Commercial Beekeeper (All Levels)

Beewise; Chowchilla (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive hourly pay

OT opportunities during peak workload

Continued seasonal employment

Job summary

Beewise in Chowchilla, CA is seeking Seasonal Beekeepers for the 2026 almond pollination. Local candidates will assist with beehive movement and inspections, performing tasks around live colonies in outdoor field settings.

Positions vary from Assistant to Experienced, with duties including feeding, medicating, equipment handling, and potential leadership roles for experienced applicants. This seasonal role starts January 12, 2026 and includes long days outdoors.

Qualifications

• Local to Chowchilla / Central Valley, CA.
• Available to start January 19, 2026.
• Able to pass a background check.
• Comfortable working around bees and being stung as part of the job.
• Ability to lift 50–75 lbs and perform repetitive physical labor.
• Willingness to work in harsh or variable outdoor conditions.
• Reliable transportation to work sites.
• Legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Assist with hive movement and handling.
• Work safely around live bee colonies.
• Perform hive inspections and handle equipment (frames, supers, brood boxes).
• Support feeding, medicating, and general colony maintenance.
• Maintain equipment, trucks, and bee yards.
• Work outdoors in varied field conditions.
• Long, fast-paced workdays up to 6 days/week.
• Learn commercial beekeeping basics and support the team under direct supervision.
• Perform hive evaluations, feeding, medicating, and basic management tasks independently.
• Lead small crews, perform full colony management, diagnose issues, and operate equipment (if licensed/trained).

Skills

Beekeeping basics

Hive inspections

Heavy lifting

Tools

Forklift operation

Job description

Seasonal Commercial Beekeeper – Almond Pollination

Location: Chowchilla / Central Valley, CA
Season: Starting January 12, 2026
Employment Type: Temporary / Seasonal
Schedule: Long days, up to 6 days/week
Experience Levels: Assistant, Intermediate, Experienced
Compensation: $18–$25/hour DOE

About the Role

We are seeking local Central Valley candidates to join our team as Seasonal Commercial Beekeepers for the 2026 California almond pollination season. This is hands-on, physically demanding outdoor work involving the care and management of honey bee colonies in agricultural field settings.

Positions are available at multiple experience levels, from Assistant to Experienced Beekeeper.

What You’ll Do

• Assist with the movement, loading, and unloading of beehives for pollination.
• Work safely and confidently around live honey bee colonies.
• Perform hive inspections and handle beekeeping equipment (frames, supers, brood boxes).
• Support feeding, medicating, and general colony maintenance.
• Maintain equipment, trucks, and bee yards.
• Work outdoors in mud, rain, cold, heat, and other variable field conditions.
• Participate in long, fast-paced workdays (up to 6 days/week).

Additional Responsibilities by Experience Level

Assistant (Entry-Level)
Learn commercial beekeeping basics and support the team under direct supervision.

Intermediate
Perform hive evaluations, feeding, medicating, and basic management tasks independently.

Experienced
Lead small crews, perform full colony management, diagnose issues, and operate equipment (if licensed/trained).

What We’re Looking For

Required

• Local to Chowchilla / Central Valley, CA
• Available to start January 19, 2026.
• Able to pass a background check.
• Comfortable working around bees and being stung as part of the job.
• Ability to lift 50–75 lbs and perform repetitive physical labor.
• Willingness to work in harsh or variable outdoor conditions.
• Reliable transportation to work sites.
• Legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Preferred

• Commercial beekeeping experience or previous ag labor experience.
• Ability to identify hive health concerns such as queenlessness or mite issues.
• Forklift or equipment operation experience (for experienced-level roles).
• Strong work ethic, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive hourly pay $18–$25/hour DOE
• Overtime opportunities during peak workload
• Opportunity for continued seasonal employment