French drain cost in San Jose, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $820 – $2,850
- Per linear ft
- $13.50 – $48
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +37%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #4
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in San Jose, CA usually costs $820 to $2,850 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $13.50 to $48 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $500 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $32.92 an hour in the San Jose area, 45% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in San Jose, CA, standard level
$1,450 to $2,250
About $24 to $37.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $530 | $830 |
| Labor | $910 | $1,400 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,450 | $2,250 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in San Jose, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $300 | $680 | $1,050 | 37% |
| Labor | $520 | $1,150 | $1,800 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $820 | $1,850 | $2,850 | 100% |
What is behind the San Jose 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, San Jose wages are 1.66 times the national level. Labor makes up about 63% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. San Jose 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 110.4: $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 San Jose. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in San Jose
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 San Jose the blend is 1.66.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $32.92 an hour, which is 45% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $27.33 and $38.90 an hour. BLS counts 4,420 of them working in the area, 38.9 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 $59.78 an hour, 108% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $38.21 and $62.57 an hour. About 1,360 work in the metro. That is 12.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the San Jose 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 $95 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $85. That is a swing of roughly 4.7% to 5.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara has 1,134,970 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 27th 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% | $27.33 | $32.92 | $38.90 | $22.66 | 1.45 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $38.21 | $59.78 | $62.57 | $28.78 | 2.08 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $29.74 | $36.63 | $45.46 | $23.56 | 1.55 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.66 | |||||
San Jose: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to San Jose. 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
$820 to $1,650
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,450 to $2,250
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$2,050 to $2,850
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $410 – $820 | $720 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,450 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $820 – $1,650 | $1,450 – $2,250 | $2,050 – $2,850 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,650 – $3,300 | $2,850 – $4,500 | $4,100 – $5,750 |
Related projects, priced for San Jose
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same San Jose wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+41%) and sod installation lowest (+16%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $9,150 – $16,300 | +24% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,550 – $14,300 | +41% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,750 – $3,850 | +16% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $3,050 – $6,250 | +22% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $5,500 – $13,700 | +37% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $48,700 – $151,500 | +35% |
Why two San Jose quotes can differ
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.
Crawl space drains
A crawl space French drain is $2,000-$8,000 installed.
How San Jose compares
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 60 linear ft range from $1,550 to $1,850 across San Jose and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CAthis page | $820 – $2,850 | $1,850 | |
| Santa Cruz, CA35 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −13% |
| Merced, CA40 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | −15% |
| Salinas, CA45 miles | $730 – $2,550 | $1,650 | −11% |
| Modesto, CA50 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | −10% |
| Stockton, CA70 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −13% |
| California (statewide) | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | −10% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −27% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, San Jose ranks #4 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, San Jose is 11% above the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $750 – $2,600 | $1,700 | −9% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $840 – $2,950 | $1,900 | +3% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −14% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | −13% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | −10% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −14% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Jose against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $620 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −25% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −35% |
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −15% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −26% |
San Jose weather and the french drain calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, San Jose (5 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 digging, grading and setting material in the ground in San Jose: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F)) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
San Jose gets about 13 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.8 inches in January). The station averages about 16 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 | 60 | 42 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 44 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 46 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 69 | 48 | 1.1 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 52 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 56 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 58 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 59 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 57 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 53 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 46 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 42 | 2.3 | Workable |
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French drain in San Jose: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in San Jose?
For 60 linear ft, expect $820 to $2,850 in the San Jose area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,450 to $2,250. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in San Jose?
About $13.50 to $48 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 San Jose or Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,600, which is 13% less than San Jose ($1,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Jose?
About 63% at the midpoint, or $1,150 out of $1,850. Materials are 37% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in San Jose?
$820 to $2,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in San Jose?
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 San Jose area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Jose expensive for French drain compared with the rest of California?
San Jose is 11% above 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 San Jose?
The BLS median is $32.92 an hour in the San Jose area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.33 to $38.90.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in San Jose?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $820 to $1,650 and premium work $2,050 to $2,850. Basic means: shallow yard drain, easy digging. Premium means: deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge.
+Is there a bad season to install a French drain in San Jose?
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.
French drain near San Jose
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.