Report
Panhandle Seasonal Workforce Report
Local wages, the seasonal hiring calendar, H-2B cap status and live demand from our own listings, in one report that updates itself.
2026 edition · updated automatically
The season at a glance
20
open Alto HR roles right now, across 8 locations
$14.00–$25.00
hourly pay range on our open listings
$15
Florida minimum wage from September 30, 2026
Reached
H-2B cap, first half of the fiscal year
Across the Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach–Destin and Panama City metro areas, federal median wages for core retail, grocery and facilities roles ranged from $13.00 to $23.04 an hour in May 2025.
Florida’s minimum wage is $15 an hour from September 30, 2026, above several of those medians. Employers who budget from last year’s local rates will be posting below the market, and in a seasonal market that shows up as slower hiring.
International programs follow fixed calendars. J-1 students arrive on their university breaks, and H-2B depends on a capped number of visas and filing windows that open months before the season. The employers who staff fully are the ones who plan the mix early.
What core roles pay
Hourly median wage by metro area.
| Role | Pensacola area | Fort Walton Beach–Destin area | Panama City area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashiers (41-2011) | $14.38 | $14.91 | $13.98 |
| Stockers and order fillers (53-7065) | $16.79 | $17.20 | $17.37 |
| Retail salespersons (41-2031) | $15.32 | $16.31 | $15.53 |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers (41-1011) | $22.50 | $23.04 | $21.97 |
| Janitors and cleaners (37-2011) | $15.39 | $16.84 | $16.38 |
| Hand packers and packagers (53-7064) | $13.15 | $13.59 | $13.00 |
Florida’s minimum wage is $14 an hour until September 29, 2026 and $15 an hour from September 30, 2026. The federal figures are from before that increase.
The seasonal hiring calendar
| Program | Local associates | J-1 Summer Work Travel | J-1 winter | H-2B seasonal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who works | Local workers, all year | University students on their break | Southern Hemisphere university students | Seasonal workers from eligible countries |
| Typical season | All year | May to September | December to March | Spring to fall |
| How long | As long as you need | Up to four months | Up to four months | The approved petition period |
| Who selects | You and Alto | The sponsor | The sponsor | You, under the approved petition |
| Plan ahead | Days to weeks | Months | Months | Months, before filing windows |
H-2B: where the cap stands
Last verified September 22, 2026
- Statutory cap, fiscal year 2027
- 66,000 visas: 33,000 for jobs starting October 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, and 33,000 for jobs starting April 1 to September 30, 2027.
- First half (winter starts)
- Cap reached. USCIS announced on September 11, 2026 that it had enough petitions; the final receipt date was September 4, 2026.
- Second half (summer starts)
- Open. No final receipt date announced.
- When to file with the Department of Labor
- 75 to 90 calendar days before your date of need. For an April 1, 2027 start, that is January 1 to January 16, 2027.
- Supplemental visas for fiscal year 2027
- Not confirmed. We could not verify any fiscal year 2027 supplemental visa announcement on September 22, 2026. Check USCIS before planning around them.
- Carryover
- Unused H-2B numbers do not carry over to the next fiscal year.
Live: Alto HR’s open roles by location
Our own current listings, straight from Alto People. A snapshot of where demand is right now.
| Location | Open roles | Hourly pay on listings |
|---|---|---|
| Miramar Beach, FL | 6 | $15.00–$25.00 |
| Panama City Beach, FL | 6 | $14.00–$25.00 |
| Santa Rosa Beach, FL | 6 | $15.00–$25.00 |
| Destin, FL | 4 | $15.00–$25.00 |
| Fort Walton Beach, FL | 2 | $14.00–$20.00 |
| Gulf Shores, AL | 1 | $16.00–$20.00 |
| Panama City, FL | 1 | $15.00–$19.00 |
| Pensacola, FL | 1 | $15.00–$19.00 |
Planning your season
Set pay against the local market
Compare your posted rates with the medians above and the new $15 minimum. Posting below the market is the most common cause of slow seasonal hiring.
H-2B: 75 to 90 days before your start date
File your application with the Department of Labor 75 to 90 calendar days before your date of need, and track the cap before you plan around it.
J-1: plan months ahead
Sponsors recruit and select participants months before the season. Agree your roles, housing and transport early.
Local associates: days to weeks
Local teams can start in days to weeks and carry the year, with international programs covering the peaks.
Methodology and sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Florida Constitution, Article X, Section 24 (minimum wage)
- USCIS: Cap count for H-2B nonimmigrants (page updated September 11, 2026)
- 20 CFR 655.15(b): timing of the Application for Temporary Employment Certification
- Alto HR job listings, live from Alto People
Metro areas follow federal definitions: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin and Panama City-Panama City Beach. Program information is general, not legal or immigration advice; confirm details with the agency or your counsel before acting.
Plan your season with Alto
Tell us your roles, locations and dates, and we will build a staffing plan around this season’s numbers.
Prefer to talk? Call (850) 805-3774 or email info@altohr.com.