Wood deck cost in Modesto, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $8,550 – $17,100
- Per sq ft
- $28.50 – $56.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #17
- 1 = most expensive
Modesto homeowners pay roughly $8,550 to $17,100 to build a wood deck at 300 sq ft, or $28.50 to $56.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Modesto is 13% higher. Carpenters earn a median of $35.45 an hour in the Modesto area, 22% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Modesto, CA, standard level
$11,100 to $14,500
About $36.50 to $48 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,750 | $7,500 |
| Labor | $5,300 | $6,900 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $120 |
| Total | $11,100 | $14,500 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Modesto, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,400 | $6,650 | $8,850 | 52% |
| Labor | $4,050 | $6,100 | $8,150 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $160 | 1% |
| Total | $8,550 | $12,800 | $17,100 | 100% |
Where the Modesto price comes from
Labor is 48% of the midpoint bill here, against 44% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (80%), construction laborers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Modesto the blended ratio comes out at 1.23.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Modesto metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 300 sq ft comes to $6,650, compared with $6,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (104.1) and land at $50 to $160.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Modesto is 1.23 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $35.45 an hour, which is 22% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.52 and $40.15 an hour. BLS counts 1,430 of them working in the area, 73.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $29.15 an hour, 29% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.89 and $38.02 an hour. About 1,070 work in the metro. That is 54.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($40.15 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $640. At the 25th percentile ($28.52) it shrinks by about $940. The total moves by 5.0% or 7.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 195,230 jobs in the Modesto area. That makes it the 117th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.13% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $28.52 | $35.45 | $40.15 | $29.12 | 1.22 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.89 | $29.15 | $38.02 | $22.66 | 1.29 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.23 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Modesto bid
Permit
Deck permits average $50-$150. Many cities skip the permit for small, low, freestanding decks.
Wood species
Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest at $25-$50 per sq ft installed. Ipe runs $50-$70 and bamboo $27-$52 (HomeGuide).
Height and stairs
A second-story deck needs more structure. New stairs run $1,400-$2,600 installed.
Cost by quality level and size in Modesto
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Modesto 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 4 common sizes.
Basic
$8,550 to $12,000
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$11,100 to $14,500
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$13,700 to $17,100
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $3,450 – $4,850 | $4,500 – $5,900 | $5,550 – $6,950 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $4,100 – $5,800 | $5,350 – $7,050 | $6,650 – $8,300 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $9,100 – $12,800 | $11,800 – $15,500 | $14,600 – $18,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $11,400 – $15,900 | $14,800 – $19,300 | $18,200 – $22,800 |
Modesto against nearby metros and the rest of California
Same job, same size (300 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. San Jose is the priciest of the group at $13,400. Stockton is the cheapest at $12,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CAthis page | $8,550 – $17,100 | $12,800 | |
| Stockton, CA30 miles | $8,300 – $16,600 | $12,500 | −3% |
| Merced, CA30 miles | $8,500 – $17,000 | $12,800 | −1% |
| San Jose, CA50 miles | $8,950 – $17,900 | $13,400 | +5% |
| Santa Cruz, CA65 miles | $8,700 – $17,400 | $13,000 | +2% |
| Vallejo, CA70 miles | $8,650 – $17,400 | $13,000 | +2% |
| California (statewide) | $8,650 – $17,400 | $13,000 | +2% |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | −11% |
Across 300 US metros, Modesto comes in at #17 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $14,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $9,050 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Modesto is 2% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $8,650 – $17,400 | $13,000 | +2% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $9,500 – $19,100 | $14,300 | +12% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $8,250 – $16,500 | $12,400 | −3% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $8,600 – $17,200 | $12,900 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $8,950 – $17,900 | $13,400 | +5% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $8,550 – $17,200 | $12,900 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Modesto's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Modesto against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $6,600 – $13,200 | $9,900 | −23% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $6,650 – $13,300 | $10,000 | −22% |
| Manchester, NH | 199,560 jobs | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,300 | −12% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $7,350 – $14,800 | $11,100 | −14% |
Planning more than one job in Modesto?
Because every project leans on different trades, Modesto's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete patio runs +19% and detached garage +15%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $14,000 – $28,000 | +16% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,450 – $4,850 | +19% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,450 – $6,250 | +15% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $33,200 – $66,600 | +15% |
Add-ons priced for Modesto
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Modesto by the average of the local wage index (1.23) and goods index (1.05), a factor of 1.14. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,600 – $2,950 |
When to schedule wood deck in Modesto
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Modesto City Co Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Modesto (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Modesto gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.6 inches in January). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 0.1 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 90 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 | 56 | 39 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 42 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 45 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 48 | 1.0 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 54 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 59 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 63 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 59 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 43 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
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 $11,100 to $14,500 for Modesto, CA is attached.
Detailed wood deck report for Modesto, CA, $9
Multi-page report for Modesto, CA: 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.
Wood deck in Modesto: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Modesto?
For 300 sq ft, expect $8,550 to $17,100 in the Modesto area. A standard-spec job lands at $11,100 to $14,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Modesto?
About $28.50 to $56.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $50.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Modesto or Stockton?
Stockton is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $12,500, which is 3% less than Modesto ($12,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Modesto?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $6,100 out of $12,800. Materials are 52% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Modesto?
$9,100 to $18,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Modesto?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $160 for fees in the Modesto area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Modesto expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of California?
Modesto is 2% below the California statewide estimate ($13,000 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Modesto?
The BLS median is $35.45 an hour in the Modesto area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.52 to $40.15.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Modesto?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $8,550 to $12,000 and premium work $13,700 to $17,100. Basic means: pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle. Premium means: hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features.
+When is the best time to build a wood deck in Modesto?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. 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.
+What does "add stairs" add in Modesto?
$1,600 to $2,950, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Modesto
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 It Cost to Build a Deck? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Composite Decking Cost? (2026) (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