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Crop/Harvest Worker

Crop/Harvest Worker roles are seasonal farm jobs focused on picking, cutting, sorting, and packing crops under field conditions. Employers may pay hourly or by piece rate depending on the crop and region. CV is required for review.

CV is mandatory: candidates without a CV are not reviewed.
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Sector: Agriculture (H-2A focus) Typical route: H-2A Work type: Seasonal Last updated: January 1, 2026
H-2A work reality (plain language): H-2A harvest work is outdoors, pace-driven, and attendance-sensitive. Strong candidates keep a steady rhythm, follow safety rules, and handle repetitive bending/lifting without losing quality.

What you do on a real harvest crew

Tasks depend on the crop (berries, orchard fruit, vegetables, grapes, nursery plants), but the core pattern is consistent:

  • Pick or cut produce to quality standard (size, color, ripeness), avoiding damage.
  • Carry buckets/totes, empty into bins, and keep counts where required.
  • Sort/grade, trim, or pack produce; label and stack cartons (crop-dependent).
  • Field maintenance: weeding, thinning, tying, trellising, or basic hand-tool tasks.
  • Sanitation: clean tools and work zones; follow food-safety routines on the line/field.
The fastest workers are not the ones who rush—they are the ones who stay consistent and avoid rework (damaged produce, wrong grade, contamination).

A short “day-in-the-field” story

You arrive early, check your assigned row/block, and start with a quality briefing: what to pick, what to leave, what to reject. The day becomes a loop—pick, place, move, repeat—while staying hydrated and following heat/cold safety rules. When the crew transitions to packing, the focus shifts to clean hands, correct grading, and careful stacking. The day ends with cleanup and tool return.

Outdoor work Repetitive movement Quality standard Seasonal peak weeks

Gross pay (brutto) & schedule — real benchmarks

For H-2A harvest jobs, employers must offer/pay at least the required wage rate in the job order (often tied to the AEWR and other applicable rates). Pay may be hourly or piece rate; if paid by piece, weekly earnings must still meet the required hourly minimum after calculation.

Benchmark (example) Gross hourly Why it matters
Low-end AEWR examples $14.83/hr Appears in multiple states (e.g., AR/LA/MS) as a statewide AEWR benchmark.
Typical Southeast examples $16.16–$16.23/hr Examples include NC ($16.16) and FL ($16.23) as statewide AEWR benchmarks.
High-demand state examples $19.82–$19.97/hr Examples include WA ($19.82) and CA ($19.97) as statewide AEWR benchmarks.
Range occupation (herding) reference $2,058.31/month Monthly AEWR applies to range/herding occupations (not typical crop harvest); listed for completeness.
Typical job orders show scheduled weekly hours (often around 35–48 hours depending on the crop and season). Peak weeks may include weekend work. Overtime rules for agricultural work vary by state and job classification.

What you should verify before you travel

  • Pay method: hourly vs piece rate (and how piece rate is calculated).
  • Crop & pace standard: what “good performance” looks like for that crop.
  • Weekly schedule: expected hours, start time, rest days, and peak-week policy.
  • Housing/transport details: location, rules, commute time, and what is provided.

Detailed requirements (what employers screen for)

  1. CV in English with accurate phone/email (mandatory for review).
  2. Outdoor endurance: ability to work in heat/cold, wind, light rain (season-dependent).
  3. Physical stamina: repeated bending, reaching, carrying totes/buckets, walking rows for hours.
  4. Hand control: pick/cut without damaging produce; maintain steady pace.
  5. Food safety discipline: hygiene, glove/handwash rules, and clean packing habits when required.
  6. Safety compliance: tool handling, ladder/terrain awareness (orchards), and hazard reporting.
  7. Reliability: attendance and punctuality; harvest windows are short and schedule changes happen.
  8. Coachability: you must adjust quickly to crop standards (what to pick, what to reject).
Practical indicator: If you can work consistently without frequent breaks, keep quality stable, and follow instructions the first time, you typically perform well in harvest roles.

Candidate portrait (short profile)

The best crop/harvest workers are steady and disciplined. They do not chase speed at the expense of quality, and they stay professional in difficult weather or when the day runs long.

  • Temperament: calm, consistent, not easily distracted.
  • Work style: repetitive tasks done accurately; quality-first habits.
  • Team fit: respectful on shared housing/transport rules; follows crew coordination.
  • Communication: basic English for instructions, safety briefings, and reporting issues.

If you prefer indoor work with stable climate, consider Greenhouse Worker or Agricultural Packhouse Worker.

Next steps

  1. Create/upload your CV and keep contact details up to date.
  2. After CV review, we confirm role fit and available seasonal projects.
  3. If shortlisted, you proceed to employer interview and documentation steps.
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Work conditions in the USA (current, practical)

Environment

  • Work is outdoors: sun exposure, heat, morning cold, and variable weather are normal.
  • Terrain can be uneven; orchards may involve ladders; fields require long walking and repeated bending.
  • Harvest peaks can be intense: faster pace, longer days, weekend shifts depending on crop timing.

H-2A core protections (summary)

  • Workers are generally entitled to written contract terms, pay stubs, and disclosure of deductions.
  • Employers commonly must provide housing (when workers cannot return home daily) and transportation rules apply.
  • There is a “three-fourths” guarantee concept tied to the hours promised in the contract period.
This page is informational and not legal advice. Exact terms depend on employer, state, and certified job order.
Visa & authorization disclaimer: Any U.S. work authorization path (e.g., H-2A) depends on the hiring employer, eligibility, and official procedures. This page is informational and not legal advice.

FAQ (role-specific, anti-template)

Is harvest work paid hourly or by piece rate?

Both models exist. Some crops use piece rate to match harvest output; others pay hourly. In regulated seasonal programs, piece rate typically must still meet a required hourly minimum when averaged and corrected at week end if needed.

What is a realistic gross hourly pay benchmark for H-2A harvest work?

It varies by state. A common benchmark is the statewide AEWR used in many H-2A job orders. Depending on state, examples range from the mid-$14/hr level up to around $20/hr (gross).

Do I need experience?

Many harvest jobs accept entry-level candidates, but you must learn quality standards quickly and maintain pace and attendance.

What is the hardest part of the job?

Consistency. Repeating the same motion for hours while protecting the crop (no bruising, correct grade) is what separates strong workers from average workers.

What should I include in my CV?

Any outdoor/manual work, repetitive production work, shift work, reliability, and examples of meeting quality targets. If you have any harvest, packing, greenhouse, or warehouse experience—list it clearly.

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Use these internal links to compare similar roles before applying.