The minimum wage for agricultural workers working in the United States under theH-2A isa It is regulated by the federal government and varies each year based on various economic factors.
By 2025, new rates have already been set and, in the case of North Carolina, the minimum hourly wage will be $16.16. This is an increase of 2.2% in compared to $15.81 in 2024This figure, however, is slightly lower than the annual inflation rate.
The H-2A program allows farmers in the United States hire foreign workers when there is not enough local labor available. To prevent these temporary employees from displacing American workers or driving down wages in the sector, the Department of Labor annually sets a minimum wage for each state. This wage must be offered, advertised, and paid to all workers. contracted under the program.
💡 If you work with an H-2A visa or know someone in this program, you may be interested in our Guide to taxes paid by agricultural workers on H2A visas. Clearly explains who is required to file a return, what taxes apply, and how to avoid common mistakes.
US Farmworker Wages in 2025: Differences by State
Each state has its own H-2A minimum wage, depending on how the local economy and living costs evolve. In some states, the rate is higher than North Carolina’s. For example, the District of Columbia will have the highest H-2025A minimum wage in the country by 2, at $22.23 per hour, followed by California at $19.97 and Washington at $19.82.
Although these amounts establish a minimum, nothing prevents them from being employers pay their workers more if they wish or consider it necessary to attract and retain staff.
Resources in North Carolina
>>>Guide for Agricultural Workers with H2A Visas
What about workers outside the H-2A program?
The minimum wage set for agricultural workers with H-2A visas in the United States in 2025 also applies to employees who are not part of the program but work in the same fields as day laborers with this type of visa.
However, those not included in the program and working under other conditions are subject to the federal minimum wage, which in 2025 will remain at $7.25 per hour.
This federal minimum wage applies even to undocumented workers And while no state can set the wage lower than that amount, some states have chosen to set higher figures to reflect the cost of living.
Washington leads with the highest minimum wage in the country by 2025, at $16.66 per hour, followed closely by California ($16.50) and Connecticut ($16.35).
However, the difference between the federal minimum wage and that of H-2A workers remains significant, leaving those who are not part of this program in a more vulnerable position.
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After the storm
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