47 Series · SOC 47-4031
Fence Erectors Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $47,980
- Median / year
- +2.2%
- 2024→2025
- $70,010
- Top 10% earn
- +4.6%
- Growth '24–'34
- 24,480
- Estimated US jobs
Fence Erectors earn a median of $47,980 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $47,980, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $35,810 (10th percentile) to $70,010 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 24,480 estimated jobs in covered establishments. The highest published state median in this ranking is Alaska ($64,600).
The pay verdict
Fence Erectors earn a median of $47,980, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 28% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Construction and Extraction, it ranks #50 of 60 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4.6% by 2034.
- $47,980
- Median annual wage
- Top 72%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #50 of 60
- in Construction and Extraction
- 2.0×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Alaska at $64,600. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Observed pay change
What changed, BLS OEWS 2019–2025
- The published national median for Fence Erectors moved from $35,800 in May 2019 to $47,980 in May 2025 (+34.0%).
- Across the 749 occupations priced in both releases under SOC-2018, the median occupation changed +24.5%.
- Fence Erectors sits +9.6 pp ahead of that median, nominal dollars, no price deflator applied.
Fence Erectors (SOC 47-4031) has a national median of $47,980 per year in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release. The published 10th-to-90th-percentile boundaries run from $35,810 to $70,010, and the published mean is $50,530. Those summary statistics describe the estimated distribution; their difference alone does not identify its cause. OEWS estimates 24,480 jobs in covered establishments nationally. WageDex has published rows for 45 state or territory areas and 65 metropolitan or nonmetropolitan wage areas. The published national median moved from $46,940 in the May 2024 OEWS release to $47,980 in May 2025, a rise of $1,040 (+2.2%). This is a change between two BLS survey estimates, not an inflation-adjusted same-worker pay raise.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which we classify as about as fast as average relative to the all-occupations baseline of 3.1%. About 2,300 openings are projected per year from growth, occupational transfers, and labor-force exits. BLS assigns No formal educational credential as typical education needed for entry, and BLS classifies its typical on-the-job preparation as moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS does not publish a separate occupation-specific fatality and injury rate for this role in the current release. The safety panel below shows its broad Construction and Extraction Occupations SOC-group context and is not an occupation-level measurement or ranking.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Alaska pays the highest state median at $64,600, which is +35% above the national figure. The highest published metropolitan-area median in this ranking is Anchorage, AK at $64,600. The observed difference does not identify its cause. Pair the national median with the state and metropolitan-area rows below while keeping the geography and statistic consistent. OEWS includes tips, commissions, incentive pay, and production bonuses, but not employer benefits, overtime premiums, stock compensation, or nonproduction bonuses. See our methodology for the sourcing and calculation details.
Median Salary
$47,980
per year
Median Hourly
$23.07/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$50,530
average
Employment
24,480
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Fence Erectors pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$47,980 Bottom 28% higher than 28% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Read the chart as text · as of May 2025
| Band | Count | Share |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 0 US occupations | 0% |
| $20,000–$40,000 | 98 US occupations | 12% |
| $40,000–$60,000 (this entry) | 298 US occupations | 36% |
| $60,000–$80,000 | 209 US occupations | 25% |
| $80,000–$100,000 | 82 US occupations | 10% |
| $100,000–$120,000 | 58 US occupations | 7% |
| $120,000–$140,000 | 32 US occupations | 4% |
| $140,000–$160,000 | 14 US occupations | 2% |
| $160,000–$180,000 | 9 US occupations | 1% |
| $180,000 and above | 25 US occupations | 3% |
$47,980 · 28th percentile of 825 US occupations
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 47-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Fence Erectors; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Read the chart as text
- Construction Laborers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 7.3%, Median annual wage $47120
- First-Line Superviso…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.3%, Median annual wage $79920
- Electricians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 9.5%, Median annual wage $63190
- Carpenters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $60580
- Operating Engineers …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.6%, Median annual wage $59850
- Plumbers, Pipefitter…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.5%, Median annual wage $63800
- Painters, Constructi…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $49400
- Cement Masons and Co…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1.8%, Median annual wage $57020
- Highway Maintenance …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3%, Median annual wage $50260
- Construction and Bui…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) -0.8%, Median annual wage $74690
- Roofers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 5.9%, Median annual wage $55440
- Sheet Metal Workers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.4%, Median annual wage $61800
- Drywall and Ceiling …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.2%, Median annual wage $58930
- Structural Iron and …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.4%, Median annual wage $62780
- Helpers--Electricians: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.2%, Median annual wage $42670
- Glaziers: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.3%, Median annual wage $57080
- Brickmasons and Bloc…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $62120
- Hazardous Materials …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 1%, Median annual wage $49450
- Roustabouts, Oil and…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 2.5%, Median annual wage $46960
- Insulation Workers, …: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.8%, Median annual wage $49120
- Helpers--Pipelayers,…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.9%, Median annual wage $42360
- Service Unit Operato…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 0.4%, Median annual wage $58160
- Paving, Surfacing, a…: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 3.2%, Median annual wage $53340
- Tile and Stone Setters: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 10.1%, Median annual wage $55690
- Fence Erectors: Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) 4.6%, Median annual wage $47980
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4.6%
About as fast as average
Annual Openings
2,300
per year (projected)
Employment Change
+1,200
26,400 (2024) → 27,600 (2034)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Construction and Extraction Occupations context
Broad SOC context, not an occupation grade
Fatality Rate
12.4/100K
Injury Rate
3.5/100
Danger Index
20.2/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Fence Erectors roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Mix and pour concrete around bases of posts, or tamp soil into postholes to embed posts.
