Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
No formal educational credential
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Fence erectors work in a hands-on, physically demanding trade with clear national demand. The occupation employs about 26,000 people across the country, with a national median salary of $46,940 and projected employment growth of 4.6%. This points to a trade where opportunities are expected to expand rather than decline. Annual openings of 2,000 suggest a steady flow of job possibilities for new entrants and experienced workers. The role draws on a mix of physical strength and stamina, fine motor skills, mechanical ability, and attention to detail, combined with interpersonal and customer service strengths. Leadership and project management skills can help fence erectors advance to more responsibility over time. With no formal educational credential typically required, this pathway can be accessible to people who prefer learning on the job. For those exploring similar hands-on work, related options include helpers–roofers, roofers, glaziers, meat, poultry, and fish cutters and trimmers, and cement masons and concrete finishers.
Fence erectors earn a national median annual salary of $46,940, with pay levels varying by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, California offers a median salary of $56,060, noticeably higher than the national median, while Washington sits at $51,860. New York and Colorado have median salaries of $48,000 and $48,380, respectively, clustering near each other. Texas shows a lower median salary of $37,270 within this top group. At the metro level, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA has the highest listed median salary at $58,640, closely followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $58,250. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ also show relatively strong median salaries of $55,440 and $51,600. These figures indicate that location choice can significantly influence earning potential for fence erectors.
Fence erectors have a national employment base of 26,000 workers, with projected employment growth of 4.6%. This indicates that the number of positions is expected to increase over time rather than remain flat or shrink. There are an estimated 2,000 annual openings across the country, reflecting a combination of new positions and turnover in existing roles. The consistent growth rate of 4.6% appears not only at the national level but is also reflected in the top states and metro areas listed, suggesting a relatively uniform projected growth pattern in different locations. For job seekers and career changers, this combination of existing employment, projected expansion, and recurring openings can translate into ongoing opportunities to enter or re-enter the field. While the figures do not specify growth by experience level, they do point to a trade with continuing demand over the projection period.
Location plays an important role in the opportunities available to fence erectors. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $56,060, employment of 3,150, and the highest opportunity score listed at 67.38. New York and Washington also offer solid combinations of pay and employment, with median salaries of $48,000 and $51,860 and opportunity scores of 65.78 and 56.29, respectively. Colorado and Texas round out the top states, with Texas showing the lowest median salary in this group at $37,270 but still earning an opportunity score above 50. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ lead with opportunity scores above 77. Both also provide median salaries above $50,000. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers the highest listed metro median salary at $58,640 and a strong opportunity score of 68.75. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA also present notable combinations of employment, salary, and opportunity scores, giving candidates multiple attractive geographic options.
The typical education requirement for fence erectors is no formal educational credential, making this career accessible to people who prefer to enter the workforce directly rather than pursue extended schooling. Success in this occupation relies more on capabilities and skills than on formal degrees. Key strengths include physical strength and stamina and fine motor abilities, which support the hands-on and often demanding nature of the work. Mechanical skills and a detail-oriented mindset are also important, helping workers handle tools, materials, and precise tasks. Beyond physical and mechanical abilities, fence erectors benefit from strong interpersonal and customer service skills, as they may interact with clients and coworkers. Leadership and project management skills can support taking on greater responsibility, such as coordinating work or overseeing parts of a project. Science and mathematics skills round out the profile, contributing to problem-solving and practical calculations where needed. Altogether, this mix of abilities offers multiple ways to grow within the trade despite the lack of a formal education requirement.
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