Visa sponsorship jobs in the USA that pay around $24,000 are, in almost every case, seasonal jobs under the H-2A agricultural visa or the H-2B non-agricultural visa. The figure is best understood as what a worker earns in a season of seven to nine months, not as an annual salary. A full year of full-time work at $24,000 would mean under $12 an hour, which is less than most approved H-2 job orders pay in 2026.
So the title is accurate in one sense and misleading in another. You can realistically gross about $24,000 on a single H-2 contract. You cannot choose to stay all year, you cannot change to an unrelated employer freely, and the visa does not lead directly to a green card. For many workers the appeal is what they can save, because on H-2A the employer must provide housing at no charge.
What does $24,000 really represent?
Seasonal income is simple arithmetic: hourly wage, multiplied by weekly hours, multiplied by the number of weeks in the contract. The examples below are illustrations, not job offers.
| Hourly wage | Hours per week | Contract length | Gross earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15 | 40 | 26 weeks | $15,600 |
| $16 | 40 | 36 weeks | $23,040 |
| $16 | 45 | 34 weeks | $24,480 |
| $17 | 40 | 35 weeks | $23,800 |
| $18 | 40 | 40 weeks | $28,800 |
When you read a job order, look at three numbers: the wage, the hours offered each week, and the start and end dates. A high hourly rate over a ten-week harvest produces far less than a modest rate over nine months.
How does the H-2A agricultural visa work?
H-2A allows US farms to hire foreign workers for temporary or seasonal agricultural jobs when too few US workers are available. Unlike H-2B, it has no annual cap, and it has grown into one of the largest US temporary work programs. Typical jobs include harvesting fruit and vegetables, nursery and greenhouse work, tobacco, operating farm machinery, and herding sheep or cattle.
What the employer must provide
H-2A carries stronger worker protections than most US visas. Under Department of Labor rules, the employer must provide or pay for:
- Housing at no cost that has passed inspection
- Daily transport between the housing and the fields
- Meals or a kitchen: either three meals a day at a regulated charge, or free cooking facilities
- Inbound travel and subsistence, reimbursed once you complete half the contract, and the return journey when you complete all of it
- Visa fees, reimbursed by the employer
- Tools and equipment needed for the job, at no charge
- Workers’ compensation insurance covering injuries at work
- The three-fourths guarantee: payment for at least 75% of the hours promised in the contract, even if work runs short
How H-2A wages are set
The employer must pay at least the highest of several rates, including the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR), any prevailing wage for the crop and area, and the federal or state minimum wage. The AEWR is set by the Department of Labor and differs by state and, under recent rules, by type of work. The method used to calculate it was revised in late 2025, which changed rates in a number of states, so do not rely on figures from older articles. The wage for a specific job is printed on its job order, and current rates are published by the Department of Labor.
Some harvest jobs pay piece rates, by the bin or bucket. Your earnings must still average at least the required hourly wage.
How does H-2B compare?
H-2B covers seasonal jobs outside agriculture, such as landscaping, hotel housekeeping, seafood processing, amusement parks and forestry. It is capped at 66,000 visas a year, with supplemental visas released in some years, so employer demand exceeds supply. The employer must pay the prevailing wage and cover visa-related fees and inbound travel, but is not required to provide free housing. We cover the cap and timetable in our H-2B visa sponsorship jobs guide.
| Feature | H-2A | H-2B | J-1 Summer Work Travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of work | Agriculture | Seasonal non-agricultural | Seasonal jobs as cultural exchange |
| Annual cap | None | 66,000 plus supplements | Program limits by sponsor |
| Who can apply | Workers with a job offer from a certified employer | Workers with a job offer from a certified employer | Full-time university students abroad |
| Housing | Free, provided by employer | Not required; sometimes offered at a charge | Participant pays |
| Recruitment and visa costs | Employer | Employer | Participant pays program fees |
| Typical length | Up to about 10 months | Up to about 9 to 10 months | Up to 4 months |
| Social Security and Medicare tax | Exempt | Deducted | Generally exempt |
Is J-1 Summer Work Travel a job route?
Not really. Summer Work Travel is a cultural exchange for full-time university students, who work in seasonal jobs at resorts, restaurants, theme parks and shops during their summer break. You apply through a sponsor organization designated by the State Department, usually via a partner agency in your home country.
Here, paying fees is normal and lawful: participants pay the sponsor’s program fee, the SEVIS fee, the visa fee and their flights. Sponsors must ensure health insurance that meets minimum standards, including at least $100,000 of medical cover for each accident or illness. With three to four months of work at entry-level wages, most students cover their costs and travel money, and do not return home with large savings.