- ▸ Make rails for fences, by sawing lumber or by cutting metal tubing to required lengths.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
Fence Erectors pay history, 2015–2025
Published national median across 11 BLS OEWS releases. Nominal dollars, not inflation-adjusted.
Read the chart as text
| Period | National median |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $32,450 |
| 2016 | $33,150 |
| 2017 | $33,320 |
| 2018 | $34,800 |
| 2019 | $35,800 |
| 2020 | $37,550 |
| 2021 | $37,700 |
| 2022 | $39,840 |
| 2023 | $44,410 |
| 2024 | $46,940 |
| 2025 | $47,980 |
2015 median
$32,450
2025 median
$47,980
2019–2025 change (same SOC)
+$12,180 (+34%)
Avg/year (same SOC)
+5%
| Release | Median | Change | Estimated jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2015 | $32,450 | First banked release | 21,160 |
| May 2016 | $33,150 | +2.2% | 21,500 |
| May 2017 | $33,320 | +0.5% | 21,430 |
| May 2018 | $34,800 | +4.4% | 23,530 |
| May 2019 | $35,800 | Classification break | 25,900 |
| May 2020 | $37,550 | +4.9% | 27,010 |
| May 2021 | $37,700 | +0.4% | 24,470 |
| May 2022 | $39,840 | +5.7% | 27,060 |
| May 2023 | $44,410 | +11.5% | 21,470 |
| May 2024 | $46,940 | +5.7% | 22,640 |
| May 2025 | $47,980 | +2.2% | 24,480 |
Across the 11 releases WageDex holds for this occupation, the published national median went from $32,450 in May 2015 to $47,980 in May 2025. Within the SOC-2018 classification (2019–2025), the like-for-like change averages +5% per year in nominal terms. Within the same SOC classification, estimated employment went from 25,900 in May 2019 to 24,480 in May 2025.
Each figure is a separate BLS survey estimate, so a change between releases reflects the estimated occupation-wide median in each year. It is not the raise any individual worker received, and it is not adjusted for inflation. Years where BLS did not publish an annual median for this occupation are omitted rather than filled in. This span also crosses a classification change: releases before May 2019 use the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification and later releases use the 2018 SOC, so figures either side of that boundary are not strictly like-for-like. Headline change rates on this page use only the same-classification subset.
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 45 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $64,600 | +35% above national |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $58,600 | +22% above national |
| 3 | Minnesota | $57,260 | +19% above national |
| 4 | New Jersey | $56,690 | +18% above national |
| 5 | California | $56,060 | +17% above national |
| 6 | Montana | $55,720 | +16% above national |
| 7 | Connecticut | $53,180 | +11% above national |
| 8 | Iowa | $52,510 | +9% above national |
| 9 | Washington | $51,860 | +8% above national |
| 10 | Louisiana | $51,770 | +8% above national |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $51,410 | +7% above national |
| 12 | New Hampshire | $50,850 | +6% above national |
| 13 | Illinois | $50,710 | +6% above national |
| 14 | Delaware | $50,630 | +6% above national |
| 15 | Nebraska | $50,120 | +4% above national |
| 16 | North Dakota | $49,310 | +3% above national |
| 17 | Utah | $48,720 | +2% above national |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $48,430 | +1% above national |
| 19 | Colorado | $48,380 | +1% above national |
| 20 | South Dakota | $48,380 | +1% above national |
| 21 | New York | $48,000 | same as national |
| 22 | Ohio | $47,870 | same as national |
| 23 | Indiana | $47,520 | 1% below national |
| 24 | Kansas | $47,130 | 2% below national |
| 25 | Nevada | $46,940 | 2% below national |
| 26 | Rhode Island | $46,450 | 3% below national |
| 27 | Arizona | $46,270 | 4% below national |
| 28 | Arkansas | $46,150 | 4% below national |
| 29 | Michigan | $45,800 | 5% below national |
| 30 | Florida | $45,550 | 5% below national |
| 31 | Tennessee | $45,330 | 6% below national |
| 32 | Maine | $45,310 | 6% below national |
| 33 | West Virginia | $45,040 | 6% below national |
| 34 | Oregon | $44,580 | 7% below national |
| 35 | New Mexico | $44,450 | 7% below national |
| 36 | Missouri | $43,290 | 10% below national |
| 37 | Virginia | $40,050 | 17% below national |
| 38 | Alabama | $39,820 | 17% below national |
| 39 | Wyoming | $39,750 | 17% below national |
| 40 | North Carolina | $39,100 | 19% below national |
| 41 | Mississippi | $38,700 | 19% below national |
| 42 | South Carolina | $37,960 | 21% below national |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $37,870 | 21% below national |
| 44 | Texas | $37,270 | 22% below national |
| 45 | Georgia | $36,990 | 23% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 55 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | $64,600 | +35% above national |
| 2 | New Haven, CT | $60,310 | +26% above national |
| 3 | Modesto, CA | $59,600 | +24% above national |
| 4 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,530 | +24% above national |
| 5 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $58,750 | +22% above national |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $58,640 | +22% above national |
| 7 | Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $58,610 | +22% above national |
| 8 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $58,250 | +21% above national |
| 9 | Port St. Lucie, FL | $57,600 | +20% above national |
| 10 | Billings, MT | $57,380 | +20% above national |
| 11 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $56,310 | +17% above national |
| 12 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $55,440 | +16% above national |
