Aluminum fence cost in Wausau, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,700 – $11,000
- Per linear ft
- $24.50 – $72.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $7,600
- Rank of 300 metros
- #140
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install an aluminum fence in Wausau, plan on $3,700 to $11,000 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $24.50 to $72.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 3% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Wausau, WI, standard level
$5,900 to $8,800
About $39 to $58 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,600 | $5,550 |
| Labor | $2,250 | $3,150 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $5,900 | $8,800 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Wausau, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,100 | $4,550 | $7,050 | 62% |
| Labor | $1,550 | $2,700 | $3,850 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $90 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $3,700 | $7,350 | $11,000 | 100% |
Why Wausau prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 40% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.03 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Wausau is 1.03 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Wausau metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $4,550, compared with $4,900 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.7) and land at $35 to $140.
Wausau against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 150 linear ft range from $7,350 to $7,800 across Wausau and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WIthis page | $3,700 – $11,000 | $7,350 | |
| Eau Claire, WI75 miles | $3,850 – $11,400 | $7,650 | +4% |
| Oshkosh, WI80 miles | $3,950 – $11,700 | $7,800 | +6% |
| Appleton, WI80 miles | $3,900 – $11,600 | $7,750 | +5% |
| Green Bay, WI90 miles | $3,800 – $11,300 | $7,600 | +3% |
| La Crosse, WI105 miles | $3,850 – $11,400 | $7,650 | +4% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $3,850 – $11,500 | $7,650 | +4% |
| United States | $3,800 – $11,400 | $7,600 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Wausau comes in at #140 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $9,700; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $6,500 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Wausau is 4% below the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $3,900 – $11,500 | $7,700 | +5% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $3,850 – $11,500 | $7,650 | +4% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $3,800 – $11,300 | $7,600 | +3% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $3,900 – $11,600 | $7,750 | +5% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $3,950 – $11,700 | $7,800 | +6% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $3,850 – $11,400 | $7,650 | +4% |
Cities with a workforce like Wausau's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wausau against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $3,950 – $11,700 | $7,800 | +6% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $3,450 – $10,500 | $7,000 | −5% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $3,800 – $11,400 | $7,600 | +3% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $3,850 – $11,500 | $7,700 | +4% |
Planning more than one job in Wausau?
Because every project leans on different trades, Wausau's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, inground pool runs +12% and wood fence −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,650 | −6% |
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,850 – $7,200 | −6% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,500 – $6,000 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,600 – $126,500 | +12% |
Wausau: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Wausau wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$3,700 to $6,600
Standard picket or ornamental, 4 ft
Standard
$5,900 to $8,800
Ornamental pool-code fence, 4-5 ft
Premium
$8,100 to $11,000
Tall privacy slat or custom ornamental
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| pool fence (100 linear ft) | $2,450 – $4,450 | $3,950 – $5,900 | $5,450 – $7,400 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,700 – $6,600 | $5,900 – $8,800 | $8,100 – $11,000 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,900 – $8,800 | $7,850 – $11,700 | $10,800 – $14,700 |
Climate in Wausau: timing your aluminum fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Wausau Dwtn Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Wausau (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March, November and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Wausau gets about 34 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 64 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 5 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23 | 7 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 27 | 10 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 40 | 21 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 32 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 45 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 55 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 59 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 57 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 70 | 49 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 56 | 37 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 40 | 25 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 28 | 14 | 1.5 | Cold |
Optional extras in Wausau
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Wausau by the average of the local wage index (1.03) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.98. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $200 – $880 |
Why two Wausau quotes can differ
Style
Aluminum picket runs $25-$50 per linear foot installed, ornamental fence $40-$75, and privacy designs $75-$130 (HomeGuide).
Soil and slope
Steep slopes and rocky clay can add $15-$20+ per linear foot in labor.
Pool codes
Many codes require a pool barrier with gaps under 4 inches, which influences the style you can buy.
Wausau labor market for aluminum fence
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Wausau is 1.03 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $24.03 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.14 and $29.66 an hour. BLS counts 370 of them working in the area, 53.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $25.30 an hour, 12% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.07 and $30.00 an hour. About 510 work in the metro. That is 73.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $37.18 an hour, which is 25% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $23.60 and $42.90 an hour. BLS counts 170 of them working in the area, 24.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.66 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $200. At the 25th percentile ($23.14) it shrinks by about $30. The total moves by 2.8% or 0.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 69,530 jobs in the Wausau area. That makes it the 261st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.14 | $24.03 | $29.66 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.07 | $25.30 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.12 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $23.60 | $37.18 | $42.90 | $29.71 | 1.25 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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Aluminum fence in Wausau: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an aluminum fence in Wausau?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,700 to $11,000 in the Wausau area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,900 to $8,800. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for aluminum fence in Wausau?
About $24.50 to $72.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $75.
+Is aluminum fence cheaper in Wausau or Eau Claire?
Eau Claire is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $7,650, which is 4% more than Wausau ($7,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wausau?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $2,700 out of $7,350. Materials are 62% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 35%.
+What would 150 ft (150 linear ft) cost in Wausau?
$3,700 to $11,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does aluminum fence need a permit in Wausau?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $140 for fees in the Wausau area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wausau expensive for aluminum fence compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Wausau is 4% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($7,650 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Wausau?
The BLS median is $24.03 an hour in the Wausau area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.14 to $29.66.
+What do basic and premium aluminum fence work cost in Wausau?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,700 to $6,600 and premium work $8,100 to $11,000. Basic means: standard picket or ornamental, 4 ft. Premium means: tall privacy slat or custom ornamental.
+When is the best time to install an aluminum fence in Wausau?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
+What does "add one gate" add in Wausau?
$200 to $880, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Aluminum fence near Wausau
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does an Aluminum Fence Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed range minus HomeGuide's $10-$25/ft labor range.