Chain-link fence cost in Johnson City, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,400 – $5,400
- Per linear ft
- $9.15 – $35
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #245
- 1 = most expensive
A chain-link fence in Johnson City, TN usually costs $1,400 to $5,400 for 150 linear ft. That works out to about $9.15 to $35 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $440 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $19.79 an hour in the Johnson City area, 13% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Johnson City, TN, standard level
$2,600 to $4,200
About $17 to $27.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,550 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $2,600 | $4,200 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Johnson City, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,350 | $1,900 | 40% |
| Labor | $500 | $1,950 | $3,400 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $130 | 2% |
| Total | $1,400 | $3,400 | $5,400 | 100% |
Where the Johnson City price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: construction laborers at 60%, carpenters at 40%. Weighted together, Johnson City wages are 0.84 times the national level. Labor makes up about 57% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Johnson City is at 96.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,450 nationally becomes $1,350 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 87.9: $35 to $130.
What local crews earn in Johnson City
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Johnson City the blend is 0.84.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $19.79 an hour, which is 13% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.74 and $22.37 an hour. BLS counts 580 of them working in the area, 71.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.04 an hour, 21% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.81 and $26.92 an hour. About 160 work in the metro. That is 19.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $160 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $130. That is a swing of roughly 3.7% to 4.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Johnson City has 81,690 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 234th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $17.74 | $19.79 | $22.37 | $22.66 | 0.87 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $21.81 | $23.04 | $26.92 | $29.12 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Johnson City
Jobs that often go together with chain-link fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Johnson City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−7%) and gravel driveway lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,700 – $6,950 | −10% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,250 – $8,500 | −7% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,600 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,250 – $9,150 | −10% |
Optional extras in Johnson City
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.90 for Johnson City, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.84) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $70 – $900 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Johnson City bid
Survey
A land survey ($300-$900) is worth it before you put a fence near a boundary.
Height
A 4-ft fence runs $10-$20 per linear foot; 6- to 8-ft backyard fences run $15-$40+ (HomeGuide).
Coating
Black or green vinyl-coated mesh costs more than galvanized.
Johnson City against nearby metros and the rest of Tennessee
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Asheville is the priciest of the group at $3,650.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City, TNthis page | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | |
| Kingsport, TN25 miles | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | +4% |
| Asheville, NC45 miles | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +7% |
| Hickory, NC60 miles | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +3% |
| Knoxville, TN100 miles | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | +6% |
| Spartanburg, SC105 miles | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +3% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | +5% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Johnson City ranks #245 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Johnson City is 5% below the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $1,500 – $5,900 | $3,700 | +8% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | +4% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | +6% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +3% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | +4% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $1,400 – $5,500 | $3,450 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Johnson City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $1,450 – $5,800 | $3,600 | +6% |
| Odessa, TX | 80,910 jobs | $1,400 – $5,350 | $3,350 | −1% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | +5% |
| Greenville, NC | 80,770 jobs | $1,400 – $5,450 | $3,450 | +1% |
Johnson City weather and the chain-link fence calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Bristol Tri City Ap (10 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Johnson City: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Johnson City gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 9 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, June and July (5.0 inches in July). The station averages about 23 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47 | 26 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 51 | 29 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 59 | 35 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 69 | 43 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 52 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 65 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 63 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 56 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 44 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 59 | 34 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 50 | 29 | 3.8 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Johnson City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Johnson City. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from backyard (100 linear ft) to full lot (300 linear ft).
Basic
$1,400 to $3,000
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,600 to $4,200
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$3,800 to $5,400
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $950 – $2,050 | $1,750 – $2,850 | $2,550 – $3,650 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,400 – $3,000 | $2,600 – $4,200 | $3,800 – $5,400 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,850 – $4,000 | $3,450 – $5,600 | $5,050 – $7,150 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,800 – $5,950 | $5,150 – $8,300 | $7,550 – $10,700 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed chain-link fence report for Johnson City, TN, $9
Multi-page report for Johnson City, TN: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Chain-link fence in Johnson City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Johnson City?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,400 to $5,400 in the Johnson City area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,600 to $4,200. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Johnson City?
About $9.15 to $35 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Johnson City or Kingsport?
Kingsport is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,550, which is 4% more than Johnson City ($3,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Johnson City?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $1,950 out of $3,400. Materials are 40% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Johnson City?
$1,850 to $7,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Johnson City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $130 for fees in the Johnson City area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Johnson City expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Johnson City is 5% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($3,550 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Johnson City?
The BLS median is $19.79 an hour in the Johnson City area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.74 to $22.37.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Johnson City?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $3,000 and premium work $3,800 to $5,400. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Is there a bad season to install a chain-link fence in Johnson City?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add one gate" add in Johnson City?
$70 to $900, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Johnson City
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 a Chain-Link Fence Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Visual Fence Pro: Chain Link Fence Cost & Pricing Guide for Contractors (2026) (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 = Visual Fence Pro's $6-$13 per foot for residential galvanized 4-6 ft fence (taller or vinyl-coated fence costs more).