French drain cost in Jefferson City, MO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $640 – $2,250
- Per linear ft
- $10.50 – $37
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #99
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Jefferson City, MO usually costs $640 to $2,250 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $10.50 to $37 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $85 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $27.99 an hour in the Jefferson City area, 24% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Jefferson City, MO, standard level
$1,100 to $1,750
About $18.50 to $29 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $750 |
| Labor | $640 | $1,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,100 | $1,750 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Jefferson City, MO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 43% |
| Labor | $370 | $820 | $1,300 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $640 | $1,450 | $2,250 | 100% |
Why Jefferson City prices look the way they do
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 Jefferson City the blended ratio comes out at 1.17.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Jefferson City is at 94.2 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 88.0: $0 to $0.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a national median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Jefferson City. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Jefferson City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Jefferson City. 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
$640 to $1,300
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,100 to $1,750
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,600 to $2,250
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $320 – $640 | $560 – $880 | $800 – $1,100 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $640 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,250 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,300 – $2,550 | $2,250 – $3,500 | $3,200 – $4,450 |
What local crews earn in Jefferson City
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 Jefferson City the blend is 1.17.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $27.99 an hour, which is 24% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.79 and $36.61 an hour. BLS counts 580 of them working in the area, 72.3 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 $34.20 an hour, 19% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.80 and $38.97 an hour. About 410 work in the metro. That is 51.1 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 Jefferson City metro, so we used the national median: $23.56 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.15 and $29.52 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $130 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $95. That is a swing of roughly 6.7% to 9.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Jefferson City has 80,220 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 237th 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% | $21.79 | $27.99 | $36.61 | $22.66 | 1.24 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.80 | $34.20 | $38.97 | $28.78 | 1.19 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.15 | $23.56 | $29.52 | $23.56 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.17 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Jefferson City?
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Jefferson City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+7%) and sod installation lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,200 – $13,300 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,700 – $10,900 | +7% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,200 | level |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,000 – $9,950 | −1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,300 – $116,500 | +3% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Jefferson City bid
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.
Is Jefferson City cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. St. Louis is the priciest of the group at $1,550. Springfield is the cheapest at $1,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson City, MOthis page | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | |
| Columbia, MO35 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −4% |
| St. Louis, MO95 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +9% |
| Springfield, MO105 miles | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −10% |
| Kansas City, MO130 miles | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −6% |
| Springfield, IL150 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +7% |
| Missouri (statewide) | $620 – $2,200 | $1,400 | −2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Jefferson City ranks #99 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Jefferson City is 2% above the Missouri figure.
Elsewhere in Missouri
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +9% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −6% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −10% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −4% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −9% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Jefferson City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NC | 80,770 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −13% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −15% |
| Odessa, TX | 80,910 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −16% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −5% |
Jefferson City 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, Jefferson City Mem 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 Jefferson City are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February 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 101 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Jefferson City gets about 40 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are April, May and July (4.9 inches in May). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 41 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 | 41 | 23 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 26 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 58 | 35 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 68 | 45 | 4.4 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 55 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 85 | 65 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 89 | 69 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 88 | 66 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 57 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 46 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 57 | 35 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 45 | 26 | 2.1 | Cold |
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Detailed french drain report for Jefferson City, MO, $9
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French drain in Jefferson City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Jefferson City?
For 60 linear ft, expect $640 to $2,250 in the Jefferson City area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,100 to $1,750. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Jefferson City?
About $10.50 to $37 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 Jefferson City or Columbia?
Columbia is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,350, which is 4% less than Jefferson City ($1,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Jefferson City?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $820 out of $1,450. Materials are 43% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Jefferson City?
$640 to $2,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Jefferson City?
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 Jefferson City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Jefferson City expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Missouri?
Jefferson City is 2% above the Missouri statewide estimate ($1,400 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Missouri; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Jefferson City?
The BLS median is $27.99 an hour in the Jefferson City area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.79 to $36.61.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Jefferson City?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $640 to $1,300 and premium work $1,600 to $2,250. 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 Jefferson City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and November 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 Jefferson City
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.