French drain cost in Jonesboro, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $510 – $1,800
- Per linear ft
- $8.55 – $30
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −14%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #292
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Jonesboro area: $510 to $1,800 for 60 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 14% lower than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.26 an hour in the Jonesboro area, 19% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Jonesboro, AR, standard level
$900 to $1,400
About $15 to $23.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $430 | $670 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $900 | $1,400 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Jonesboro, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $940 | 52% |
| Labor | $240 | $550 | $860 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $510 | $1,150 | $1,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Jonesboro number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: construction laborers at 50%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, pipelayers at 20%. Weighted together, Jonesboro wages are 0.79 times the national level. Labor makes up about 48% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Jonesboro is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $610 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.9: $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Jonesboro. The wage table below marks each row.
How Jonesboro compares
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Springfield is the priciest of the group at $1,300. Little Rock is the cheapest at $1,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro, ARthis page | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | |
| Memphis, TN65 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +11% |
| Jackson, TN100 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +8% |
| Little Rock, AR120 miles | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | level |
| Springfield, MO180 miles | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +12% |
| Clarksville, TN180 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +8% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +17% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Jonesboro ranks #292 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Jonesboro is 1% above the Arkansas figure.
Elsewhere in Arkansas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | level |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | +2% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $510 – $1,750 | $1,150 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Jonesboro against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan, WI | 60,630 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | +30% |
| Chambersburg, PA | 60,280 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | +15% |
| Dothan, AL | 60,720 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | level |
| Alexandria, LA | 60,000 jobs | $520 – $1,800 | $1,150 | +1% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Jonesboro bid
Exterior versus interior
A shallow exterior French drain is $10-$35 per linear foot; an interior basement drain is $40-$85 per foot, or $4,000-$17,000 installed (HomeGuide).
Where the water goes
A sump pump adds $500-$1,800 and a dry well $50-$3,000+. Discharging to a storm drain can mean extra permit fees.
Depth and soil
Rocky or clay soil and long trenches raise excavation time.
Who does the work: Jonesboro trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 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 Jonesboro the blend is 0.79.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $18.26 an hour, which is 19% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.23 and $20.53 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 64.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.92 an hour, 24% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.23 and $23.12 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 39.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Jonesboro metro, so we used the Arkansas statewide median: $18.10 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.52 and $19.33 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $35 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $30. That is a swing of roughly 2.7% to 3.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Jonesboro has 60,620 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 286th 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) | 50% | $16.23 | $18.26 | $20.53 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $18.23 | $21.92 | $23.12 | $28.78 | 0.76 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $17.52 | $18.10 | $19.33 | $23.56 | 0.77 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
The best months for French drain in Jonesboro
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Jonesboro Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Jonesboro are February through May and September through December: 8 of 12. Outside them, January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 65 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Jonesboro gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, April and May (5.2 inches in May). Inside the workable window, February and September are the driest, at 3.8 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 66 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 | 31 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 52 | 34 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 41 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 50 | 5.2 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 60 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 3.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 62 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 40 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 50 | 33 | 4.5 | Workable |
What nearby projects cost in Jonesboro
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Jonesboro wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−9%) and concrete slab lowest (−15%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $5,950 – $11,800 | −13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,750 | −14% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,000 | −9% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,050 – $4,450 | −15% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,400 – $8,500 | −15% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $30,900 – $96,500 | −14% |
Jonesboro: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Jonesboro. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from short run (30 linear ft) to long run (120 linear ft).
Basic
$510 to $1,050
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$900 to $1,400
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,300 to $1,800
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $260 – $510 | $450 – $710 | $640 – $900 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $510 – $1,050 | $900 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,800 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,050 – $2,050 | $1,800 – $2,850 | $2,550 – $3,600 |
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French drain in Jonesboro: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Jonesboro?
For 60 linear ft, expect $510 to $1,800 in the Jonesboro area. A standard-spec job lands at $900 to $1,400. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Jonesboro?
About $8.55 to $30 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $35.
+Is French drain cheaper in Jonesboro or Memphis?
Memphis is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 11% more than Jonesboro ($1,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Jonesboro?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $550 out of $1,150. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Jonesboro?
$510 to $1,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Jonesboro?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Jonesboro area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Jonesboro expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Jonesboro is 1% above the Arkansas statewide estimate ($1,150 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Jonesboro?
The BLS median is $18.26 an hour in the Jonesboro area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.23 to $20.53.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Jonesboro?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $510 to $1,050 and premium work $1,300 to $1,800. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+When is the best time to install a French drain in Jonesboro?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through May and September through December. February and September are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
French drain near Jonesboro
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 French Drain Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (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 = 48% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Outdoor Living' category split (44% labor, 48% materials). It is a category average, not a French-drain figure, so the materials line here is a rough one.