How much can you actually save?
Gross pay is only half the picture. What you keep depends on deductions and living costs.
- Taxes: H-2A workers are exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes, though their income is still subject to income tax. H-2B workers have these taxes and income tax deducted. Both should file a US tax return, which sometimes produces a refund.
- Housing: free on H-2A. On H-2B, ask what the employer charges, or what local rooms cost. Our guide to affordable co-living spaces in the USA gives rent ranges by region.
- Food and phone: typically a few hundred dollars a month if you cook for yourself.
- Health care: workers’ compensation covers work injuries only. Ask whether the employer offers a health plan, and check whether you are eligible to buy one through HealthCare.gov.
- Sending money home: compare transfer providers on fee and exchange rate. A 1% federal tax on certain cash-funded remittances began in 2026, while transfers funded from a bank account or card are generally exempt; check the current rules.
An H-2A worker with free housing who grosses $24,000 can often save more than half of it. An H-2B worker paying rent in a resort town will save less. This article is general information, not financial or legal advice.
How to find and apply for H-2 jobs step by step
- Search the official site. Every certified H-2A and H-2B job order is published on seasonaljobs.dol.gov, run by the Department of Labor. You can filter by state, job type and visa.
- Read the job order in full. Note the wage, weekly hours, dates, duties, housing details and any experience required.
- Contact the employer or its authorized agent using the details on the job order.
- Complete an interview and receive a written offer or contract in a language you understand.
- Wait for the employer’s petition. The employer files Form I-129 with USCIS once its labor certification is approved.
- Apply for the visa. Complete Form DS-160, attend the interview at the US embassy or consulate, and show that you intend to return home.
- Travel and keep records. Keep receipts for travel and visa costs for reimbursement, and keep copies of your contract and pay slips.
Returning workers have an advantage. Employers rehire people who performed well, and many crews are recruited by referral, so your first season is the hardest to get. Check current nationality rules for H-2 visas on the USCIS website before you apply.
What rights do H-2 workers have?
- You must be paid at least the wage on the job order, for every hour worked.
- You keep your own passport and visa. An employer or recruiter may not hold them.
- You may not be charged recruitment fees, and you may not be punished for complaining.
- You can report underpayment to the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division, whatever your nationality.
- You receive a “Know Your Rights” pamphlet at the visa interview, with official helpline numbers. Keep it.
Your status is tied to the employer that petitioned for you. If the job is not what was promised, get advice from a farmworker legal aid organization or a worker center before you walk away, since leaving can affect your status.
How do you avoid H-2 misleading job offers?
Low-wage visa programs attract recruiters who profit from fees. Genuine employers do not charge for job offers or sponsorship, and under H-2 rules neither employers nor their agents may collect recruitment fees from workers.
- Match any offer to a job order on seasonaljobs.dol.gov, including the employer’s name and location.
- Do not pay for a “visa slot”, a “work permit” or a place on a list.
- Be suspicious of offers that arrive through social media with no interview.
- Do not take loans from recruiters to cover fees. Debt is a common method of controlling workers.
- Only US embassies and consulates issue visas, and the visa fee is paid through official channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stay in the US after my seasonal contract ends?
You must leave when your authorized stay ends unless another certified employer has filed to extend it. Total time in H-2 status is limited to three years, after which you must spend a period outside the US. Overstaying can bar you from future visas.
Do I need experience or English?
Many H-2A harvest jobs require little or no experience, while machinery and herding jobs often ask for several months. English is helpful but frequently not required for farm work. The job order states the exact requirements.
Can seasonal workers bring their families?
Spouses and children under 21 can apply for H-4 visas, but they cannot work, and employer housing is normally for workers only. Most seasonal workers travel alone.
Does H-2 work lead to a green card?
Not directly. Some employers later sponsor reliable workers through the EB-3 category, which is a separate process that takes years. See our EB-3 green card guide for how that works.
Which pays more, H-2A or H-2B?
Hourly wages are broadly similar and depend on the state and the job. H-2A often leaves workers with more savings because housing is free and payroll taxes are lower. Our guide to construction jobs in the US shows H-2B pay in one sector.
Bottom line
A $24,000 visa-sponsored job in the USA is a seasonal contract, usually on a farm or in a seasonal business, lasting most of a year at best. H-2A offers free housing and no cap, H-2B is capped and competitive, and J-1 Summer Work Travel is an exchange for students. Use seasonaljobs.dol.gov, read the job order carefully, and pay no one for a job.