs are open for applications from all qualified candidates. The job descriptions and the possible remunerations are indicated on each posting. These positions open often due to the turnover rate. Job postings are also available on other platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed.

Starbucks has a total of over 20,000 job openings related to Starbucks on its official career page. Starbucks stores hire individually for their job openings, but all openings are listed on the official site. These jobs have well-outlined job descriptions and remunerations. You can get openings for baristas, shift supervisors, and managerial positions.

Amazon takes this one for having the most job openings and a high hiring rate.

Salaries

Amazon pays its packers an average of $50,000 annually. Sales associates get an average annual rate of $ 59,825. The product managers are paid a yearly rate of $144,100. Data engineers take home an average of $151,576, while Senior software engineers take home around $207,887. These are salaries given by Amazon employees at different levels.

On the other hand, Starbucks pays its baristas an average hourly rate of $ 15 and a shift supervisor of $19 hourly. An area manager takes home an average of $63,400, while a software engineer is likely to take home $157,665 annually. Software engineers take home some of the highest pay at Starbucks.

On the salaries, Amazon has better rates on average for most of its employees, as compared to Starbucks, and therefore wins in this category.

Amazon vs. Starbucks-Employee Reviews

Amazon Employee Review

Former and current employees give feedback on various platforms. Let’s look at some of the reviews.

Sally

I loved working for this company, and I was impressed with the amazing benefits. I loved the health insurance that covered the dental, visual, and overall health of the employees and their dependents. The culture was great, with super friendly colleagues.

Jim

I liked the pay, but the long working hours were frustrating. Some managers were also frustrating and made life hard for us. There was a great disconnect between management and low-tier workers. We didn’t get as many breaks as is required, and the deadlines were always tight.

Cole

I love the benefits here, and the people are cool. The rates aren’t bad, and the new CEO is doing a great job.

Current Employee

This is my first job, and I love the new career path it has opened for me. The pay is not so great, but the culture and work-life balance are great.

Current Employee

The workforce is diverse, and I interact with people from different cultures. It is a fast-paced environment, and the deadlines can be crazy, but I love the culture so far. I would recommend this place to a friend.

Starbucks Employee Reviews

Current employee

I joined Starbucks two years ago for their benefits, especially health insurance. I enjoy the flexible hours and the work-life balance here.

Former Employee

The rates are too low, and the only thing that kept me around was the health insurance. I had to deal with rude customers, and it was too stressful being on my feet for hours was too much to handle.

Current employee

I am loving this job and enjoy free Starbucks drinks. The colleagues are super friendly and make all the long working hours fun.

Danny

This was my first job after High school, and I gained experience in working in a professional environment and handling customers of all kinds. I would recommend it to a friend looking for a great first job.

Bob

Great people, great benefits, free drinks. I can’t complain.

Final Verdict: So, which is a better place to work?-Amazon vs. Starbucks?

Amazon is a better place to work than Starbucks. Most categories in our review have been won by Amazon, and they all come from current and former employees of both companies. The work-life balance is great, the compensation and benefits are good, the culture and values are great, and they overwhelmingly like the CEO compared to the divided opinions at Starbucks. Most employees are happy with their wages, and low wages is the greatest con at Starbucks. In our review, Amazon has a higher 4% friend-recommendation rate than Starbucks. Overall, both companies have a tie, but Amazon takes most categories.

FAQ SECTION

Are amazon employees paid more than Starbucks employees?

Yes, the lowest paid worker at Amazon earns $17 per hour, while the lowest at Starbucks earns $15 per hour.

Which company values its employees more between Amazon and Starbucks?

Starbucks treats employees better and is employee-oriented, while Amazon focuses more energy on customers than its workers.

Which company provides a better working environment between Amazon and Starbucks?

Starbucks has a better working environment than Amazon in terms of hours and work-life balance.

Does Amazon value its customers more than Starbucks?

Yes, Amazon’s core value is customer obsession, and customers are better treated here than at Starbucks.

Which company invests more in its employees between Starbucks and Amazon?

Starbucks is more invested in its employees compared to Amazon and equates them to business partners as opposed to mere employees, and Starbucks health insurance is more expansive than Amazon’s.

Does Amazon provide better employee benefits than Starbucks?

Amazon has better benefits than Starbucks, according to customer reviews that give it 3.9 stars out of 5 and a 3.8 for Starbucks.

Which employees are likely to recommend their workplace to a friend, Starbucks, or Amazon employees?

Amazon employees are likely to recommend a friend as they ranked 74% recommendation to a friend in reviews, compared to 70% by Starbucks.