Moving and Relocation Company Jobs in the U.S. for Foreign Workers (2026)

Americans move constantly - between apartments, cities and states - and the moving industry has a rhythm all its own: a frantic summer peak from May through September when leases turn over and families relocate before the school year, then a quiet winter. That extreme seasonality matters for foreign workers, because it is precisely what makes some moving jobs eligible for seasonal work visas.

The jobs on a moving crew

• Mover / helper - loading, carrying, wrapping furniture; the entry role. Typically around $15-$20 per hour, plus tips that can add meaningfully on residential jobs - crews on a good day may split cash tips worth several dollars more per hour, though tips are never guaranteed.
• Driver (non-CDL) - driving box trucks under 26,000 lbs; roughly $18-$24 per hour typically.
• CDL driver / long-haul mover - interstate household goods driving; experienced owner-operators and lease drivers in household goods can gross considerably more, though expenses eat into it. A Class A CDL transforms your value in this industry.
• Packer - specialized packing of fragile goods; detail-oriented, often paired with white-glove and office moves.

Seasonality and the H-2B route

Here is the genuinely useful part: because summer demand is dramatically higher than winter, moving companies are among the classic users of the H-2B seasonal visa program, alongside landscapers and resorts. A mover that can document its summer peak may be certified to hire foreign workers for the season at a government-certified wage. That makes moving one of the more realistic legal entry points for foreign workers without U.S. work history - with the standard H-2B caveats: annual visa caps, competition among employers for those numbers, defined start and end dates, and the rule that you work only for the petitioning employer. How the program works, including worker protections, is covered in our H-2B explainer. Some workers return to the same mover season after season, which employers strongly prefer.

For year-round careers, EB-3 sponsorship is theoretically available but uncommon in this industry; the honest expectation is seasonal work, potentially repeated.

Where demand concentrates

Everywhere people move: the biggest markets are metro New York and New Jersey, Florida (year-round inbound moves), Texas (Dallas, Houston, Austin), Atlanta, Phoenix, Denver and Chicago. College towns generate intense mini-peaks each August. Military-base regions add steady government relocation contracts, which are better regulated and often better paying.

What raises your pay

• A Class A CDL - the single biggest earnings lever; interstate household goods always needs drivers.
• DOT medical card - required for commercial driving; easy to obtain if healthy.
• Crating and fine-art packing skills - specialty moves pay premiums.
• Clean background and drug tests - required for in-home work; many customers' insurers demand it.
• Customer manners - tips follow crews that communicate well; some companies promote crew leads primarily on reviews.

Honest warnings

The work is physically punishing - stairs, heat, heavy furniture - and summer weeks routinely exceed 50 hours (overtime pay applies to hourly workers). Watch for rogue movers: the industry has a fringe of unlicensed operators, and a company that mistreats customers usually mistreats workers too. Check that an interstate mover has a valid USDOT number. And as always: nobody legitimate charges workers for a job offer or a visa "reservation."

A week in peak season

Understand what summer moving actually feels like before signing on. Crews meet at the warehouse early, load equipment and drive to the first job by 8 a.m.; a local crew may run two or three jobs a day, while an interstate load can mean packing a four-bedroom house until dark. Fifty-to-sixty-hour weeks are normal in June and July, with overtime pay for hourly workers making these the money months - many seasonal movers earn a large share of their annual income in one quarter. Heat management, lifting technique and stair strategy are genuine skills the veterans teach. Crews are judged on damage claims, so wrapping discipline matters as much as strength. Come October, hours drop sharply - which is exactly why the H-2B seasonal structure fits this industry, and why workers should budget for the defined end date rather than expecting winter hours.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Verify H-2B rules and current caps at uscis.gov and dol.gov.

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