French drain cost in Burlington, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $560 – $1,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.30 – $32.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #216
- 1 = most expensive
Burlington homeowners pay roughly $560 to $1,950 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $9.30 to $32.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Burlington is 7% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.35 an hour in the Burlington area, 10% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Burlington, NC, standard level
$980 to $1,550
About $16.50 to $25.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $490 | $770 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $980 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Burlington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $970 | 50% |
| Labor | $280 | $630 | $980 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $560 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Where the Burlington price comes from
Labor is 50% 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 Burlington the blended ratio comes out at 0.90.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Burlington metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $630, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.2) and land at $0 to $0.
Burlington: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Burlington wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$560 to $1,100
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$980 to $1,550
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,400 to $1,950
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $280 – $560 | $490 – $770 | $700 – $980 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $560 – $1,100 | $980 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $1,950 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,050 | $2,800 – $3,900 |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Burlington is 0.90 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $20.35 an hour, 10% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.66 and $22.91 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 59.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $24.79 an hour, which is 14% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.20 and $26.13 an hour. BLS counts 200 of them working in the area, 29.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $22.15 an hour, 6% below the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $20.46 and $24.34 an hour. About 30 work in the metro. That is 4.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.91 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $40. At the 25th percentile ($17.66) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 3.2% or 3.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 67,830 jobs in the Burlington area. That makes it the 266th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.66 | $20.35 | $22.91 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.20 | $24.79 | $26.13 | $28.78 | 0.86 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.46 | $22.15 | $24.34 | $23.56 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Burlington
Because every project leans on different trades, Burlington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −5% and concrete slab −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,300 – $12,300 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,400 | −8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −5% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,750 | −9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,250 | −7% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,000 – $103,000 | −9% |
Burlington against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Durham is the priciest of the group at $1,300. Greensboro is the cheapest at $1,250.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NCthis page | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Durham, NC15 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC20 miles | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Winston, NC55 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Raleigh, NC55 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | +1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Burlington comes in at #216 from the top. The priciest is San Francisco, CA at $1,900; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $1,100 (midpoints, 60 linear ft). Statewide, Burlington is 1% below the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +3% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $550 – $1,900 | $1,250 | −2% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Burlington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Burlington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | +4% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
| Morgantown, WV | 67,370 jobs | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
French drain: what moves the price in Burlington
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.
When to schedule French drain in Burlington
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Burlington Alamance Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through June and August through December are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Burlington (10 of 12 months). January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); July has 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 78 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Burlington gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and September (4.7 inches in July). Inside the workable window, February and October are the driest, at 2.8 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 48 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | 30 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 56 | 33 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 39 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 48 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 57 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 65 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 4.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 49 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 38 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 55 | 33 | 3.1 | Workable |
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French drain in Burlington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Burlington?
For 60 linear ft, expect $560 to $1,950 in the Burlington area. A standard-spec job lands at $980 to $1,550. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Burlington?
About $9.30 to $32.50 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 Burlington or Durham?
Durham is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 2% more than Burlington ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Burlington?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $630 out of $1,250. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Burlington?
$560 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Burlington?
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 Burlington area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Burlington expensive for French drain compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Burlington is 1% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($1,250 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Burlington?
The BLS median is $20.35 an hour in the Burlington area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.66 to $22.91.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Burlington?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $560 to $1,100 and premium work $1,400 to $1,950. 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 Burlington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and August through December. February 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 Burlington
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.