6 Highest-Paying H-2B Jobs
The highest-paying H-2B jobs are led by Hospitality & Guest Services, Food Service, and Maintenance & Repair, the three H-2B role categories with the highest median listed salaries. On Migrate Mate, Hospitality & Guest Services pays the most, with a median listed salary of $75,000 as of September 13, 2026. These figures reflect median salaries listed by employers on active H-2B job postings, not government wage tables, and individual offers will vary by employer, location, and experience.
Which H-2B jobs pay the most?
Ranked by the median salary listed across live H-2B jobs on Migrate Mate, updated September 13, 2026
How these salaries are calculated
Each role is ranked by the median salary listed across live H-2B jobs on Migrate Mate, not by any single top-paying listing. Using the median means one unusually high or mis-stated posting cannot distort the order, so the figures reflect what a typical role in each category actually pays. Salaries come from employer listings and update as the data refreshes. Exact pay is always set by the employer and shown on each listing.
- 01
Hospitality & Guest Services
Highest paid$75,000median listed salaryMost listings pay$63,000 – $88,000Listings analyzed194From live H-2B salaries on Migrate MateHospitality & Guest Services is the highest-paying H-2B role on this list, with a median listed salary of $75,000 across 194 H-2B listings on Migrate Mate.
Hiring for hospitality & guest services nowOpen Hospitality & Guest Services roles1,302 openSee all 1,302+ H-2B hospitality & guest services jobsApplySenior Rooms Operations ManagerMiami, Florida · On-site · $72,000/yr - $89,000/yrApplyCulinary Service ManagerNorden, California · On-site · $72,400/yr - $85,000/yrApplySous ChefChicago, Illinois · On-site · $73,000/yr - $93,000/yr - 02
Food Service
$75,000median listed salaryMost listings pay$63,000 – $88,000Listings analyzed164From live H-2B salaries on Migrate MateFood Service has a median listed H-2B salary of $75,000, across 164 H-2B listings on Migrate Mate.
Hiring for food service nowOpen Food Service roles1,155 openSee all 1,155+ H-2B food service jobsApplyCulinary Service ManagerNorden, California · On-site · $72,400/yr - $85,000/yrApplyExecutive ChefKeystone, Colorado · On-site · $70,631/yr - $100,901/yrApplyAssistant Restaurant General ManagerCharlotte, North Carolina · On-site · $72,000/yr - $94,000/yr - 03
Maintenance & Repair
$69,000median listed salaryMost listings pay$58,000 – $90,000Listings analyzed79From live H-2B salaries on Migrate MateMaintenance & Repair pays a median of $69,000, across 79 H-2B listings on Migrate Mate.
Hiring for maintenance & repair nowOpen Maintenance & Repair roles913 openSee all 913+ H-2B maintenance & repair jobsApplyChief EngineerMissoula, Montana · On-site · $90,000/yr - $105,000/yr Unlock every H-2B job in these roles
Find 8,900+ H-2B jobs- 04
Construction
$68,000median listed salaryMost listings pay$45,000 – $85,000Listings analyzed95From live H-2B salaries on Migrate MateThe median listed H-2B salary for construction is $68,000, across 95 H-2B listings on Migrate Mate.
Hiring for construction nowOpen Construction roles961 openSee all 961+ H-2B construction jobsApplyHVAC InstallerHouse Springs, Missouri · On-site · $60,000/yr - $72,000/yrApplyCo ForemanBrandon, South Dakota · On-site · $50,000/yr - $75,000/yrApplyCo-ForemanGrand Rapids, Michigan · On-site · $50,000/yr - $75,000/yr - 05
Skilled Trades
$56,000median listed salaryMost listings pay$45,000 – $68,000Listings analyzed44From live H-2B salaries on Migrate MateSkilled Trades shows a median listed salary of $56,000 across 44 H-2B listings on Migrate Mate.
Hiring for skilled trades nowOpen Skilled Trades roles488 openSee all 488+ H-2B skilled trades jobsApplyInstaller - Construction General LaborerLouisville, Kentucky · On-site · $40,000/yr - $50,000/yrApplyInstaller Construction General LaborerHuntsville, Alabama · On-site · $40,000/yr - $50,000/yrApplyInstallerSalem, Virginia · On-site · $40,000/yr - $50,000/yr - 06
Manufacturing Operations
$56,000median listed salaryMost listings pay$45,000 – $68,000Listings analyzed90From live H-2B salaries on Migrate MateManufacturing Operations has a median listed H-2B salary of $56,000, across 90 H-2B listings on Migrate Mate.
Hiring for manufacturing operations nowOpen Manufacturing Operations roles827 openSee all 827+ H-2B manufacturing operations jobsApplyInstaller - Construction General LaborerLouisville, Kentucky · On-site · $40,000/yr - $50,000/yrApplyInstaller Construction General LaborerHuntsville, Alabama · On-site · $40,000/yr - $50,000/yrApplyInstallerWest Palm Beach, Florida · On-site · $40,000/yr - $50,000/yr
See H-2B jobs across all 6 roles and thousands more
Find 8,900+ H-2B jobsHow the H-2B visa works
H-2B covers temporary non-agricultural workers, such as hospitality, landscaping, and other seasonal roles. The employer files a temporary labor certification with the Department of Labor and then a petition with USCIS, subject to an annual cap. Positions are seasonal and employer-specific, so check the dates and whether the role is expected to recur.
Related on Migrate Mate
Ready to apply for H-2B sponsorship?
Sign up free to unlock every H-2B job from these sponsors and thousands more, filter by role and location, and apply in a few clicks.
Find 8,900+ H-2B jobsHighest-Paying H-2B Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which H-2B jobs pay the most?
Hospitality & Guest Services pays the most, with a median listed salary of $75,000 across 194 H-2B listings, followed by Food Service ($75,000) and Maintenance & Repair ($69,000). The figures are the median of salaries listed on Migrate Mate for each role, updated July 2026.
Who qualifies for H-2B sponsorship?
H-2B workers must be nationals of a country designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as eligible for the program. The job itself must be temporary or seasonal, the employer must demonstrate no qualified U.S. workers are available, and the position must fall outside agriculture. Workers need a valid job offer from a U.S. employer who has obtained a temporary labor certification from the Department of Labor and an approved I-129 petition from USCIS.
Do these H-2B salaries include bonuses and equity?
No. Each figure is the base salary an employer listed on the job posting. Total compensation, including any bonus, equity, or overtime, is set per offer and usually sits on top of the listed base. Pay within a role also varies with seniority, specialization, and location, which is why the range around each median can be wide. Check the individual listing and confirm the full package with the employer.
How do I find a high-paying H-2B job?
The highest-paying H-2B roles concentrate in specialized technical and licensed professional fields where employers publish pay openly. Migrate Mate lists roles only from employers with a verified history of sponsoring work visas, so you can filter by role and see the salary each employer has listed. Focus on roles that match your background, since H-2B requires the role to match your credentials, and compare the listed salaries across employers before you apply.