Occupation salary profile

Fence Erectors

SOC 47-4031 BLS OEWS May 2025

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

National median · BLS
$47,980
▲ +2.22% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$50,530
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
24,480
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Fence Erectors

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$35,810
25th$40,400
Median (50th)$47,980
75th$58,610
90th — top pay$70,010

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Fence Erectors

BLS projects employment of fence erectors to grow 5.6% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 2,500 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
30,600 → 32,300
+1,700 jobs
Projected change
+5.6%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
2,500
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed
21% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need no formal education →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Fence Erectors

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Active Listening3.0
  • Coordination3.0
  • Critical Thinking3.0
  • Monitoring3.0
  • Speaking3.0
  • Time Management3.0
  • Judgment and Decision Making2.9
  • Operation and Control2.9
  • Operations Monitoring2.9
  • Complex Problem Solving2.6
Top knowledge areas
  • Customer and Personal Service4.0
  • Building and Construction4.0
  • Transportation3.9
  • Administration and Management3.8
  • Design3.7
  • Mathematics3.5
  • English Language3.4
  • Education and Training3.3
Software and technology used
Autodesk AutoCADFacebookMicrosoft ExcelCutlist Plus fxMaxwell Systems American ContractorSoftware Design Associates Computer Fencing System CFS

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What fence erectors 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.
  • Attach fence rail supports to posts, using hammers and pliers.
  • Assemble gates, and fasten gates into position, using hand tools.
Also called
Fence BuilderFence ErectorFence InstallerFence LaborerFence ContractorFence MechanicFence Technician (Fence Tech)Gate Technician (Gate Tech)Wood Fence Erector
More job titles for this occupation (7)
Chain Link Fence InstallerFence RepairmanInstallerLaborerWire Fence BuilderWire Fence ErectorWood Fence Installer

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.