Amazon has come to Visalia and the massive e-retailer needs at least 200 more employees than the 1,000 it planned.

Pay starts at $15.50 an hour, and benefits include paid time off and dental care.

New hires with proof of COVID-19 vaccination get a $100 bonus on their first day, the company said.

Duties, Qualifications

Job duties involve picking, packing, and shipping larger-sized items ranging from boxes of diapers to patio umbrellas.

The next three months figure to be the company’s busiest of the year as Americans order holiday gifts.

Candidates must be at least 18 years or older and have a high school education, GED, or equivalent diploma. You can apply at amazon.force.com.

Company Covers College Tuition, Other Expenses

Amazon announced in September that its front-line workers are eligible for fully funded college tuition, including the cost of classes, books, and fees.

Employees become eligible for education assistance after 90 days with Amazon.

“I worked in a warehouse setting for years but knew I wanted to help people and had been curious about healthcare,” said Patricia Soto. “In just nine months, I became a certified clinical medical assistant while working at Amazon in Tracy. … A career in healthcare would have been difficult to obtain without tuition support from Amazon and an internship opportunity to apply my new skills.”

Amazon also is adding three company education programs giving employees the opportunity to learn IT and research design skills.

“Amazon is now the largest job creator in the U.S., and we know that investing in free skills training for our teams can have a huge impact for hundreds of thousands of families across the country,” said company executive Dave Clark in a news release.

The 1.3 million-square-foot fulfillment center at 3315 North Kelsey St. is Amazon’s first operations site in Visalia.