Asphalt driveway cost in Jonesboro, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $2,700 – $6,450
- Per sq ft
- $4.45 – $10.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #290
- 1 = most expensive
An asphalt driveway in Jonesboro, AR usually costs $2,700 to $6,450 for 600 sq ft. That works out to about $4.45 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $630 less. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $21.16 an hour in the Jonesboro area, 17% below the US median of $25.64.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Jonesboro, AR, standard level
$3,850 to $5,350
About $6.25 to $8.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,150 |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,050 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $130 |
| Total | $3,850 | $5,350 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Jonesboro, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $2,800 | $3,700 | 61% |
| Labor | $820 | $1,700 | $2,600 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $110 | $170 | 2% |
| Total | $2,700 | $4,600 | $6,450 | 100% |
Where the Jonesboro price comes from
Labor is 37% of the midpoint bill here, against 41% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (40%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Jonesboro the blended ratio comes out at 0.80. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Arkansas statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Jonesboro is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,950 nationally becomes $2,800 here (midpoint, 600 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.9: $45 to $170.
Data note: 40% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Jonesboro. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Jonesboro
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Jonesboro the blend is 0.80.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) carry 40% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Jonesboro metro, so we used the Arkansas statewide median: $21.16 an hour against $25.64 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.29 and $23.41 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $18.26 an hour, which is 19% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.23 and $20.53 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 64.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.92 an hour, 24% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.23 and $23.12 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 39.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $75 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $95. That is a swing of roughly 2.1% to 1.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Jonesboro has 60,620 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 286th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $18.29 | $21.16 | $23.41 | $25.64 | 0.83 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $16.23 | $18.26 | $20.53 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $18.23 | $21.92 | $23.12 | $28.78 | 0.76 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Why two Jonesboro quotes can differ
Base work
Four to eight inches of compacted aggregate under the asphalt is where cheap quotes cut corners. Base typically runs $1-$3 per sq ft.
Small jobs cost more per foot
Paving crews move a paver, roller and trucks to your address, so a 400 sq ft driveway carries more mobilization per square foot than a 1,000 sq ft one.
Hot-mix price
Hot-mix asphalt is $100-$200 per ton delivered and moves with oil prices (PaveGauge).
Is Jonesboro cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (600 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Clarksville is the priciest of the group at $4,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro, ARthis page | $2,700 – $6,450 | $4,600 | |
| Memphis, TN65 miles | $2,800 – $6,750 | $4,800 | +4% |
| Jackson, TN100 miles | $2,800 – $6,700 | $4,750 | +4% |
| Little Rock, AR120 miles | $2,750 – $6,550 | $4,650 | +1% |
| Springfield, MO180 miles | $2,850 – $6,900 | $4,850 | +6% |
| Clarksville, TN180 miles | $2,850 – $6,900 | $4,900 | +6% |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $2,700 – $6,450 | $4,600 | level |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | +14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Jonesboro ranks #290 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Jonesboro is 0% above the Arkansas figure.
Elsewhere in Arkansas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $2,750 – $6,550 | $4,650 | +1% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $2,750 – $6,650 | $4,700 | +3% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $2,650 – $6,200 | $4,450 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Jonesboro against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan, WI | 60,630 jobs | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,450 | +19% |
| Chambersburg, PA | 60,280 jobs | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 | +15% |
| Dothan, AL | 60,720 jobs | $2,700 – $6,450 | $4,550 | level |
| Alexandria, LA | 60,000 jobs | $2,750 – $6,550 | $4,650 | +1% |
Optional extras in Jonesboro
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.87 for Jonesboro, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.80) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $520 – $1,050 |
Planning more than one job in Jonesboro?
Jobs that often go together with asphalt driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Jonesboro wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−13%) and concrete driveway lowest (−20%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,250 | −20% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,750 | −14% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,700 | −13% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $510 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,050 – $4,450 | −15% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,050 – $3,250 | −18% |
Cost by quality level and size in Jonesboro
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Jonesboro. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft to long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft.
Basic
$2,700 to $4,200
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$3,850 to $5,350
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$4,950 to $6,450
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,100 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,200 | $2,050 – $2,700 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $1,800 – $2,850 | $2,600 – $3,600 | $3,350 – $4,350 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,200 | $3,850 – $5,350 | $4,950 – $6,450 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $4,500 – $6,950 | $6,350 – $8,800 | $8,200 – $10,700 |
Jonesboro weather and the asphalt driveway calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Jonesboro Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Jonesboro are February through May and September through December: 8 of 12. Outside them, January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 65 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Jonesboro gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, April and May (5.2 inches in May). Inside the workable window, February and September are the driest, at 3.8 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 66 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47 | 31 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 52 | 34 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 41 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 50 | 5.2 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 60 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 3.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 62 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 40 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 50 | 33 | 4.5 | Workable |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $3,850 to $5,350 for Jonesboro, AR is attached.
Detailed asphalt driveway report for Jonesboro, AR, $9
Multi-page report for Jonesboro, AR: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Asphalt driveway in Jonesboro: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Jonesboro?
For 600 sq ft, expect $2,700 to $6,450 in the Jonesboro area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,850 to $5,350. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in Jonesboro?
About $4.45 to $10.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $170 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $12.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in Jonesboro or Memphis?
Memphis is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $4,800, which is 4% more than Jonesboro ($4,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Jonesboro?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $1,700 out of $4,600. Materials are 61% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Jonesboro?
$2,700 to $6,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Jonesboro?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $170 for fees in the Jonesboro area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Jonesboro expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Jonesboro is 0% above the Arkansas statewide estimate ($4,600 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Jonesboro?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $21.16 an hour, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.29 to $23.41.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Jonesboro?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $2,700 to $4,200 and premium work $4,950 to $6,450. Basic means: new topcoat over a sound base, flat lot. Premium means: full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth.
+When is the best time to pave a driveway in Jonesboro?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through May and September through December. February and September are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
+What does "add a sealcoat" add in Jonesboro?
$520 to $1,050 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Jonesboro
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Paving an Asphalt Driveway Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- PaveGauge: Asphalt Driveway Cost (2026): Price by Size (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = hot-mix asphalt ($2.30-$3.60/sq ft at 3 in) plus aggregate base ($1-$3/sq ft) from PaveGauge's component table.