Table 5

Change in average hourly wages of workers in all U.S. occupations and in top 15 H-2B occupations, 2004–2015

H-2B Rank FY2015* SOC code Occupation Number of H-2B workers certified, FY15 2004 2015 2004–2015 real change in 2015 dollars 2004–2015 percentage change
00-0000 All $22.42 $23.25 $0.82 3.7%
1 37-3011 Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers 42,104 $13.38 $13.21 -$0.17 -1.3%
2 45-4011 Forest and Conservation Workers 8,339 $14.28 $14.37 $0.09 0.6%
3 39-3091 Amusement and Recreation Attendants 6,906 $10.08 $10.28 $0.20 2.0%
4 37-2012 Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners 6,667 $10.86 $11.06 $0.20 1.8%
5 47-2061 Construction Laborers 3,619 $17.46 $17.58 $0.12 0.7%
6 51-3022 Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers 2,822 $12.09 $11.94 -$0.15 -1.3%
7 35-3031 Waiters and Waitresses 2,062 $9.65 $11.08 $1.43 14.8%
8 53-7064 Packers and Packagers, Hand 1,644 $11.30 $11.41 $0.11 1.0%
9 35-2014 Cooks, Restaurant 1,539 $12.26 $11.75 -$0.51 -4.1%
10 39-2021 Nonfarm Animal Caretakers 1,515 $11.64 $11.37 -$0.27 -2.3%
11 27-2022 Coaches and Scouts* 1,349 $19.85 $19.27 -$0.58 -2.9%
12 53-7062 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand 1,159 $13.26 $13.40 $0.14 1.0%
13 47-2051 Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers 1,139 $20.61 $20.24 -$0.36 -1.8%
14 51-9031 Cutters and Trimmers, Hand 1,013 $14.61 $13.88 -$0.73 -5.0%
15 45-3011 Fishers and Related Fishing Workers 912 $17.68 $14.42 -$3.27 -18.5%

*Hourly wage rate was unavailable for this occupation in the OES data so an hourly wage rate was estimated by dividing the average annual salary by 2080 hours (52 weeks*40 hours).

Note: All values adjusted to 2015 dollars.

Source: Office of Foreign Labor Certification Performance Data, H-2B Disclosure Data, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, http://www.foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/performancedata.cfm; EPI analysis of Occupational Employment Statistics survey data, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.

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