Wood deck cost in Brownsville, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $6,050 – $12,100
- Per sq ft
- $20 – $40
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −20%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #300
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a wood deck in Brownsville, plan on $6,050 to $12,100 for 300 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $20 to $40 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 20% lower than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $17.13 an hour in the Brownsville area, 41% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Brownsville, TX, standard level
$7,850 to $10,300
About $26 to $34 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 34% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,100 | $6,700 |
| Labor | $2,650 | $3,500 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $100 |
| Total | $7,850 | $10,300 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Brownsville, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,950 | $5,900 | $7,900 | 65% |
| Labor | $2,050 | $3,050 | $4,100 | 34% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $85 | $130 | 1% |
| Total | $6,050 | $9,050 | $12,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Brownsville number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Brownsville wages are 0.62 times the national level. Labor makes up about 34% of the midpoint estimate (44% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Brownsville metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 300 sq ft comes to $5,900, compared with $6,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (86.0) and land at $45 to $130.
Is Brownsville cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 300 sq ft range from $9,050 to $10,200 across Brownsville and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TXthis page | $6,050 – $12,100 | $9,050 | |
| McAllen, TX50 miles | $6,250 – $12,600 | $9,450 | +4% |
| Corpus Christi, TX125 miles | $6,650 – $13,300 | $10,000 | +10% |
| Laredo, TX160 miles | $6,250 – $12,600 | $9,400 | +4% |
| San Antonio, TX240 miles | $6,650 – $13,400 | $10,000 | +11% |
| Austin, TX285 miles | $6,800 – $13,600 | $10,200 | +13% |
| Texas (statewide) | $6,850 – $13,800 | $10,300 | +14% |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +25% |
Across 300 US metros, Brownsville comes in at #300 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $14,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $9,050 (midpoints, 300 sq ft). Statewide, Brownsville is 12% below the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $7,100 – $14,300 | $10,700 | +18% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,600 | +16% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $6,800 – $13,600 | $10,200 | +13% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $6,650 – $13,400 | $10,000 | +11% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,500 | +5% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $6,250 – $12,600 | $9,450 | +4% |
Cities with a workforce like Brownsville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Brownsville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $7,850 – $15,800 | $11,800 | +30% |
| Hickory, NC | 154,090 jobs | $6,850 – $13,700 | $10,300 | +13% |
| Gulfport, MS | 158,310 jobs | $6,800 – $13,600 | $10,200 | +13% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $6,700 – $13,400 | $10,100 | +11% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Brownsville bid
Replacement versus new
Deck replacement costs $30-$55 per sq ft because of demolition and haul-away.
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).
Brownsville labor market for wood deck
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 Brownsville is 0.62 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 80%) the local median is $17.13 an hour, which is 41% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $11.25 and $22.26 an hour. BLS counts 250 of them working in the area, 15.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $16.90 an hour, 25% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.33 and $18.88 an hour. About 460 work in the metro. That is 29.2 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 ($22.26 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $700. At the 25th percentile ($11.25) it shrinks by about $800. The total moves by 7.7% or 8.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 157,450 jobs in the Brownsville-Harlingen area. That makes it the 151st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $11.25 | $17.13 | $22.26 | $29.12 | 0.59 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $14.33 | $16.90 | $18.88 | $22.66 | 0.75 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.62 | |||||
Climate in Brownsville: timing your wood deck job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Brownsville (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through April is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Brownsville (7 of 12 months). May, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Brownsville gets about 27 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (5.7 inches in September). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 1.1 and 1.0 inches. The station averages about 140 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 | 73 | 53 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 76 | 57 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 81 | 62 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 86 | 68 | 1.5 | Workable |
| May | 90 | 74 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Jun | 94 | 77 | 2.9 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 78 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 96 | 78 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 92 | 75 | 5.7 | Hot |
| Oct | 87 | 69 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 80 | 61 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 74 | 55 | 1.2 | Workable |
Add-ons priced for Brownsville
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Brownsville by the average of the local wage index (0.62) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.78. 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) | $1,100 – $2,000 |
What nearby projects cost in Brownsville
Because every project leans on different trades, Brownsville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs −16% and composite deck −25%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $9,000 – $18,100 | −25% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,350 | −16% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,550 – $4,600 | −16% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $23,600 – $47,400 | −18% |
Brownsville: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Brownsville 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
$6,050 to $8,450
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$7,850 to $10,300
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$9,650 to $12,100
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,450 – $3,450 | $3,200 – $4,150 | $3,900 – $4,900 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $2,900 – $4,100 | $3,800 – $5,000 | $4,700 – $5,850 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $6,400 – $9,000 | $8,350 – $11,000 | $10,300 – $12,900 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $8,000 – $11,200 | $10,400 – $13,700 | $12,900 – $16,100 |
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 $7,850 to $10,300 for Brownsville, TX is attached.
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Wood deck in Brownsville: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Brownsville?
For 300 sq ft, expect $6,050 to $12,100 in the Brownsville area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,850 to $10,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Brownsville?
About $20 to $40 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $50.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Brownsville or McAllen?
McAllen is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $9,450, which is 4% more than Brownsville ($9,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Brownsville?
About 34% at the midpoint, or $3,050 out of $9,050. Materials are 65% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Brownsville?
$6,400 to $12,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Brownsville?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $130 for fees in the Brownsville area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Brownsville expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of Texas?
Brownsville is 12% below the Texas statewide estimate ($10,300 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Brownsville?
The BLS median is $17.13 an hour in the Brownsville area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $11.25 to $22.26.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Brownsville?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $6,050 to $8,450 and premium work $9,650 to $12,100. 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 Brownsville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through April. January and February 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 Brownsville?
$1,100 to $2,000, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Brownsville
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