Home project costs in Wausau, WI
Every project we cover, priced for the Wausau metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
Wausau sits 198th of 300 metros on BEA's regional price index, at 92.7 where the US is 100. Goods, the index that drives materials, is 93.8 (238th). The metro has about 69,530 jobs in BLS's May 2025 survey.
Not every job moves the same way here: 17 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 20 below, and 1 is level with it. French drain (+16%), gravel driveway (+13%) and inground pool (+12%) sit highest, and hardwood flooring (−10%), composite deck (−9%) and laminate flooring (−9%) sit lowest. Labor-heavy work tracks local wages; materials-heavy work tracks the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Wausau Dwtn Ap, 3 miles away) shows a January average low of 7°F, a July average high of 80°F and 34 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, the workable months are May through September; for exterior installation, they are April through October.
What local trades earn in Wausau
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $22.07 | $25.30 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.12 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $23.14 | $24.03 | $29.66 | $29.12 | 0.83 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $30.94 | $43.70 | $45.52 | $28.78 | 1.52 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $29.85 | $41.71 | $48.25 | $30.67 | 1.36 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $27.76 | $29.82 | $35.90 | $27.41 | 1.09 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $24.13 | $37.83 | $41.57 | $30.38 | 1.25 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.77 | n/a |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a | $26.65 | n/a |
Concrete & paving in Wausau
The 7 jobs here average +6% versus the US in Wausau, from +1% (concrete slab) to +13% (gravel driveway).
| Project | Size | Wausau range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Wausau | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,200 | +1% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Wausau | 600 sq ft | $3,800 – $9,800 | +6% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Wausau | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,150 | +9% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Wausau | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,500 | +13% |
| Paver patio cost in Wausau | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,750 | +6% |
| Concrete patio cost in Wausau | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,150 | +3% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Wausau | 400 sq ft | $3,350 – $8,250 | +3% |
Decks & outdoor in Wausau
The 2 jobs here average −9% versus the US in Wausau, from −9% (composite deck) to −9% (wood deck).
| Project | Size | Wausau range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Wausau | 300 sq ft | $6,900 – $13,800 | −9% |
| Composite deck cost in Wausau | 300 sq ft | $10,900 – $21,900 | −9% |
Building & additions in Wausau
Across these 2 projects, Wausau averages −3% against national midpoints. Home addition is highest at −3% and detached garage lowest at −4%.
| Project | Size | Wausau range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Wausau | 576 sq ft | $27,900 – $56,000 | −4% |
| Home addition cost in Wausau | 300 sq ft | $37,000 – $74,900 | −3% |
Doors & windows in Wausau
The 5 jobs here average −7% versus the US in Wausau, from −8% (storm door) to −5% (window replacement).
| Project | Size | Wausau range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Wausau | 1 door | $670 – $3,500 | −5% |
| Storm door cost in Wausau | 1 door | $320 – $870 | −8% |
| Front door cost in Wausau | 1 door | $450 – $2,300 | −8% |
| Window replacement cost in Wausau | 10 windows | $4,300 – $14,300 | −5% |
| Patio door cost in Wausau | 1 door | $560 – $5,600 | −6% |
Fencing in Wausau
The 4 jobs here average −4% versus the US in Wausau, from −6% (wood fence) to −2% (chain-link fence).
| Project | Size | Wausau range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Wausau | 150 linear ft | $2,850 – $7,200 | −6% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Wausau | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,650 | −6% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Wausau | 150 linear ft | $1,500 – $6,000 | −2% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Wausau | 150 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,000 | −3% |
Roofing & exterior in Wausau
The 5 jobs here average level versus the US in Wausau, from −5% (vinyl siding) to +4% (metal roof).
| Project | Size | Wausau range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Wausau | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,350 – $12,700 | +2% |
| Metal roof cost in Wausau | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,900 – $33,300 | +4% |
| Gutters cost in Wausau | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,250 | +2% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Wausau | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,950 – $23,900 | −5% |
| Attic insulation cost in Wausau | 1,000 sq ft | $980 – $3,850 | −3% |
Kitchen & bath in Wausau
Across these 5 projects, Wausau averages level against national midpoints. Shower pan is highest at +11% and kitchen cabinets lowest at −7%.
| Project | Size | Wausau range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Wausau | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $13,000 | −7% |
| Shower pan cost in Wausau | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,050 | +11% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Wausau | 120 sq ft | $17,700 – $30,100 | −5% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Wausau | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,000 | +3% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Wausau | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,500 | level |
Landscaping & drainage in Wausau
Across these 5 projects, Wausau averages +9% against national midpoints. French drain is highest at +16% and sod installation lowest at −3%.
| Project | Size | Wausau range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Wausau | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +16% |
| Retaining wall cost in Wausau | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,050 – $14,400 | +10% |
| Sod installation cost in Wausau | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Wausau | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,500 – $11,200 | +12% |
| Inground pool cost in Wausau | 450 sq ft | $40,600 – $126,500 | +12% |
Flooring & interior in Wausau
The 3 jobs here average −6% versus the US in Wausau, from −10% (hardwood flooring) to +1% (tile flooring).
| Project | Size | Wausau range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Wausau | 500 sq ft | $4,950 – $11,300 | −10% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Wausau | 500 sq ft | $1,800 – $6,400 | −9% |
| Tile flooring cost in Wausau | 200 sq ft | $2,600 – $9,950 | +1% |
Wausau against its nearest metros
Taking every project together, Wausau comes out level versus the national midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, 6 price higher and none lower. La Crosse is the lowest at +2% (105 miles) and Oshkosh the highest at +7% (80 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WIthis page | 92.7 | 93.8 | level | |
| Eau Claire, WI | 75 miles | 92.8 | 93.8 | +2% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 80 miles | 92.9 | 93.8 | +7% |
| Appleton, WI | 80 miles | 92.4 | 93.8 | +5% |
| Green Bay, WI | 90 miles | 93.1 | 93.8 | +2% |
| La Crosse, WI | 105 miles | 91.8 | 93.8 | +2% |
| Madison, WI | 125 miles | 97.3 | 93.8 | +5% |