| 13 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $55,060 | +15% above national |
| 14 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $54,820 | +14% above national |
| 15 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $54,250 | +13% above national |
| 16 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $52,510 | +9% above national |
| 17 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $51,600 | +8% above national |
| 18 | Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $51,580 | +8% above national |
| 19 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $50,290 | +5% above national |
| 20 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $49,750 | +4% above national |
| 21 | Fargo, ND-MN | $49,410 | +3% above national |
| 22 | Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $49,350 | +3% above national |
| 23 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $49,220 | +3% above national |
| 24 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $49,210 | +3% above national |
| 25 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $49,160 | +2% above national |
| 26 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $48,820 | +2% above national |
| 27 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $48,530 | +1% above national |
| 28 | Reno, NV | $48,530 | +1% above national |
| 29 | North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | $48,410 | +1% above national |
| 30 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $48,350 | +1% above national |
| 31 | San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $48,230 | +1% above national |
| 32 | Helena, MT | $48,170 | same as national |
| 33 | Ogden, UT | $47,840 | same as national |
| 34 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $47,700 | 1% below national |
| 35 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $46,820 | 2% below national |
| 36 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $46,450 | 3% below national |
| 37 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $46,390 | 3% below national |
| 38 | Fort Wayne, IN | $46,160 | 4% below national |
| 39 | Jackson, TN | $45,800 | 5% below national |
| 40 | Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | $45,550 | 5% below national |
| 41 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $45,350 | 5% below national |
| 42 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $45,070 | 6% below national |
| 43 | Chico, CA | $44,800 | 7% below national |
| 44 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $44,610 | 7% below national |
| 45 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $44,350 | 8% below national |
| 46 | Bangor, ME | $44,320 | 8% below national |
| 47 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $44,080 | 8% below national |
| 48 | Charleston, WV | $41,600 | 13% below national |
| 49 | Raleigh-Cary, NC | $40,570 | 15% below national |
| 50 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $39,720 | 17% below national |
| 51 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $39,230 | 18% below national |
| 52 | Tulsa, OK | $38,480 | 20% below national |
| 53 | Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $37,420 | 22% below national |
| 54 | Winston-Salem, NC | $36,580 | 24% below national |
| 55 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $36,360 | 24% below national |
Same SOC major group
Other detailed occupations in SOC major group 47 (Construction and Extraction Occupations) - category peers, not a pay match.
Boilermakers
SOC 47-2011
Brickmasons and Blockmasons
SOC 47-2021
Carpenters
SOC 47-2031
Carpet Installers
SOC 47-2041
Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
SOC 47-2051
Showing 5 of 59 detailed occupations BLS assigns to this SOC major group.
Nationwide occupations with similar pay or employment scale
Two OEWS peer sets outside this SOC major group (Construction and Extraction Occupations). Same-category cards above stay inside the group; these neighborhoods are cross-group nearest neighbors on national median pay ($47,980 here) and reported employment (24,480 jobs here).
Similar median pay
Nearest other detailed occupations by BLS OEWS national median annual wage.
Similar employment scale
Nearest headcount peers (floor 1,000 national jobs), distinct from the pay column.
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on BLS OEWS national median annual wage and reported employment. Employment peers exclude occupations already listed in the pay column so the two link sets stay distinct.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Fence Erectors make? ▼
Where does Fence Erectors pay rank nationally? ▼
What state pays Fence Erectors the most? ▼
What education do Fence Erectors need? ▼
Does BLS publish a safety rate for Fence Erectors? ▼
Is Fence Erectors a good career? ▼
How does Fence Erectors pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Fence Erectors? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Fence Erectors pay figures in a real decision
- The 75th-percentile wage is about $58,610/year. Treat it as the upper-quartile market boundary, not an automatic target for experience alone; role scope, location, industry, credentials, performance, and employer context still need separate evidence. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Alaska leads at $64,600/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Source data and WageDex calculations are identified in context on this page. Occupation wages use BLS OEWS May 2025; outlook uses BLS Employment Projections for 2024–2034; safety, skills, knowledge, and task panels identify their BLS or O*NET sources in context. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.