Asphalt driveway cost in Dubuque, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,000 – $7,400
- Per sq ft
- $4.95 – $12
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #138
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to pave a driveway in Dubuque, plan on $3,000 to $7,400 for 600 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $4.95 to $12 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Dubuque, IA, standard level
$4,300 to $6,050
About $7.05 to $9.90 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,150 |
| Labor | $1,800 | $2,800 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $140 |
| Total | $4,300 | $6,050 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Dubuque, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $2,800 | $3,700 | 54% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $2,300 | $3,500 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $110 | $170 | 2% |
| Total | $3,000 | $5,200 | $7,400 | 100% |
Why Dubuque prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators at 40%, construction laborers at 30%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%. Weighted together, Dubuque wages are 1.08 times the national level. Labor makes up about 44% of the midpoint estimate (41% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dubuque metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 600 sq ft comes to $2,800, compared with $2,950 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (87.3) and land at $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 Dubuque. The wage table below marks each row.
Climate in Dubuque: timing your asphalt driveway job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dubuque Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Dubuque (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 144 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Dubuque gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 43 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.2 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.8 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 6 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 | 11 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 15 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 26 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 58 | 37 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 59 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 52 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 28 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 32 | 17 | 1.8 | Cold |
Planning more than one job in Dubuque?
Because every project leans on different trades, Dubuque's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs +1% and concrete slab −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,200 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,000 | −1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,500 | +1% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | level |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −3% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,900 | −2% |
Cost by quality level and size in Dubuque
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dubuque wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,000 to $4,750
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,300 to $6,050
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,650 to $7,400
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,250 – $1,950 | $1,800 – $2,500 | $2,350 – $3,050 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,000 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,100 | $3,800 – $5,000 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,000 – $4,750 | $4,300 – $6,050 | $5,650 – $7,400 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $4,950 – $7,850 | $7,150 – $10,000 | $9,300 – $12,200 |
Why two Dubuque quotes can differ
Sealcoating
Sealing is $1-$2 per sq ft and is a maintenance cost, not part of the install.
New versus overlay
Resurfacing an existing driveway runs $3-$7 per sq ft; a full new driveway runs $5-$12+ (HomeGuide). Tearing out and replacing one is higher still.
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.
Dubuque labor market for asphalt driveway
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Dubuque is 1.08 times the national level.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) carry 40% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dubuque metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $29.38 an hour against $25.64 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.45 and $29.39 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.46 an hour, 4% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.37 and $28.85 an hour. About 500 work in the metro. That is 85.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $29.93 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $26.92 and $35.52 an hour. BLS counts 160 of them working in the area, 27.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.39 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $0. At the 25th percentile ($27.45) it shrinks by about $65. The total moves by 0.0% or 1.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 58,470 jobs in the Dubuque area. That makes it the 292nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $27.45 | $29.38 | $29.39 | $25.64 | 1.15 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.37 | $23.46 | $28.85 | $22.66 | 1.04 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $26.92 | $29.93 | $35.52 | $28.78 | 1.04 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
Optional extras in Dubuque
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Dubuque by the average of the local wage index (1.08) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 1.01. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $610 – $1,200 |
How Dubuque compares
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Dubuque. Iowa City is the lowest at about $5,150 (midpoint, 600 sq ft), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IAthis page | $3,000 – $7,400 | $5,200 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA45 miles | $3,000 – $7,400 | $5,200 | level |
| Iowa City, IA75 miles | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | level |
| Davenport, IA75 miles | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 | +2% |
| Madison, WI80 miles | $3,400 – $8,700 | $6,050 | +17% |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | +8% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | level |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Dubuque comes in at #138 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $7,650; the cheapest is Fort Smith, AR at $4,450 (midpoints, 600 sq ft). Statewide, Dubuque is 0% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | level |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 | +2% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $3,000 – $7,400 | $5,200 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | level |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | +8% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Dubuque's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dubuque against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | 58,650 jobs | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 | −1% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $2,750 – $6,600 | $4,700 | −10% |
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $3,200 – $7,850 | $5,500 | +6% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $2,950 – $7,150 | $5,050 | −3% |
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 $4,300 to $6,050 for Dubuque, IA is attached.
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Asphalt driveway in Dubuque: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Dubuque?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,000 to $7,400 in the Dubuque area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,300 to $6,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in Dubuque?
About $4.95 to $12 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 Dubuque or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,200, which is 0% more than Dubuque ($5,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dubuque?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $2,300 out of $5,200. Materials are 54% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Dubuque?
$3,000 to $7,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Dubuque?
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 Dubuque area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dubuque expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Iowa?
Dubuque is 0% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($5,150 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Dubuque?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $29.38 an hour, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.45 to $29.39.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Dubuque?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,000 to $4,750 and premium work $5,650 to $7,400. 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 Dubuque?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September and October 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 Dubuque?
$610 to $1,200 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Dubuque
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.