French drain cost in Wausau, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (60 linear ft)
- $700 – $2,450
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $40.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +16%
- US $1,350
- Rank of 300 metros
- #42
- 1 = most expensive
A French drain in Wausau, WI usually costs $700 to $2,450 for 60 linear ft. That works out to about $11.50 to $40.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $220 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $25.30 an hour in the Wausau area, 12% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 60 linear ft in Wausau, WI, standard level
$1,200 to $1,900
About $20.50 to $32 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $740 |
| Labor | $750 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,200 | $1,900 |
Cost breakdown for 60 linear ft in Wausau, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $270 | $610 | $950 | 39% |
| Labor | $430 | $960 | $1,500 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $700 | $1,550 | $2,450 | 100% |
Where the Wausau 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 $25.30 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Wausau is 1.37 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 61% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Wausau is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $650 nationally becomes $610 here (midpoint, 60 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.7: $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 Wausau. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Wausau
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 Wausau the blend is 1.37.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 50%) the local median is $25.30 an hour, which is 12% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.07 and $30.00 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 73.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $43.70 an hour, 52% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $30.94 and $45.52 an hour. About 200 work in the metro. That is 28.8 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 Wausau 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.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $75 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $50. That is a swing of roughly 3.2% to 4.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Wausau has 69,530 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 261st 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% | $22.07 | $25.30 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.12 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $30.94 | $43.70 | $45.52 | $28.78 | 1.52 | metro |
| Pipelayers (47-2151) | 20% | $38.94 | $41.77 | $44.98 | $23.56 | 1.77 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.37 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: french drain pricing in Wausau
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Wausau. 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
$700 to $1,400
Shallow yard drain, easy digging
Standard
$1,200 to $1,900
Standard drain with fabric, gravel and a pop-up outlet
Premium
$1,750 to $2,450
Deep or long drain, hard soil, dry well or sump discharge
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short run (30 linear ft) | $350 – $700 | $610 – $960 | $870 – $1,200 |
| side yard (60 linear ft) | $700 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $1,900 | $1,750 – $2,450 |
| long run (120 linear ft) | $1,400 – $2,800 | $2,450 – $3,850 | $3,500 – $4,900 |
Why two Wausau quotes can differ
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.
What nearby projects cost in Wausau
Jobs that often go together with French drain are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Wausau wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+13%) and sod installation lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,050 – $14,400 | +10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,500 | +13% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,200 | +1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,500 – $11,200 | +12% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,600 – $126,500 | +12% |
Wausau weather and the french drain calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Wausau Dwtn 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 Wausau are May through October: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, April, 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 163 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Wausau gets about 34 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 64 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.8 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 5 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 | 23 | 7 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 27 | 10 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 40 | 21 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 32 | 3.1 | Cold |
| May | 67 | 45 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 55 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 59 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 57 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 70 | 49 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 56 | 37 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 40 | 25 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 28 | 14 | 1.5 | Cold |
How Wausau compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 60 linear ft range from $1,500 to $1,600 across Wausau and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WIthis page | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | |
| Eau Claire, WI75 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −1% |
| Oshkosh, WI80 miles | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −4% |
| Appleton, WI80 miles | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +1% |
| Green Bay, WI90 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −1% |
| La Crosse, WI105 miles | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −1% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −2% |
| United States | $600 – $2,100 | $1,350 | −14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Wausau ranks #42 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Wausau is 2% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $700 – $2,450 | $1,550 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −1% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $710 – $2,450 | $1,600 | +1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −4% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $690 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wausau against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $670 – $2,350 | $1,500 | −4% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $590 – $2,050 | $1,300 | −16% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,350 | −13% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $610 – $2,150 | $1,400 | −12% |
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French drain in Wausau: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a French drain in Wausau?
For 60 linear ft, expect $700 to $2,450 in the Wausau area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,200 to $1,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for French drain in Wausau?
About $11.50 to $40.50 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 Wausau or Eau Claire?
Eau Claire is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 60 linear ft there is $1,550, which is 1% less than Wausau ($1,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wausau?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $960 out of $1,550. Materials are 39% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would side yard (60 linear ft) cost in Wausau?
$700 to $2,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does French drain need a permit in Wausau?
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 Wausau area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wausau expensive for French drain compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Wausau is 2% above 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 Wausau?
The BLS median is $25.30 an hour in the Wausau area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.07 to $30.00.
+What do basic and premium French drain work cost in Wausau?
For 60 linear ft, basic work runs $700 to $1,400 and premium work $1,750 to $2,450. 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 Wausau?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. May 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 Wausau
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.