Wood deck cost in Wausau, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $6,900 – $13,800
- Per sq ft
- $23 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #196
- 1 = most expensive
A wood deck in Wausau, WI usually costs $6,900 to $13,800 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $23 to $45.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $980 less. Carpenters earn a median of $24.03 an hour in the Wausau area, 17% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Wausau, WI, standard level
$9,000 to $11,800
About $29.50 to $39 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,100 | $6,700 |
| Labor | $3,800 | $4,950 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $110 |
| Total | $9,000 | $11,800 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Wausau, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,950 | $5,900 | $7,900 | 57% |
| Labor | $2,900 | $4,350 | $5,850 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $95 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $6,900 | $10,400 | $13,800 | 100% |
Why Wausau prices look the way they do
Labor is 42% 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 Wausau the blended ratio comes out at 0.88.
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 $6,300 nationally becomes $5,900 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.7: $45 to $140.
What local crews earn in Wausau
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 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 0.88.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $24.03 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.14 and $29.66 an hour. About 370 work in the metro. That is 53.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) 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.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $770 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 1.2% to 7.4% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.14 | $24.03 | $29.66 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.07 | $25.30 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.12 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Wausau?
Jobs that often go together with wood deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Wausau wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+6%) and composite deck lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $10,900 – $21,900 | −9% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,150 | +3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,750 | +6% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $27,900 – $56,000 | −4% |
Wausau against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Wausau. Eau Claire comes closest at about $11,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WIthis page | $6,900 – $13,800 | $10,400 | |
| Eau Claire, WI75 miles | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +7% |
| Oshkosh, WI80 miles | $8,400 – $16,800 | $12,600 | +21% |
| Appleton, WI80 miles | $7,550 – $15,100 | $11,300 | +9% |
| Green Bay, WI90 miles | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +7% |
| La Crosse, WI105 miles | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +7% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $7,500 – $15,000 | $11,200 | +8% |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Wausau ranks #196 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Wausau is 8% below the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $7,600 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +10% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | +9% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +7% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $7,550 – $15,100 | $11,300 | +9% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $8,400 – $16,800 | $12,600 | +21% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | +7% |
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 | $8,050 – $16,100 | $12,100 | +17% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $6,800 – $13,600 | $10,200 | −2% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $7,600 – $15,300 | $11,400 | +10% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $7,450 – $15,000 | $11,200 | +8% |
Wood deck: what moves the price in Wausau
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.
Wausau weather and the wood deck 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 exterior installation, the comfortable months in Wausau are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March, November and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
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, April and October are the driest, at 3.1 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 | Workable |
| 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 |
Optional extras in Wausau
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.91 for Wausau, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.88) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,250 – $2,350 |
Cost by quality level and size 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 10x12 (120 sq ft) to 20x20 (400 sq ft).
Basic
$6,900 to $9,700
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$9,000 to $11,800
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$11,100 to $13,800
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $2,800 – $3,900 | $3,650 – $4,750 | $4,500 – $5,600 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,350 – $4,700 | $4,350 – $5,700 | $5,350 – $6,700 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $7,350 – $10,300 | $9,600 – $12,500 | $11,800 – $14,800 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $9,200 – $12,900 | $12,000 – $15,600 | $14,700 – $18,400 |
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 $9,000 to $11,800 for Wausau, WI is attached.
Detailed wood deck report for Wausau, WI, $9
Multi-page report for Wausau, 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.
Wood deck in Wausau: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Wausau?
For 300 sq ft, expect $6,900 to $13,800 in the Wausau area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,000 to $11,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Wausau?
About $23 to $45.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $50.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Wausau or Eau Claire?
Eau Claire is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $11,100, which is 7% more than Wausau ($10,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wausau?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $4,350 out of $10,400. Materials are 57% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Wausau?
$7,350 to $14,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Wausau?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $140 for fees in the Wausau area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wausau expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Wausau is 8% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($11,200 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Wausau?
The BLS median is $24.03 an hour in the Wausau area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.14 to $29.66.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Wausau?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $6,900 to $9,700 and premium work $11,100 to $13,800. 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 Wausau?
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.
+What does "add stairs" add in Wausau?
$1,250 to $2,350, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck 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 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