French drain cost in Salem, OR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $680 – $2,400
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $39.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #61
- 1 = most expensive
Salem homeowners pay roughly $680 to $2,400 to install a French drain at 60 linear ft, or $11.50 to $39.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Salem is 13% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.20 an hour in the Salem area, 16% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Salem, OR, standard level
$1,200 to $1,850
About $20 to $31 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $530 | $830 |
| Labor | $660 | $1,050 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,850 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Salem, OR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $300 | $680 | $1,050 | 45% |
| Labor | $380 | $850 | $1,300 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $680 | $1,550 | $2,400 | 100% |
Where the Salem price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $26.20 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Salem is 1.21 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 55% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Salem metro is 105.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $680, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (103.6) and land at $0 to $0.
Why two Salem 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.
When to schedule French drain in Salem
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Salem Mcnary Fld (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for digging, grading and setting material in the ground in Salem: 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.
Salem gets about 40 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, November and December (7.0 inches in December). The station averages about 18 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 | 48 | 36 | 6.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 52 | 36 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 38 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 62 | 41 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 46 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 51 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 55 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 55 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 51 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 65 | 44 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 39 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 35 | 7.0 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Salem
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Salem 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
$680 to $1,350
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,200 to $1,850
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,700 to $2,400
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $340 – $680 | $600 – $940 | $850 – $1,200 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $680 – $1,350 | $1,200 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,400 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,700 | $2,400 – $3,750 | $3,400 – $4,750 |
Related projects, priced for Salem
Because every project leans on different trades, Salem's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs +18% and sod installation +10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,600 – $15,600 | +18% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,800 – $11,500 | +12% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +10% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,700 – $5,700 | +10% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,550 – $11,400 | +14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $41,900 – $130,500 | +16% |
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 Salem is 1.21 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $26.20 an hour, 16% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.67 and $29.27 an hour. About 1,690 work in the metro. That is 89.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $35.71 an hour, which is 24% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.63 and $45.45 an hour. BLS counts 750 of them working in the area, 39.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151), 20% of the weighting: a median of $30.40 an hour, 29% above the US median of $23.56. The middle half of them earn between $26.44 and $34.88 an hour. About 40 work in the metro. That is 2.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.27 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $50. At the 25th percentile ($22.67) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 3.1% or 3.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 188,620 jobs in the Salem area. That makes it the 122nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $22.67 | $26.20 | $29.27 | $22.66 | 1.16 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.63 | $35.71 | $45.45 | $28.78 | 1.24 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $26.44 | $30.40 | $34.88 | $23.56 | 1.29 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.21 | |||||
Is Salem cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (60 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Olympia is the priciest of the group at $1,650. Eugene is the cheapest at $1,450.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, ORthis page | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | |
| Portland, OR50 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +3% |
| Eugene, OR65 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −5% |
| Bend, OR110 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −2% |
| Olympia, WA140 miles | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +9% |
| Yakima, WA150 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | level |
| Oregon (statewide) | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −12% |
Across 300 US metros, Salem comes in at #61 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, Salem is 2% above the Oregon figure.
Other Oregon metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +3% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −5% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −2% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Salem's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Salem against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −19% |
| Salinas, CA | 186,430 jobs | $730 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +7% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | −17% |
| Tallahassee, FL | 186,160 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −21% |
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 $1,850 for Salem, OR is attached.
Detailed french drain report for Salem, OR, $9
Multi-page report for Salem, OR: 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 Salem: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Salem?
For 60 linear ft, expect $680 to $2,400 in the Salem area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $1,850. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Salem?
About $11.50 to $39.50 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 Salem or Portland?
Portland is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,600, which is 3% more than Salem ($1,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Salem?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $850 out of $1,550. Materials are 45% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Salem?
$680 to $2,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Salem?
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 Salem area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Salem expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Oregon?
Salem is 2% above the Oregon statewide estimate ($1,500 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Oregon; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Salem?
The BLS median is $26.20 an hour in the Salem area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.67 to $29.27.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Salem?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $680 to $1,350 and premium work $1,700 to $2,400. 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 Salem?
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 Salem
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.