H-2A Sponsorship Jobs in Washington
Washington is one of the top H-2A visa sponsoring states in the country, driven by its apple, pear, cherry, and hop industries concentrated in the Yakima Valley, Wenatchee, and Skagit Valley regions. Thousands of temporary agricultural positions open each season across Eastern and Western Washington.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Must have 3 months experience with 800 - 1000 head flocks. One reference required.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The employee must be able to identify approaching storm periods and make precautions to prevent the herd from drifting against a fence line where they pile up and get drifted over with snow and freeze to death. The herder must be experienced in handling extreme winter conditions on a range to prevent death in sheep, goats, horses, and dogs. Due to animals exerting more energy during the winter months especially in extreme winter weather, the herder will need to monitor the nutritional needs of an animal throughout winter. Ensure that animals have access to unfrozen water and to distribute emergency supplemental feed. Monitor snow levels to prevent sheep/goats from being paralyzed in deep snow or caught up against a fence. Herders need to have experience in identifying animals who are not getting enough nutrition, keeping a fresh supply of water in freezing temperatures, and how to maintain animals in extreme weather conditions.
May assist in setting and moving portable fence. Some work/tasks may occur off the range, but more than 51% of work will be performed on the range. Western Range Association and its member ranches facilitate practices of good animal husbandry. Employees that are found abusing, neglecting or abandoning livestock entrusted to their care may be terminated for cause. If the negligent/abusive actions of an employee result in the loss/death of livestock/animals or cause harm to another person, the employee may be held accountable for these actions.
The worker will live in the employer provided range housing. Said housing will be clean and in good repair at the time it is provided to the employee. The employee is responsible to maintain the housing unit in a reasonable level of cleanliness in order to avoid flies, mice or other vermin. The employee is responsible to alert the employer of damage to the housing unit within a reasonable amount of time. The employee may be held accountable for damage to the housing unit that is the result of negligence on the part of the employee (normal wear and tear excepted).
Hours worked footnote: On call for up to 24 hours 7 days a week.
INTRODUCTION
Must have 3 months experience with 800 - 1000 head flocks. One reference required.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The employee must be able to identify approaching storm periods and make precautions to prevent the herd from drifting against a fence line where they pile up and get drifted over with snow and freeze to death. The herder must be experienced in handling extreme winter conditions on a range to prevent death in sheep, goats, horses, and dogs. Due to animals exerting more energy during the winter months especially in extreme winter weather, the herder will need to monitor the nutritional needs of an animal throughout winter. Ensure that animals have access to unfrozen water and to distribute emergency supplemental feed. Monitor snow levels to prevent sheep/goats from being paralyzed in deep snow or caught up against a fence. Herders need to have experience in identifying animals who are not getting enough nutrition, keeping a fresh supply of water in freezing temperatures, and how to maintain animals in extreme weather conditions.
May assist in setting and moving portable fence. Some work/tasks may occur off the range, but more than 51% of work will be performed on the range. Western Range Association and its member ranches facilitate practices of good animal husbandry. Employees that are found abusing, neglecting or abandoning livestock entrusted to their care may be terminated for cause. If the negligent/abusive actions of an employee result in the loss/death of livestock/animals or cause harm to another person, the employee may be held accountable for these actions.
The worker will live in the employer provided range housing. Said housing will be clean and in good repair at the time it is provided to the employee. The employee is responsible to maintain the housing unit in a reasonable level of cleanliness in order to avoid flies, mice or other vermin. The employee is responsible to alert the employer of damage to the housing unit within a reasonable amount of time. The employee may be held accountable for damage to the housing unit that is the result of negligence on the part of the employee (normal wear and tear excepted).
Hours worked footnote: On call for up to 24 hours 7 days a week.
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Tips for Finding H-2A Sponsorship Jobs in Washington
Target Eastern Washington's Tree Fruit Belt
The majority of Washington H-2A certifications come from Yakima, Chelan, and Okanogan counties, where apple and pear harvests drive massive seasonal demand. Focusing your search on these counties puts you closest to the highest concentration of certified employers.
Align Your Availability With Seasonal Peaks
Washington's H-2A demand spikes between June and November, covering cherry harvest through apple and pear picking season. Confirming you're available during these months makes you a significantly stronger candidate for employers planning their seasonal workforce.
Check DOL's iCERT Portal for Active Certifications
The Department of Labor's iCERT system publishes every submitted H-2A job order, including Washington employers actively seeking workers. Filtering by state lets you identify which growers are certified and what roles they need filled right now.
Use Migrate Mate to Find Washington H-2A Listings
Migrate Mate filters jobs specifically by visa type, so you can browse Washington H-2A postings without sifting through roles that don't offer sponsorship. It's one of the faster ways to identify which Washington employers are actively hiring sponsored workers.
Look Beyond Apples, Hops, Berries, and Vegetables Also Sponsor
While tree fruit dominates, Washington's hop yards near Moxee and berry farms in Skagit Valley also file H-2A certifications regularly. Broadening your search to these crops can open additional opportunities if apple and pear positions fill quickly.
Contact Farm Labor Contractors, Not Just Individual Farms
Many Washington growers use licensed farm labor contractors to manage their H-2A filings and workforce recruitment. Identifying and reaching out to these contractors directly can surface positions that aren't widely advertised through standard job boards.
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Get Access To All JobsH-2A Jobs in Washington: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Washington sponsor the most H-2A visas?
Tree fruit production dominates H-2A visa sponsorship in Washington by a wide margin. Apple, pear, and cherry growers in Eastern Washington account for the largest share of annual certifications. Hop farming, wine grape harvesting, berry cultivation, and vegetable production also generate significant H-2A activity, particularly in Yakima, Skagit, and Benton counties.
Which cities in Washington have the most H-2A sponsorship jobs?
Yakima and Wenatchee are the two cities most closely associated with H-2A employment in Washington, sitting at the center of the state's apple and pear production regions. Othello, Mattawa, Quincy, and Okanogan also see substantial seasonal hiring. On the western side, Burlington and Mount Vernon in Skagit Valley are active for berry and vegetable work.
What types of roles typically qualify for H-2A sponsorship in Washington?
H-2A roles in Washington are overwhelmingly agricultural. The most common positions include fruit picker, orchard worker, irrigation technician, pruner, bin loader, and crop grader. Supervisory field roles and equipment operators on farms can also qualify. All positions must be temporary or seasonal in nature and tied to an agricultural production cycle.
How do I find H-2A jobs in Washington?
Migrate Mate lets you filter job listings specifically by H-2A visa type and by Washington state, which cuts through the noise of listings that don't offer sponsorship. You can also search the DOL's iCERT disclosure data for employers who have filed Washington H-2A certifications recently, then contact those growers or their labor contractors directly.
Are there any Washington-specific considerations I should know about for H-2A sponsorship?
Washington has some of the strongest state-level farmworker protections in the country, including overtime requirements and rest break rules that apply alongside federal H-2A standards. Employers are required to provide housing and transportation as part of the H-2A job offer. Washington's agricultural regions also experience high seasonal competition for labor, so applying early in the cycle improves your chances of securing a position.