Same Work, Less Pay: Maryland H-2A Workers Face Unfair Wage Cuts in 2026

The changes made by the Trump administration are deeply impacting H-2A workers, agricultural workers in the U.S. on temporary guest worker visas, by cutting wages and weakening long-held protections. In Maryland, many immigrant farmworkers are doing the same hard work they did last season but taking home less money.

At CATA’s Maryland office, I have been hearing this concern directly from H-2A workers across Salisbury, Wicomico County, Dorchester County, and nearby agricultural communities. Many of the workers I speak with are employed in nurseries, growing grass, flowers, and plants, or preparing fields for crops like watermelon and cantaloupe. Most are Mexican workers living in motels provided by the farms

that hire them.

The change comes after new federal H-2A wage rules shifted how the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, or AEWR, is calculated.

In Maryland, workers are now seeing wage levels such as:

Level 1: $15.35/hour for workers with 0–2 months of experience

Level 2: $18.21/hour for workers with 3+ months of experience

Employers may also be allowed to subtract a housing-related amount from wages when housing is provided. In Maryland, that amount is listed as $2.31 per hour. However, wages cannot fall below the state minimum wage. For Maryland agricultural workers in 2026, that minimum is $15.00/hour.

For workers, this is not just a number on paper. Many have told me they are earning $3 to $4 less per hour than before. That means less money to send home to their families, less money for food, and less money for basic personal needs. Some workers who have returned year after year are now saying they may not come back next season because the pay no longer stretches far enough.

Many employers have informed workers about the wage changes before their arrival. Still, workers are feeling the impact deeply. So far, many workers CATA has spoken with in Maryland have not yet been charged rent, but workers in other states are already reporting housing deductions.

This year, my work with CATA in Maryland has also included supporting poultry workers facing unsafe conditions, connecting families affected by deportation with social services, helping women prepare legal documents for their children and households, and partnering with organizations to support Haitian families, mental health, tax access, and community resources.

Workers should not have to face lower wages, fear, or confusion alone. When workers are informed, organized, and supported, they are better prepared to defend their rights — and their dignity.

If you are a worker in Maryland facing wage concerns, unsafe conditions, or questions about your rights, contact me at lborrerokrouse@cata-farmworkers.org.