Fence erectors salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $35,810 | $17.22 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| Mean (average) | $50,530 | $24.29 |
| 90th percentile | $70,010 | $33.66 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Fence erectors pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 45 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,820 | $36,980 | $54,170 | ||
| Alaska | $64,600 | $46,400 | $81,310 | 40 | 0.86 |
| Arizona | $46,270 | $40,040 | $57,590 | ||
| Arkansas | $46,150 | $34,520 | $49,740 | 270 | 1.3 |
| California | $56,060 | $40,260 | $78,900 | 3,150 | 1.1 |
| Colorado | $48,380 | $38,560 | $61,520 | 270 | 0.6 |
| Connecticut | $53,180 | $40,800 | $74,450 | 300 | 1.11 |
| Delaware | $50,630 | $43,510 | $62,400 | ||
| Florida | $45,550 | $31,840 | $63,000 | 2,020 | 1.29 |
| Georgia | $36,990 | $25,470 | $55,570 | 500 | 0.65 |
| Illinois | $50,710 | $38,250 | $81,310 | 690 | 0.72 |
| Indiana | $47,520 | $37,860 | $74,410 | 540 | 1.06 |
| Iowa | $52,510 | $44,230 | $61,100 | 290 | 1.19 |
| Kansas | $47,130 | $40,100 | $58,950 | 80 | 0.36 |
| Louisiana | $51,770 | $18,580 | $60,700 | 120 | 0.39 |
| Maine | $45,310 | $36,270 | $60,310 | 160 | 1.56 |
| Massachusetts | $48,430 | $42,960 | $77,420 | ||
| Michigan | $45,800 | $37,960 | $49,380 | 460 | 0.67 |
| Minnesota | $57,260 | $47,610 | $70,470 | ||
| Mississippi | $38,700 | $30,600 | $47,520 | 150 | 0.8 |
| Missouri | $43,290 | $35,090 | $60,070 | 640 | 1.39 |
| Montana | $55,720 | $39,470 | $68,200 | 680 | 8.42 |
| Nebraska | $50,120 | $46,430 | $108,000 | 190 | 1.18 |
| Nevada | $46,940 | $44,820 | $62,900 | 210 | 0.87 |
| New Hampshire | $50,850 | $41,460 | $60,150 | 160 | 1.48 |
| New Jersey | $56,690 | $47,340 | $70,010 | 910 | 1.35 |
| New Mexico | $44,450 | $36,850 | $50,070 | 270 | 1.95 |
| New York | $48,000 | $32,240 | $69,590 | 1,010 | 0.66 |
| North Carolina | $39,100 | $34,480 | $59,850 | 670 | 0.86 |
| North Dakota | $49,310 | $44,620 | $49,940 | 190 | 2.77 |
| Ohio | $47,870 | $43,650 | $62,410 | 950 | 1.08 |
| Oklahoma | $37,870 | $28,060 | $68,940 | 250 | 0.94 |
| Oregon | $44,580 | $41,130 | $49,320 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $58,600 | $40,120 | $77,610 | 1,150 | 1.2 |
| Rhode Island | $46,450 | $45,760 | $60,320 | ||
| South Carolina | $37,960 | $34,300 | $49,480 | ||
| South Dakota | $48,380 | $35,220 | $62,330 | 170 | 2.3 |
| Tennessee | $45,330 | $36,410 | $55,080 | 550 | 1.07 |
| Texas | $37,270 | $30,420 | $50,410 | 1,800 | 0.81 |
| Utah | $48,720 | $25,820 | $66,660 | 440 | 1.59 |
| Virginia | $40,050 | $33,870 | $82,140 | ||
| Washington | $51,860 | $44,200 | $73,370 | 1,450 | 2.59 |
| West Virginia | $45,040 | $30,700 | $82,960 | 170 | 1.58 |
| Wisconsin | $51,410 | $39,200 | $87,360 | 200 | 0.42 |
| Wyoming | $39,750 | $34,060 | $58,810 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for fence erectors
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 21%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for fence erectors
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Establish the location for a fence, and gather information needed to ensure that there are no electric cables or water lines in the area.
- Set metal or wooden posts in upright positions in postholes.
- Measure and lay out fence lines and mark posthole positions, following instructions, drawings, or specifications.
- Align posts, by lines or sighting, and verify vertical alignment of posts, using plumb bobs or spirit levels.
- Attach rails or tension wire along bottoms of posts to form fencing frames.
- Dig postholes, using spades, posthole diggers, or power-driven augers.
- Attach fence rail supports to posts, using hammers and pliers.
- Assemble gates, and fasten gates into position, using hand tools.
Technology skills
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Cutlist Plus fx
- Maxwell Systems American Contractor
- Software Design Associates Computer Fencing System CFS
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Time Management, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making, Social Perceptiveness.
Common job titles: Fence Builder, Fence Contractor, Fence Erector, Fence Installer, Fence Laborer, Fence Mechanic, Fence Technician (Fence Tech), Gate Technician (Gate Tech), Wood Fence Erector.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do fence erectors make?
The national median annual wage for fence erectors was $47,980 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $35,810 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $70,010. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do fence erectors need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is fence erectors a growing career?
BLS projects employment of fence erectors to change +5.6% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay fence erectors the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($64,600), Pennsylvania ($58,600), Minnesota ($57,260). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.