How much does a fence erector make?

The median pay is $23.07 per hour — roughly $48,000 a year, with the real range running from about $17.22/hr (10th percentile) to $33.66/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do you need a degree to be a fence erector?

The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

What does a fence erector actually do all day?

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.

Construction & Trades

Fence Erectors

Erect and repair fences and fence gates, using hand and power tools.

What it pays
Fence Erectors earn a median of $23.07/hr — about $48,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $17.22/hr; the top 10% earn $33.66/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)

What you'd actually do

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.

How you get there

Typical entry-level education: Less than high school. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).

The feel of the work

Much of the work happens outdoors; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)

Working for yourself

About 11.4% of fence erectors are self-employed.

Who it tends to fit

This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.

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Related careers

Quick questions

How much does a fence erector make?: The median pay is $23.07 per hour — roughly $48,000 a year, with the real range running from about $17.22/hr (10th percentile) to $33.66/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Do you need a degree to be a fence erector?: The typical entry-level education is: Less than high school. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
What does a fence erector actually do all day?: 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.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.

Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.