Chain-link fence cost in Wausau, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,500 – $6,000
- Per linear ft
- $9.65 – $39
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #144
- 1 = most expensive
Wausau homeowners pay roughly $1,500 to $6,000 to install a chain-link fence at 150 linear ft, or $9.65 to $39 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Wausau is almost level. 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
$2,850 to $4,650
About $18.50 to $30.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,650 | $3,000 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,850 | $4,650 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Wausau, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $840 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 36% |
| Labor | $600 | $2,300 | $4,050 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $1,500 | $3,750 | $6,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Wausau number
Labor is 62% of the midpoint bill here, against 60% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (60%), carpenters (40%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Wausau the blended ratio comes out at 1.00.
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 $1,350, compared with $1,450 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 $3,750 to $4,250 across Wausau and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WIthis page | $1,500 – $6,000 | $3,750 | |
| Eau Claire, WI75 miles | $1,550 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +8% |
| Oshkosh, WI80 miles | $1,600 – $6,850 | $4,250 | +13% |
| Appleton, WI80 miles | $1,600 – $6,700 | $4,150 | +10% |
| Green Bay, WI90 miles | $1,550 – $6,400 | $4,000 | +6% |
| La Crosse, WI105 miles | $1,550 – $6,600 | $4,050 | +9% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $1,550 – $6,500 | $4,050 | +8% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Wausau comes in at #144 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Wausau is 7% below the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $1,550 – $6,650 | $4,100 | +10% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $1,550 – $6,600 | $4,100 | +9% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $1,550 – $6,400 | $4,000 | +6% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $1,600 – $6,700 | $4,150 | +10% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $1,600 – $6,850 | $4,250 | +13% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $1,550 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +8% |
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 | $1,600 – $6,850 | $4,250 | +13% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $1,400 – $5,550 | $3,500 | −7% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $1,550 – $6,100 | $3,850 | +2% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $1,550 – $6,350 | $3,950 | +6% |
When to schedule chain-link fence in Wausau
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 |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Wausau
Gates
Gates are $80-$1,000+ before installation. Rolling or slide gates are the expensive end.
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).
Add-ons priced for Wausau
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Wausau by the average of the local wage index (1.00) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.97. 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) | $80 – $970 |
Cost by quality level and size in Wausau
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 4 common sizes.
Basic
$1,500 to $3,300
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,850 to $4,650
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,200 to $6,000
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,000 – $2,200 | $1,900 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $4,050 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,850 – $4,650 | $4,200 – $6,000 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,950 – $4,350 | $3,750 – $6,150 | $5,550 – $8,000 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,950 – $6,500 | $5,600 – $9,200 | $8,300 – $11,900 |
What nearby projects cost in Wausau
Because every project leans on different trades, Wausau's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +13% and wood fence −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,850 – $7,200 | −6% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,650 | −6% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,000 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,500 | +13% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Wausau is 1.00 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% 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 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.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.00 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $290. At the 25th percentile ($22.07) it shrinks by about $200. The total moves by 7.7% or 5.3%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $22.07 | $25.30 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.12 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.14 | $24.03 | $29.66 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $2,850 to $4,650 for Wausau, WI is attached.
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Chain-link fence in Wausau: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Wausau?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,500 to $6,000 in the Wausau area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,850 to $4,650. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Wausau?
About $9.65 to $39 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Wausau or Eau Claire?
Eau Claire is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,050, which is 8% more than Wausau ($3,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wausau?
About 62% at the midpoint, or $2,300 out of $3,750. Materials are 36% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Wausau?
$1,950 to $8,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link 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 chain-link fence compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Wausau is 7% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($4,050 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Wausau?
The BLS median is $25.30 an hour in the Wausau area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.07 to $30.00.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Wausau?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $3,300 and premium work $4,200 to $6,000. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+When is the best time to install a chain-link 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?
$80 to $970, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link 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 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).