Top 20 H-2B occupations in 2017: National average certified H-2B wage, average OES wage, and employer hourly wage savings
| H-2B rank | SOC code | Occupation | H-2B jobs certified | H-2B average hourly wage | OES national average hourly wage | Employer average hourly wage savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37-3011 | Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 53,938 | $12.94 | $14.28 | $1.34 |
| 2 | 45-4011 | Forest and Conservation Workers | 10,918 | $11.58 | $15.06 | $3.48 |
| 3 | 37-2012 | Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 10,064 | $10.90 | $11.84 | $0.94 |
| 4 | 39-3091 | Amusement and Recreation Attendants | 7,124 | $9.14 | $10.94 | $1.80 |
| 5 | 51-3022 | Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers | 7,021 | $9.92 | $12.71 | $2.79 |
| 6 | 47-2061 | Construction Laborers | 4,499 | $14.61 | $18.70 | $4.09 |
| 7 | 35-3031 | Waiters and Waitresses | 3,730 | $11.72 | $12.15 | $0.43 |
| 8 | 35-2014 | Cooks, Restaurant | 2,598 | $12.59 | $12.71 | $0.12 |
| 9 | 35-3022 | Counter Attendants, Cafeteria, Food Concession, and Coffee Shop | 1,793 | $9.60 | $10.83 | $1.23 |
| 10 | 39-2021 | Nonfarm Animal Caretakers | 1,638 | $12.25 | $12.10 | -$0.15 |
| 11 | 53-7062 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 1,566 | $13.17 | $14.28 | $1.11 |
| 12 | 51-9198 | Helpers–Production Workers | 1,505 | $12.82 | $13.50 | $0.68 |
| 13 | 45-3011 | Fishers and Related Fishing Workers | 1,333 | $14.11 | $15.00 | $0.89 |
| 14 | 47-3012 | Helpers–Carpenters | 1,330 | $15.15 | $14.95 | -$0.20 |
| 15 | 35-9011 | Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers | 1,217 | $10.16 | $11.08 | $0.92 |
| 16 | 47-3016 | Helpers–Roofers | 1,178 | $13.49 | $14.28 | $0.79 |
| 17 | 35-2021 | Food Preparation Workers | 1,152 | $10.78 | $11.49 | $0.71 |
| 18 | 45-2092 | Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse | 1,112 | $10.86 | $12.05 | $1.19 |
| 19 | 53-7064 | Packers and Packagers, Hand | 1,057 | $10.26 | $12.22 | $1.96 |
| 20 | 51-4121 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 1,041 | $21.72 | $20.87 | -$0.85 |
Note: All values are in 2017 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 national average hourly wage.
Source: EPI analysis of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment Statistics (2017) and of H-2B fiscal 2017 disclosure data from the Office of Foreign Labor Certification's Performance Data, available at: https://foreignlaborcert.doleta.gov/pdf/PerformanceData/2017/H-2B_Disclosure_Data_FY17.xlsx