Asphalt driveway cost in Monroe, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $2,750 – $6,550
- Per sq ft
- $4.50 – $10.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #281
- 1 = most expensive
Monroe homeowners pay roughly $2,750 to $6,550 to pave a driveway at 600 sq ft, or $4.50 to $10.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Monroe is 11% lower. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $23.29 an hour in the Monroe area, 9% below the US median of $25.64.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Monroe, LA, standard level
$3,900 to $5,400
About $6.35 to $8.80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,150 |
| Labor | $1,400 | $2,100 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $130 |
| Total | $3,900 | $5,400 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Monroe, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $2,800 | $3,700 | 60% |
| Labor | $840 | $1,750 | $2,650 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $100 | $170 | 2% |
| Total | $2,750 | $4,650 | $6,550 | 100% |
Why Monroe 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, Monroe wages are 0.82 times the national level. Labor makes up about 38% of the midpoint estimate (41% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Louisiana statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Monroe 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 (83.6) and land at $40 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 Monroe. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Monroe quotes can differ
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.
Is Monroe cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Monroe. Texarkana is the lowest at about $4,650 (midpoint, 600 sq ft), 135 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, LAthis page | $2,750 – $6,550 | $4,650 | |
| Alexandria, LA95 miles | $2,750 – $6,550 | $4,650 | level |
| Shreveport, LA100 miles | $2,800 – $6,700 | $4,750 | +2% |
| Jackson, MS115 miles | $2,800 – $6,650 | $4,750 | +2% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $2,750 – $6,550 | $4,650 | level |
| Little Rock, AR145 miles | $2,750 – $6,550 | $4,650 | level |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $2,800 – $6,700 | $4,750 | +2% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | +13% |
Across 300 US metros, Monroe comes in at #281 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, Monroe is 2% below the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 | +4% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $2,950 – $7,250 | $5,100 | +10% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $2,750 – $6,650 | $4,700 | +2% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $2,800 – $6,700 | $4,750 | +2% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $2,800 – $6,800 | $4,800 | +4% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $2,800 – $6,700 | $4,750 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Monroe's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Monroe against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $3,350 – $8,500 | $5,900 | +28% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,250 | +13% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 | +4% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $2,750 – $6,600 | $4,700 | +1% |
When to schedule asphalt driveway in Monroe
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Monroe Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Monroe (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Monroe gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, April and December (5.8 inches in April). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.5 and 4.2 inches. The station averages about 97 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 | 57 | 37 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 61 | 40 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 69 | 47 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 54 | 5.8 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 63 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 70 | 4.5 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 73 | 3.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 71 | 3.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 66 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 54 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 44 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 39 | 5.2 | Workable |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Monroe is 0.82 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 Monroe metro, so we used the Louisiana statewide median: $23.29 an hour against $25.64 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.95 and $30.78 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $17.24 an hour, 24% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.44 and $21.89 an hour. About 860 work in the metro. That is 98.3 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 $22.12 an hour, which is 23% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $17.49 and $25.63 an hour. BLS counts 230 of them working in the area, 26.3 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 ($30.78 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $250. At the 25th percentile ($20.95) it shrinks by about $80. The total moves by 5.4% or 1.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 87,500 jobs in the Monroe area. That makes it the 223rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $20.95 | $23.29 | $30.78 | $25.64 | 0.91 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $16.44 | $17.24 | $21.89 | $22.66 | 0.76 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $17.49 | $22.12 | $25.63 | $28.78 | 0.77 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Monroe
Because every project leans on different trades, Monroe's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs −14% and concrete driveway −19%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,450 | −19% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,100 – $8,700 | −15% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,650 | −15% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,100 – $4,500 | −14% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,300 | −16% |
Add-ons priced for Monroe
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Monroe by the average of the local wage index (0.82) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.88. 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 | $530 – $1,050 |
Pick a size, pick a tier: asphalt driveway pricing in Monroe
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Monroe 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
$2,750 to $4,250
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$3,900 to $5,400
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,000 to $6,550
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 – $2,250 | $2,100 – $2,700 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $1,850 – $2,850 | $2,600 – $3,650 | $3,400 – $4,400 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $2,750 – $4,250 | $3,900 – $5,400 | $5,000 – $6,550 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $4,550 – $7,050 | $6,400 – $8,900 | $8,300 – $10,800 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Multi-page report for Monroe, LA: 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 Monroe: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Monroe?
For 600 sq ft, expect $2,750 to $6,550 in the Monroe area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,900 to $5,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in Monroe?
About $4.50 to $10.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $170 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $12.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in Monroe or Alexandria?
Alexandria is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $4,650, which is 0% more than Monroe ($4,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Monroe?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $1,750 out of $4,650. Materials are 60% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Monroe?
$2,750 to $6,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Monroe?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $170 for fees in the Monroe area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Monroe expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Monroe is 2% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($4,750 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Monroe?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.29 an hour, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.95 to $30.78.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Monroe?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $2,750 to $4,250 and premium work $5,000 to $6,550. 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 Monroe?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. September and November 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 Monroe?
$530 to $1,050 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Monroe
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.