French drain cost in Worcester, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $700 – $2,450
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $40.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +16%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #45
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Worcester area: $700 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 16% higher than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $29.52 an hour in the Worcester area, 30% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Worcester, MA, standard level
$1,200 to $1,900
About $20.50 to $32 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $730 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,900 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Worcester, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 40% |
| Labor | $420 | $940 | $1,450 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $700 | $1,550 | $2,450 | 100% |
Why Worcester prices look the way they do
Labor is 60% 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 Worcester the blended ratio comes out at 1.33.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Worcester is at 97.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $630 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 102.5: $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 Worcester. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Worcester?
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Worcester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (+14%) 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 | $8,100 – $14,600 | +11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,500 | +13% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,550 | +7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,550 – $11,400 | +14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $41,000 – $128,000 | +13% |
Who does the work: Worcester 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 Worcester the blend is 1.33.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $29.52 an hour, which is 30% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.23 and $43.40 an hour. BLS counts 1,650 of them working in the area, 47.2 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 $37.05 an hour, 29% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.12 and $54.24 an hour. About 1,230 work in the metro. That is 35.2 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 Worcester metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median: $34.99 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $30.30 and $41.61 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $210 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $95. That is a swing of roughly 6.2% to 13.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Worcester has 349,880 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 73rd 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% | $23.23 | $29.52 | $43.40 | $22.66 | 1.30 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.12 | $37.05 | $54.24 | $28.78 | 1.29 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $30.30 | $34.99 | $41.61 | $23.56 | 1.49 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.33 | |||||
Worcester against nearby metros and the rest of Massachusetts
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Boston is the priciest of the group at $1,600. Manchester is the cheapest at $1,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MAthis page | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | |
| Amherst, MA35 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −4% |
| Springfield, MA40 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −3% |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −17% |
| Boston, MA50 miles | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +2% |
| Hartford, CT55 miles | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −7% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Worcester ranks #45 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Worcester is 2% below the Massachusetts figure.
Elsewhere in Massachusetts
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +2% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −3% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −2% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −4% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −7% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Worcester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −26% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −18% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −21% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | −19% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Worcester
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Worcester. 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
$700 to $1,400
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,200 to $1,900
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 – $700 | $610 – $960 | $870 – $1,200 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $700 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $1,900 | $1,750 – $2,450 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,400 – $2,800 | $2,450 – $3,850 | $3,500 – $4,850 |
The best months for French drain in Worcester
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Worcester Rgnl 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 Worcester are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 130 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Worcester gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 73 inches of snow. The wettest months are September, October and December (4.8 inches in October). Inside the workable window, May and July are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 3 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 | 32 | 17 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 19 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 43 | 26 | 4.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 37 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 47 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 56 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 62 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 61 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 53 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 42 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 33 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 23 | 4.3 | Cold |
French drain: what moves the price in Worcester
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.
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 $1,200 to $1,900 for Worcester, MA is attached.
Detailed french drain report for Worcester, MA, $9
Multi-page report for Worcester, MA: 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 Worcester: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Worcester?
For 60 linear ft, expect $700 to $2,450 in the Worcester area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $1,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Worcester?
About $11.50 to $40.50 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 Worcester or Amherst?
Amherst is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,500, which is 4% less than Worcester ($1,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Worcester?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $940 out of $1,550. Materials are 40% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Worcester?
$700 to $2,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Worcester?
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 Worcester area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Worcester expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Worcester is 2% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($1,600 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Worcester?
The BLS median is $29.52 an hour in the Worcester area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.23 to $43.40.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Worcester?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $700 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 Worcester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. May and July 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 Worcester
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.