Sprinkler system cost in Oshkosh, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (4,000 sq ft of lawn)
- $4,350 – $10,900
- Per sq ft of lawn
- $1.10 – $2.75
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $7,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #72
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a sprinkler system in the Oshkosh area: $4,350 to $10,900 for 4,000 sq ft of lawn. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 9% higher than the US figure. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $41.50 an hour in the Oshkosh area, 35% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 4,000 sq ft of lawn in Oshkosh, WI, standard level
$6,350 to $8,950
About $1.60 to $2.25 per sq ft of lawn before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,600 | $3,700 |
| Labor | $3,700 | $5,250 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $6,350 | $8,950 |
Cost breakdown for 4,000 sq ft of lawn in Oshkosh, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,800 | $3,150 | $4,500 | 41% |
| Labor | $2,550 | $4,500 | $6,400 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $4,350 | $7,650 | $10,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Oshkosh number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 40%, construction laborers at 40%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 20%. Weighted together, Oshkosh wages are 1.23 times the national level. Labor makes up about 59% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Oshkosh is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,350 nationally becomes $3,150 here (midpoint, 4,000 sq ft of lawn). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.9: $0 to $0.
Specs and site conditions that change a Oshkosh bid
Backflow and permits
Backflow preventers and plumbing permits are local rules; check with your water utility.
Zones
HomeGuide prices sprinklers at $600-$2,000 per zone; $3,000-$10,000 total for a quarter-acre lawn.
Above ground versus in-ground
An above-ground system is $0.50-$1.50 per sq ft; in-ground is $1.00-$2.50.
What nearby projects cost in Oshkosh
Jobs that often go together with sprinkler system are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Oshkosh wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+12%) and sod installation lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $670 – $2,350 | +12% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,850 – $14,100 | +7% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,450 | +10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $39,100 – $122,000 | +8% |
Is Oshkosh cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (4,000 sq ft of lawn), priced for the nearest metros. Appleton is the priciest of the group at $8,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh, WIthis page | $4,350 – $10,900 | $7,650 | |
| Appleton, WI20 miles | $4,600 – $11,600 | $8,100 | +6% |
| Green Bay, WI45 miles | $4,500 – $11,200 | $7,850 | +3% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $4,450 – $11,100 | $7,750 | +2% |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $4,500 – $11,200 | $7,850 | +3% |
| Madison, WI85 miles | $4,500 – $11,200 | $7,850 | +3% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $4,400 – $11,000 | $7,650 | level |
| United States | $4,000 – $10,000 | $7,000 | −8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Oshkosh ranks #72 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Oshkosh is 0% below the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $4,450 – $11,200 | $7,800 | +2% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $4,500 – $11,200 | $7,850 | +3% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $4,500 – $11,200 | $7,850 | +3% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $4,600 – $11,600 | $8,100 | +6% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $4,550 – $11,400 | $8,000 | +5% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $4,400 – $11,000 | $7,750 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
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 | $3,850 – $9,650 | $6,750 | −11% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $4,600 – $11,500 | $8,050 | +5% |
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $4,200 – $10,500 | $7,350 | −4% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $5,000 – $12,600 | $8,800 | +15% |
Oshkosh: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Oshkosh. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small yard (2,000 sq ft of lawn) to average lawn (4,000 sq ft of lawn).
Basic
$4,350 to $7,000
Few zones, simple rectangular lawn
Standard
$6,350 to $8,950
Standard zoned in-ground system with controller
Premium
$8,300 to $10,900
Irregular yard, many zones, slopes or rock
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (2,000 sq ft of lawn) | $2,200 – $3,500 | $3,150 – $4,500 | $4,150 – $5,450 |
| quarter acre (10,000 sq ft of lawn) | $10,900 – $17,500 | $15,800 – $22,400 | $20,700 – $27,300 |
| average lawn (4,000 sq ft of lawn) | $4,350 – $7,000 | $6,350 – $8,950 | $8,300 – $10,900 |
The best months for sprinkler system in Oshkosh
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Oshkosh (in the city). 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 Oshkosh 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 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.
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 | 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 |
Who does the work: Oshkosh 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 Oshkosh the blend is 1.23.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 40% of the weighting: a median of $41.50 an hour, 35% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $33.32 and $51.67 an hour. About 230 work in the metro. That is 24.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $24.65 an hour, which is 9% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.00 and $34.81 an hour. BLS counts 560 of them working in the area, 59.7 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), 20% of the weighting: a median of $37.03 an hour, 29% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.76 and $44.71 an hour. About 150 work in the metro. That is 16.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $480 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $390. That is a swing of roughly 5.1% to 6.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Oshkosh-Neenah has 93,750 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 215th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 40% | $33.32 | $41.50 | $51.67 | $30.67 | 1.35 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.00 | $24.65 | $34.81 | $22.66 | 1.09 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $29.76 | $37.03 | $44.71 | $28.78 | 1.29 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.23 | |||||
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Detailed sprinkler system report for Oshkosh, WI, $9
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Sprinkler system in Oshkosh: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a sprinkler system in Oshkosh?
For 4,000 sq ft of lawn, expect $4,350 to $10,900 in the Oshkosh area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,350 to $8,950. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of lawn and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of lawn for sprinkler system in Oshkosh?
About $1.10 to $2.75 per sq ft of lawn for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.50.
+Is sprinkler system cheaper in Oshkosh or Appleton?
Appleton is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 4,000 sq ft of lawn there is $8,100, which is 6% more than Oshkosh ($7,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Oshkosh?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $4,500 out of $7,650. Materials are 41% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would quarter acre (10,000 sq ft of lawn) cost in Oshkosh?
$10,900 to $27,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sprinkler system 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 sprinkler system compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Oshkosh is 0% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($7,650 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Oshkosh?
The BLS median is $41.50 an hour in the Oshkosh area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $33.32 to $51.67.
+What do basic and premium sprinkler system work cost in Oshkosh?
For 4,000 sq ft of lawn, basic work runs $4,350 to $7,000 and premium work $8,300 to $10,900. Basic means: few zones, simple rectangular lawn. Premium means: irregular yard, many zones, slopes or rock.
+When is the best time to install a sprinkler system 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.
Sprinkler system 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 Sprinkler System 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. It is a category average rather than an irrigation figure.