French drain cost in Bakersfield, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $710 – $2,450
- Per linear ft
- $12 – $41
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +18%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #30
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Bakersfield area: $710 to $2,450 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 18% higher than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.83 an hour in the Bakersfield area, 18% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Bakersfield, CA, standard level
$1,250 to $1,950
About $20.50 to $32.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $530 | $830 |
| Labor | $710 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,250 | $1,950 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Bakersfield, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $300 | $680 | $1,050 | 43% |
| Labor | $400 | $910 | $1,400 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $710 | $1,600 | $2,450 | 100% |
What is behind the Bakersfield number
Labor is 57% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (50%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), pipelayers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Bakersfield the blended ratio comes out at 1.29.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bakersfield is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $680 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 100.9: $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 Bakersfield. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Bakersfield?
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bakersfield wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+15%) and concrete slab lowest (+7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,900 – $14,700 | +11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,900 – $11,700 | +15% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +9% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,550 | +7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,400 – $11,000 | +10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,600 – $127,000 | +12% |
The best months for French drain in Bakersfield
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Bakersfield gets about 6 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and March (1.2 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 0.3 and 0.3 inches. The station averages about 112 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 | 59 | 41 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 64 | 43 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 47 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 76 | 51 | 0.6 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 58 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 65 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 98 | 71 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 70 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 65 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 55 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 45 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 40 | 1.1 | Workable |
Why two Bakersfield quotes can differ
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
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.
Bakersfield: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bakersfield. 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
$710 to $1,400
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,250 to $1,950
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,750 to $2,450
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $350 – $710 | $620 – $970 | $880 – $1,250 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $710 – $1,400 | $1,250 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,450 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,400 – $2,850 | $2,450 – $3,900 | $3,550 – $4,950 |
Who does the work: Bakersfield 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 Bakersfield the blend is 1.29.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $26.83 an hour, which is 18% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.25 and $35.76 an hour. BLS counts 1,480 of them working in the area, 43.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $37.48 an hour, 30% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.30 and $53.89 an hour. About 1,000 work in the metro. That is 29.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bakersfield metro, so we used the California statewide median: $36.63 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.74 and $45.46 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $140 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $70. That is a swing of roughly 4.5% to 8.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bakersfield-Delano has 338,230 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 77th 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% | $22.25 | $26.83 | $35.76 | $22.66 | 1.18 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.30 | $37.48 | $53.89 | $28.78 | 1.30 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $29.74 | $36.63 | $45.46 | $23.56 | 1.55 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.29 | |||||
Bakersfield against nearby metros and the rest of California
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Bakersfield. Visalia is the lowest at about $1,450 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 60 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield, CAthis page | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | |
| Visalia, CA60 miles | $650 – $2,300 | $1,450 | −8% |
| Oxnard, CA70 miles | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | level |
| Los Angeles, CA90 miles | $750 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +6% |
| Santa Maria, CA95 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +1% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA95 miles | $720 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +2% |
| California (statewide) | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +5% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −15% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bakersfield ranks #30 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bakersfield is 4% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $750 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +6% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $840 – $2,950 | $1,900 | +20% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | level |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $820 – $2,850 | $1,850 | +16% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bakersfield against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −28% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −12% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | −20% |
| Oxnard, CA | 323,890 jobs | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | level |
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 $1,250 to $1,950 for Bakersfield, CA is attached.
Detailed french drain report for Bakersfield, CA, $9
Multi-page report for Bakersfield, CA: 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.
French drain in Bakersfield: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Bakersfield?
For 60 linear ft, expect $710 to $2,450 in the Bakersfield area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,250 to $1,950. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Bakersfield?
About $12 to $41 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 Bakersfield or Visalia?
Visalia is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,450, which is 8% less than Bakersfield ($1,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bakersfield?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $910 out of $1,600. Materials are 43% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Bakersfield?
$710 to $2,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Bakersfield?
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 Bakersfield area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bakersfield expensive for French drain compared with the rest of California?
Bakersfield is 4% below the California statewide estimate ($1,650 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Bakersfield?
The BLS median is $26.83 an hour in the Bakersfield area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.25 to $35.76.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Bakersfield?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $710 to $1,400 and premium work $1,750 to $2,450. 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 Bakersfield?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. May 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.
French drain near Bakersfield
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.