Amazon: Company Profile & Background Check FAQs

Amazon.com, Inc. was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos in Seattle, Washington, as an online bookstore. It has since grown into one of the world's largest companies, with businesses spanning e-commerce and online retail, cloud computing through Amazon Web Services (AWS), digital streaming, advertising, consumer devices such as Kindle and Alexa, logistics, and artificial intelligence. The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol AMZN and is headquartered in Seattle, with a second major headquarters campus in Arlington, Virginia.

Amazon's scale is difficult to overstate. The company reported more than 1.5 million employees worldwide in 2025, making it one of the largest private employers on the planet. A large share of that workforce is employed in the company's fulfillment and logistics network, which includes fulfillment centers, sortation centers, delivery stations, and air hubs across the country. Fulfillment centers are the massive warehouses where products are stored, picked, packed, and shipped to customers, and many use Amazon Robotics technology to move inventory.

Job seekers often search for a specific facility by its internal code. LAX9, for example, is a robotics-equipped Amazon fulfillment center of more than 600,000 square feet located in Fontana, California, in the Inland Empire logistics corridor east of Los Angeles. Regardless of the site code, hourly warehouse hiring across Amazon facilities follows a broadly similar company-wide process. Common roles include fulfillment center associates, sortation associates, delivery station workers, area managers, and safety and HR staff, alongside hundreds of thousands of corporate and technology employees.

Company culture and employee programs: Amazon's hourly roles are known for structured, fast-paced work environments with performance and safety expectations set at the site level. The company publicizes benefits for eligible full-time hourly employees, including health coverage from day one and its Career Choice education program, which prepays tuition for eligible employees pursuing degrees and certificates. Pay rates, shift options, and benefits vary by location, role, and employment status, so candidates should confirm specifics for the site where they apply.

Yes. Employers in the retail, logistics, and technology industries, including Amazon, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks, provided they comply with federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, background screening performed through a consumer reporting agency is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires written candidate consent and a defined adverse action process before a report can be used to deny employment.

Amazon is generally reported to conduct background checks on candidates for both hourly and corporate positions, which is standard practice for employers of its size. Screening supports workplace safety in warehouses, protects customer data in corporate and technology roles, and satisfies contract and regulatory requirements in areas like delivery and air cargo operations. The specific components of an Amazon background check may vary by role, facility, and jurisdiction, so candidates should rely on the disclosure forms provided during their own application.

For hourly warehouse roles, the Amazon hiring process is largely self-service and fast. Candidates typically apply online at Amazon's hiring site, select a shift and location from available openings, and complete any required assessments. Rather than a traditional interview, many warehouse candidates attend a pre-hire appointment or new hire event where identification is verified and a drug screen may be administered. The background check is initiated after the candidate accepts a conditional offer and provides consent. Corporate and technology roles follow a more conventional path with recruiter screens and multiple interviews before an offer and background check.

Many candidates for hourly roles see their background check completed within a few business days, though the timeline depends on the searches ordered and the jurisdictions involved. Checks that require county courthouse research, cover long multi-state address histories, or include verifications can take longer, and start dates are generally scheduled once screening clears. For more detail on what affects timing, see this guide to background check turnaround times.

Employers select screening components by role. For a company like Amazon that spans warehousing, delivery, and corporate work, a background check may include some or all of the following:

Candidates should read their disclosure and authorization documents to see which searches apply to their specific role.

The lookback window depends on the type of record and the laws where the candidate lives and works. Under the FCRA, most non-conviction records, such as arrests that did not lead to conviction, generally cannot be reported after seven years. Convictions can often be reported for longer under federal law, but several states, including California, limit conviction reporting to seven years. A candidate applying to a California facility like LAX9 would therefore typically see a seven-year window applied to conviction records.

Amazon is widely regarded as open to hiring candidates with criminal records, and it evaluates records on a case-by-case basis rather than applying blanket exclusions. Relevant factors typically include the nature of the offense, how recent it is, and its relationship to the role. Many states and cities enforce "ban-the-box" laws that delay criminal history inquiries until after a conditional offer, and California's Fair Chance Act adds further protections for applicants there. Candidates with records are encouraged to apply and to answer any lawful questions honestly.

Candidates will be asked to provide written consent before Amazon initiates a background check. Applicants should be prepared to supply their full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and address history, and driving candidates should have their license details ready. Candidates must also complete identity and work authorization verification as part of onboarding. Accurate information helps the screening provider search the correct jurisdictions and keeps tight warehouse start dates on track.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act is a US federal law that governs how consumer reporting agencies compile background reports and how employers may use them in hiring. It requires a standalone disclosure and written authorization before a check is run, and if an employer intends to withdraw an offer based on the results, it must first provide the candidate with a copy of the report and a summary of rights, allowing time to dispute inaccuracies. Learn more in this introduction to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what Amazon may see and helps you identify potential inaccuracies before they affect your job application. In one secure report you can review:

Create your report in minutes at Checkr Personal Background Checks. To showcase verified credentials proactively, build a free Checkr Profile you can share with recruiters, hiring managers, or potential employers.

Check your report status in the Candidate Portal. Or, visit the Checkr Help Center for FAQs, dispute steps, and to contact support.

The resources and information provided here are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Always consult your own counsel for up-to-date legal advice and guidance related to your practices, needs, and compliance with applicable laws.