French drain cost in Burlington, VT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $600 – $2,100
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $35
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #139
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a French drain in the Burlington area: $600 to $2,100 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 lands close to the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $24.01 an hour in the Burlington area, 6% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Burlington, VT, standard level
$1,050 to $1,650
About $17.50 to $27.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $770 |
| Labor | $560 | $880 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,050 | $1,650 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Burlington, VT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $280 | $630 | $980 | 47% |
| Labor | $320 | $720 | $1,150 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $600 | $1,350 | $2,100 | 100% |
Where the Burlington price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: construction laborers at 50%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, pipelayers at 20%. Weighted together, Burlington wages are 1.03 times the national level. Labor makes up about 53% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Burlington is at 97.3 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 100.9: $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 Burlington. The wage table below marks each row.
Who does the work: Burlington 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 Burlington the blend is 1.03.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $24.01 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.00 and $28.38 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the area, 38.3 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 $28.85 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.00 and $30.71 an hour. About 330 work in the metro. That is 27.5 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 Burlington 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 $70 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $15. That is a swing of roughly 1.2% to 5.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Burlington-South Burlington has 120,150 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 182nd 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% | $23.00 | $24.01 | $28.38 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $27.00 | $28.85 | $30.71 | $28.78 | 1.00 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $21.15 | $23.56 | $29.52 | $23.56 | 1.00 | US |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Burlington
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Burlington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (+7%) and retaining wall lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,050 – $13,300 | −1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | level |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,500 | +7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,050 – $10,100 | +1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,200 – $113,000 | level |
Burlington against nearby metros and the rest of Vermont
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Burlington. Manchester is the lowest at about $1,300 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 140 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, VTthis page | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | |
| Albany, NY140 miles | $680 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +13% |
| Manchester, NH140 miles | $580 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −4% |
| Utica, NY140 miles | $640 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +6% |
| Portland, ME150 miles | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | +2% |
| Pittsfield, MA160 miles | $650 – $2,250 | $1,450 | +7% |
| Vermont (statewide) | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | level |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Burlington ranks #139 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Burlington is 1% above the Vermont figure.
Burlington is the only Vermont metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PA | 120,480 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −2% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $570 – $2,000 | $1,300 | −5% |
| Ocala, FL | 120,980 jobs | $530 – $1,850 | $1,200 | −11% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −1% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Burlington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Burlington. 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
$600 to $1,200
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,050 to $1,650
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,500 to $2,100
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $300 – $600 | $530 – $830 | $750 – $1,050 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $600 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $2,100 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,400 | $2,100 – $3,300 | $3,000 – $4,200 |
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.
The best months for French drain in Burlington
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Burlington Intl 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 Burlington are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November 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 145 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Burlington gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 88 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and October (4.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and August are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 8 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 | 29 | 13 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 32 | 14 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 24 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 36 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 48 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 57 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 61 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 53 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 42 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 32 | 2.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 35 | 21 | 2.5 | Cold |
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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 $600 to $2,100 in the Burlington area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,050 to $1,650. 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 $10 to $35 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 Albany?
Albany is 140 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,550, which is 13% more than Burlington ($1,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Burlington?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $720 out of $1,350. Materials are 47% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Burlington?
$600 to $2,100. 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 Vermont?
Burlington is 1% above the Vermont statewide estimate ($1,350 at the midpoint).
+What do construction laborers earn in Burlington?
The BLS median is $24.01 an hour in the Burlington area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.00 to $28.38.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Burlington?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $600 to $1,200 and premium work $1,500 to $2,100. 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 April through October. April and August 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.