Table 2
Top 5 H-2B occupations in top 10 H-2B recipient states 2019: National average certified H-2B wage, average OES wage, and employer hourly wage savings
| SOC code | State | Occupation | H-2B jobs certified | H-2B average hourly wage | OES state level average hourly wage | Employer average hourly wage savings | Percent saved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37-3011 | Colorado | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 4,555 | $15.39 | $15.15 | -$0.24 | -1.6% |
| 37-2012 | Colorado | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 987 | $13.93 | $12.52 | -$1.41 | -10.1% |
| 47-2061 | Colorado | Construction Laborers | 221 | $17.20 | $19.75 | $2.55 | 14.8% |
| 47-3011 | Colorado | Helpers–Brickmasons, Blockmasons, Stonemasons, and Tile and Marble Setters | 120 | $17.44 | $17.82 | $0.37 | 2.1% |
| 35-9021 | Colorado | Dishwashers | 108 | $11.84 | $11.35 | -$0.49 | -4.1% |
| 35-3031 | Florida | Waiters and Waitresses | 1,978 | $13.54 | $12.65 | -$0.90 | -6.6% |
| 37-2012 | Florida | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 1,926 | $10.85 | $12.52 | $1.67 | 15.4% |
| 37-3011 | Florida | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 1,496 | $12.76 | $15.15 | $2.39 | 18.7% |
| 39-3091 | Florida | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 1,007 | $9.57 | $11.48 | $1.91 | 20.0% |
| 35-2014 | Florida | Cooks, Restaurant | 1,003 | $14.14 | $13.50 | -$0.64 | -4.5% |
| 37-3011 | Louisiana | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 2,186 | $12.69 | $15.15 | $2.46 | 19.4% |
| 51-3022 | Louisiana | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 1,316 | $8.69 | $13.60 | $4.91 | 56.4% |
| 53-7062 | Louisiana | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 326 | $8.87 | $15.12 | $6.24 | 70.4% |
| 45-4011 | Louisiana | Forest and Conservation Workers | 281 | $15.39 | $15.33 | -$0.06 | -0.4% |
| 45-3011 | Louisiana | Fishers and Related Fishing Workers | 196 | $15.00 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 37-3011 | Maryland | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 2,309 | $14.88 | $15.15 | $0.27 | 1.8% |
| 33-9092 | Maryland | Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers | 463 | $11.23 | $11.95 | $0.72 | 6.5% |
| 51-3093 | Maryland | Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders | 290 | $9.64 | $15.51 | $5.87 | 60.9% |
| 39-3091 | Maryland | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 222 | $11.10 | $11.48 | $0.38 | 3.5% |
| 37-2011 | Maryland | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 214 | $14.49 | $14.17 | -$0.32 | -2.2% |
| 37-3011 | New York | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 1,778 | $16.11 | $15.15 | -$0.96 | -6.0% |
| 39-2021 | New York | Nonfarm Animal Caretakers | 891 | $12.91 | $12.68 | -$0.24 | -1.8% |
| 35-3031 | New York | Waiters and Waitresses | 400 | $14.53 | $12.65 | -$1.88 | -13.0% |
| 37-2012 | New York | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 300 | $12.59 | $12.52 | -$0.07 | -0.5% |
| 35-2014 | New York | Cooks, Restaurant | 155 | $13.68 | $13.50 | -$0.18 | -1.3% |
| 37-3011 | North Carolina | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 3,242 | $13.35 | $15.15 | $1.80 | 13.5% |
| 51-3022 | North Carolina | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 602 | $9.30 | $13.60 | $4.30 | 46.3% |
| 45-4011 | North Carolina | Forest and Conservation Workers | 327 | $13.09 | $15.33 | $2.24 | 17.1% |
| 37-2012 | North Carolina | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 251 | $11.14 | $12.52 | $1.38 | 12.4% |
| 47-4051 | North Carolina | Highway Maintenance Workers | 225 | $16.00 | $20.28 | $4.28 | 26.7% |
| 37-3011 | Ohio | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 3,264 | $13.67 | $15.15 | $1.48 | 10.9% |
| 47-2061 | Ohio | Construction Laborers | 220 | $16.50 | $19.75 | $3.25 | 19.7% |
| 39-3091 | Ohio | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 208 | $9.07 | $11.48 | $2.42 | 26.7% |
| 35-3022 | Ohio | Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop | 177 | $8.69 | $11.37 | $2.69 | 30.9% |
| 47-3016 | Ohio | Helpers–Roofers | 92 | $14.52 | $15.54 | $1.02 | 7.0% |
| 37-3011 | Pennsylvania | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 7,573 | $14.72 | $15.15 | $0.43 | 2.9% |
| 47-2152 | Pennsylvania | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 298 | $45.79 | $28.47 | -$17.32 | -37.8% |
| 47-2111 | Pennsylvania | Electricians | 295 | $38.55 | $28.98 | -$9.57 | -24.8% |
| 39-3091 | Pennsylvania | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 249 | $8.87 | $11.48 | $2.62 | 29.5% |
| 47-2061 | Pennsylvania | Construction Laborers | 133 | $19.87 | $19.75 | -$0.12 | -0.6% |
| 37-3011 | Texas | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 11,225 | $13.61 | $15.15 | $1.54 | 11.3% |
| 45-3011 | Texas | Fishers and Related Fishing Workers | 932 | $10.53 | $11.07 | $0.54 | 5.1% |
| 37-3013 | Texas | Tree Trimmers and Pruners | 875 | $16.47 | $19.82 | $3.35 | 20.3% |
| 51-3022 | Texas | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 875 | $10.86 | $13.60 | $2.74 | 25.3% |
| 39-3091 | Texas | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 803 | $8.99 | $11.48 | $2.50 | 27.8% |
| 51-3022 | Washington | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 3,809 | $11.41 | $13.60 | $2.20 | 19.3% |
| 45-4011 | Washington | Forest and Conservation Workers | 506 | $12.44 | $15.33 | $2.89 | 23.2% |
| 37-3011 | Washington | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 255 | $16.84 | $15.15 | -$1.69 | -10.0% |
| 27-1023 | Washington | Floral Designers | 240 | $14.61 | $14.15 | -$0.46 | -3.1% |
| 51-3092 | Washington | Food Batchmakers | 209 | $15.60 | $15.71 | $0.11 | 0.7% |
*Unreported wage data indicated by N/A
Note: 2018 OES wage data are adjusted to 2019 dollars. A negative value in the employer hourly wage savings column represents an H-2B job that was, on average, certified at a higher wage rate than the corresponding OES state average hourly wage.
Source: EPI analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics 2017, 2018, and of H-2B fiscal 2019 disclosure data from the Office of Foreign Labor Certification's Performance Data.
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