How to become a Fence Erector

Official title: Fence Erectors

Also called: Fence Builder, Fence Contractor, Fence Erector, Fence Installer, Fence Laborer, Fence Mechanic, Fence Technician (Fence Tech), Gate Technician (Gate Tech), Wood Fence Erector

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

Main 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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: No formal educational credential

Ways in

• Apprenticeship: Fence Erector.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $47,980 a year The middle half earn $40,400 to $58,610.
• About 30,600 people work in this job now, and about 32,300 are projected by 2035. (+5.6%)
• People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Related jobs

• Construction and Building Inspectors
• Energy Auditors
• Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
• Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
• Highway Maintenance Workers
• Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Fence Erector?

Ways in include: Fence Erector.

How much does a Fence Erector earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $47,980 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $40,400 to $58,610.

Is a Fence Erector a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 30,600 to about 32,300 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Fence Erector?

Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Fence Erector.

Will AI change the work of a Fence Erector?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the 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.