Asphalt driveway cost in Sioux City, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,000 – $7,350
- Per sq ft
- $4.90 – $12
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #142
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for an asphalt driveway in the Sioux City area: $3,000 to $7,350 for 600 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.0).
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Sioux City, IA, standard level
$4,300 to $6,050
About $7 to $9.85 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,150 |
| Labor | $1,800 | $2,750 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $130 |
| Total | $4,300 | $6,050 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Sioux City, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $2,800 | $3,700 | 54% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $2,250 | $3,450 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $110 | $170 | 2% |
| Total | $3,000 | $5,150 | $7,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Sioux City number
Labor is 44% 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 Sioux City the blended ratio comes out at 1.06. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Sioux City is at 94.0 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 86.5: $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 Sioux City. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: asphalt driveway pricing in Sioux City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Sioux City. 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
$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
$5,600 to $7,350
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,200 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,500 | $2,300 – $3,050 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,000 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,050 | $3,800 – $4,950 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,000 – $4,750 | $4,300 – $6,050 | $5,600 – $7,350 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $4,950 – $7,800 | $7,100 – $9,950 | $9,250 – $12,100 |
What nearby projects cost in Sioux City
Jobs that often go together with asphalt driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Sioux City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (level) and concrete slab lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,550 – $9,000 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,900 | −3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,450 | level |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,100 | −1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,350 – $4,950 | −4% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,850 | −4% |
Extras that change the Sioux City total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.00 for Sioux City, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.06) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $600 – $1,200 |
Who does the work: Sioux City trade wages
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 Sioux City the blend is 1.06.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) carry 40% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Sioux City 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.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.38 an hour, which is 3% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.71 and $28.72 an hour. BLS counts 560 of them working in the area, 74.7 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 $28.43 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.63 and $30.32 an hour. About 200 work in the metro. That is 26.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $0 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 1.2% to 0.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Sioux City has 75,010 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 247th 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% | $27.45 | $29.38 | $29.39 | $25.64 | 1.15 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.71 | $23.38 | $28.72 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.63 | $28.43 | $30.32 | $28.78 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Sioux City bid
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.
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.
How Sioux City compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 600 sq ft range from $4,900 to $5,600 across Sioux City and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IAthis page | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | |
| Sioux Falls, SD75 miles | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | level |
| Omaha, NE85 miles | $2,850 – $6,950 | $4,900 | −5% |
| Lincoln, NE120 miles | $2,950 – $7,150 | $5,050 | −3% |
| Des Moines, IA145 miles | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | +1% |
| Waterloo, IA195 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% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Sioux City ranks #142 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Sioux City is 0% below the Iowa figure.
Elsewhere in Iowa
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | +1% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $3,050 – $7,550 | $5,300 | +3% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $3,000 – $7,400 | $5,200 | +1% |
| 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% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $3,000 – $7,400 | $5,200 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Sioux City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 75,070 jobs | $2,750 – $6,650 | $4,700 | −9% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 | −6% |
| Kenosha, WI | 75,450 jobs | $3,400 – $8,300 | $5,850 | +13% |
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | level |
The best months for asphalt driveway in Sioux City
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Sioux City Gateway 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 Sioux City are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, 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 154 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Sioux City gets about 29 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 36 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 2.8 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 25 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 | 30 | 10 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 34 | 15 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 26 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 61 | 37 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 49 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 59 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 63 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 51 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 38 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 47 | 25 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 33 | 15 | 1.0 | Cold |
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Asphalt driveway in Sioux City: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Sioux City?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,000 to $7,350 in the Sioux City 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 Sioux City?
About $4.90 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 Sioux City or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,150, which is 0% less than Sioux City ($5,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Sioux City?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $2,250 out of $5,150. Materials are 54% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Sioux City?
$3,000 to $7,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Sioux City?
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 Sioux City area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Sioux City expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Iowa?
Sioux City is 0% below 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 Sioux City?
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 Sioux City?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,000 to $4,750 and premium work $5,600 to $7,350. 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 Sioux City?
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 Sioux City?
$600 to $1,200 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Sioux City
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.