Occupations · Construction and Extraction
Fence Erectors
Erect and repair fences and fence gates, using hand and power tools.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 47-4031.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 108% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $57,020 | 1,090 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $57,470 | 710 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $47,390 | 520 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | $54,720 | 400 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $60,240 | 400 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | $49,090 | 340 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,440 | 340 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $37,010 | 280 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $43,580 | 270 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $42,070 | 250 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $57,100 | 220 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $39,240 | 200 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: No formal educational credential · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- 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.
- Nail top and bottom rails to fence posts, or insert them in slots on posts.
- Discuss fencing needs with customers, and estimate and quote prices.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2019-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2019-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 1
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| door installer | 7115.2 | close |
| building construction worker | 9313.1 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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