French drain cost in Oshkosh, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $670 – $2,350
- Per linear ft
- $11 – $39
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #70
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a French drain in Oshkosh, plan on $670 to $2,350 for 60 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $11 to $39 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $24.65 an hour in the Oshkosh area, 9% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Oshkosh, WI, standard level
$1,150 to $1,850
About $19.50 to $30.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $700 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,150 | $1,850 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Oshkosh, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 40% |
| Labor | $400 | $900 | $1,400 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $670 | $1,500 | $2,350 | 100% |
Why Oshkosh prices look the way they do
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, Oshkosh wages are 1.28 times the national level. Labor makes up about 60% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Oshkosh metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 60 linear ft comes to $610, compared with $650 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.9) 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 Oshkosh. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in Oshkosh
Because every project leans on different trades, Oshkosh's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs +9% and sod installation −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,850 – $14,100 | +7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,800 | +6% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,500 | +7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,350 – $10,900 | +9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $39,100 – $122,000 | +8% |
Oshkosh 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 Oshkosh is 1.28 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 50% of the weighting: a median of $24.65 an hour, 9% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.00 and $34.81 an hour. About 560 work in the metro. That is 59.7 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 $37.03 an hour, which is 29% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.76 and $44.71 an hour. BLS counts 150 of them working in the area, 16.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Pipelayers (47-2151) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Oshkosh metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $41.77 an hour against $23.56 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $38.94 and $44.98 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($34.81 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $160. At the 25th percentile ($21.00) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 10.4% or 3.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,750 jobs in the Oshkosh-Neenah area. That makes it the 215th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 50% | $21.00 | $24.65 | $34.81 | $22.66 | 1.09 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.76 | $37.03 | $44.71 | $28.78 | 1.29 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $38.94 | $41.77 | $44.98 | $23.56 | 1.77 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.28 | |||||
How Oshkosh compares
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Oshkosh. Sheboygan is the lowest at about $1,500 (midpoint, 60 linear ft), 50 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh, WIthis page | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | |
| Appleton, WI20 miles | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +5% |
| Green Bay, WI45 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | level |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +4% |
| Madison, WI85 miles | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +4% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −11% |
Across 300 US metros, Oshkosh comes in at #70 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, Oshkosh is 2% below the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +5% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | +4% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +2% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +5% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +3% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Oshkosh's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Oshkosh against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,350 | −12% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $710 – $2,500 | $1,600 | +6% |
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −11% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $740 – $2,600 | $1,650 | +11% |
Climate in Oshkosh: timing your French drain job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Oshkosh (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Oshkosh (7 of 12 months). 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 143 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Oshkosh gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 39 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 8 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 | 26 | 10 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 30 | 13 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 24 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 36 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 48 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 59 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 63 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 61 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 53 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 41 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 44 | 29 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 32 | 18 | 1.6 | Cold |
French drain: what moves the price in Oshkosh
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.
Depth and soil
Rocky or clay soil and long trenches raise excavation time.
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Oshkosh
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Oshkosh 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
$670 to $1,350
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,150 to $1,850
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,700 to $2,350
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $340 – $670 | $590 – $920 | $840 – $1,150 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $670 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,350 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,700 | $2,350 – $3,700 | $3,350 – $4,700 |
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 $1,150 to $1,850 for Oshkosh, WI is attached.
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Multi-page report for Oshkosh, WI: 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 Oshkosh: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Oshkosh?
For 60 linear ft, expect $670 to $2,350 in the Oshkosh area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,150 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 Oshkosh?
About $11 to $39 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 Oshkosh or Appleton?
Appleton is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,600, which is 5% more than Oshkosh ($1,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Oshkosh?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $900 out of $1,500. Materials are 40% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Oshkosh?
$670 to $2,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Oshkosh?
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 Oshkosh area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Oshkosh expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Oshkosh is 2% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($1,550 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Oshkosh?
The BLS median is $24.65 an hour in the Oshkosh area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.00 to $34.81.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Oshkosh?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $670 to $1,350 and premium work $1,700 to $2,350. 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 Oshkosh?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April 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 Oshkosh
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.