French drain cost in Jackson, TN
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
- #217
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Jackson, plan on $560 to $1,950 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.30 to $32.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 7% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.45 an hour in the Jackson area, 5% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Jackson, TN, 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 | $760 |
| Labor | $490 | $770 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $980 | $1,550 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Jackson, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $620 | $970 | 50% |
| Labor | $280 | $630 | $980 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $560 | $1,250 | $1,950 | 100% |
Where the Jackson 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 Jackson the blended ratio comes out at 0.90.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Jackson metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $620, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (85.5) and land at $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 Jackson. The wage table below marks each row.
Jackson labor market for French drain
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 Jackson is 0.90 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.45 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.83 and $23.42 an hour. About 580 work in the metro. That is 68.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $22.71 an hour, which is 21% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $19.65 and $26.72 an hour. BLS counts 270 of them working in the area, 31.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Jackson metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median: $22.12 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.10 and $23.54 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.42 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $30. At the 25th percentile ($17.83) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 2.4% or 4.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 84,530 jobs in the Jackson area. That makes it the 227th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $17.83 | $21.45 | $23.42 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $19.65 | $22.71 | $26.72 | $28.78 | 0.79 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $20.10 | $22.12 | $23.54 | $23.56 | 0.94 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
French drain: what moves the price in Jackson
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.
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).
Planning more than one job in Jackson?
Because every project leans on different trades, Jackson's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −4% and concrete slab −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,750 – $12,900 | −4% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,300 | −9% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,700 | −10% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,650 – $9,150 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,600 – $105,000 | −7% |
How Jackson compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Jackson. Jonesboro is the lowest at about $1,150 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 100 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TNthis page | $560 – $1,950 | $1,250 | |
| Memphis, TN75 miles | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
| Clarksville, TN95 miles | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
| Jonesboro, AR100 miles | $510 – $1,800 | $1,150 | −8% |
| Nashville, TN125 miles | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +4% |
| Decatur, AL135 miles | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $570 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Jackson comes in at #217 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, Jackson is 2% below the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $580 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +4% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $560 – $2,000 | $1,250 | +1% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | level |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | +2% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $550 – $1,950 | $1,250 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Jackson's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Jackson against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +24% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +23% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $540 – $1,900 | $1,200 | −4% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $660 – $2,300 | $1,500 | +18% |
Climate in Jackson: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Jackson Exp Stn (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through June and September through November are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Jackson (7 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
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 71 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Jackson gets about 57 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and May (5.8 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 4.1 and 4.0 inches. The station averages about 56 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 | 49 | 27 | 4.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 53 | 30 | 4.7 | Cold |
| Mar | 62 | 39 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 48 | 5.5 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 58 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 66 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 69 | 5.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 67 | 3.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 85 | 60 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 48 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 61 | 37 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 52 | 31 | 5.3 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Jackson
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Jackson 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 |
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French drain in Jackson: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Jackson?
For 60 linear ft, expect $560 to $1,950 in the Jackson 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 Jackson?
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 Jackson or Memphis?
Memphis is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,300, which is 2% more than Jackson ($1,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Jackson?
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 Jackson?
$560 to $1,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Jackson?
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 Jackson area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Jackson expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Jackson is 2% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($1,250 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Jackson?
The BLS median is $21.45 an hour in the Jackson area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.83 to $23.42.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Jackson?
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 Jackson?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and September through November. September 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 Jackson
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.