Asphalt driveway cost in Massachusetts
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (600 sq ft)
- $3,300 – $8,150
- Per sq ft
- $5.40 – $13
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $5,250
- Metros covered
- 6
Massachusetts prices for asphalt driveway: $3,300 to $8,150 for 600 sq ft, or $5.40 to $13 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 9% above the national one. Local wages for paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators are $29.31 an hour.
Inside Massachusetts, the metros we cover range from $5,350 (Pittsfield) to $5,850 (Boston) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Massachusetts (statewide), standard level
$4,750 to $6,700
About $7.75 to $11 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,550 | $3,350 |
| Labor | $2,100 | $3,200 |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $160 |
| Total | $4,750 | $6,700 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Massachusetts
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $2,950 | $3,900 | 51% |
| Labor | $1,250 | $2,650 | $4,050 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $130 | $210 | 2% |
| Total | $3,300 | $5,700 | $8,150 | 100% |
Massachusetts metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $5,700, and the top-to-bottom gap is 9%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (600 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | $3,350 – $8,400 | $5,850 | +3% |
| Worcester, MA | $3,250 – $8,050 | $5,650 | −1% |
| Springfield, MA | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | −2% |
| Barnstable, MA | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,550 | −3% |
| Amherst, MA | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,500 | −4% |
| Pittsfield, MA | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −6% |
Massachusetts against its neighbors
Massachusetts ranks 12 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for asphalt driveway, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $7,500 and the cheapest Mississippi at $4,600, both for 600 sq ft at the midpoint. Massachusetts sits at $5,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 40 miles away | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,400 | −6% |
| Rhode Island | 50 miles away | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,500 | −4% |
| Connecticut | 110 miles away | $3,350 – $8,450 | $5,900 | +3% |
| Maine | 120 miles away | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 | −10% |
| Vermont | 180 miles away | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | −10% |
Asphalt driveway: what moves the price in Massachusetts
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.
Hot-mix price
Hot-mix asphalt is $100-$200 per ton delivered and moves with oil prices (PaveGauge).
Sealcoating
Sealing is $1-$2 per sq ft and is a maintenance cost, not part of the install.
Massachusetts seasons and asphalt driveway
Season matters for asphalt driveway. For each Massachusetts metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Boston has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Massachusetts at 8 months (April through November); Pittsfield has the shortest at 7 (April through October). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Boston to 48 inches in Worcester.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 23 | 82 | 44 | 8: April through November |
| Worcester | 17 | 80 | 48 | 8: April through November |
| Springfield | 16 | 85 | 45 | 7: April through October |
| Barnstable | 24 | 81 | 45 | 8: April through November |
| Amherst | 16 | 85 | 45 | 7: April through October |
| Pittsfield | 14 | 79 | 44 | 7: April through October |
Quality levels and sizes in Massachusetts
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Massachusetts wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,300 to $5,250
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,750 to $6,700
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$6,200 to $8,150
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,350 – $2,150 | $1,950 – $2,800 | $2,550 – $3,400 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,200 – $3,550 | $3,200 – $4,500 | $4,200 – $5,500 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $5,250 | $4,750 – $6,700 | $6,200 – $8,150 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $5,450 – $8,650 | $7,850 – $11,100 | $10,200 – $13,500 |
Related projects, priced for Massachusetts
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Massachusetts wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+23%) and concrete slab lowest (+9%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,100 – $10,600 | +15% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,900 – $11,700 | +15% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,650 – $6,700 | +23% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $710 – $2,500 | +18% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,700 – $5,600 | +9% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,350 – $4,500 | +11% |
Massachusetts labor market for asphalt driveway
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.25 for Massachusetts.
For paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071, weighted 40%) the local median is $29.31 an hour, which is 14% above the national $25.64. The middle half of them earn between $26.82 and $37.47 an hour. BLS counts 560 of them working in the state, 1.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $30.48 an hour, 35% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $25.16 and $42.46 an hour. About 16,210 work in the state. That is 44.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $36.93 an hour, which is 28% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.99 and $51.71 an hour. BLS counts 9,680 of them working in the state, 26.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators ($37.47 an hour) would add about $270 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($26.82) would take off about $85. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,637,650 jobs across Massachusetts (May 2025), which is 2.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $26.82 | $29.31 | $37.47 | $25.64 | 1.14 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $25.16 | $30.48 | $42.46 | $22.66 | 1.35 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.99 | $36.93 | $51.71 | $28.78 | 1.28 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.25 | |||||
Add-ons priced for Massachusetts
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Massachusetts by the average of the local wage index (1.25) and goods index (0.99), a factor of 1.12. 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 | $670 – $1,350 |
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Detailed asphalt driveway report for Massachusetts, $9
The report lays out the asphalt driveway numbers for Massachusetts line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Massachusetts: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Massachusetts?
$3,300 to $8,150 for 600 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Massachusetts can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Massachusetts is cheapest for asphalt driveway?
Pittsfield at about $5,350 (midpoint, 600 sq ft). The priciest is Boston at $5,850.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in Massachusetts than the US average?
It is 9% more expensive: $5,700 against $5,250 for 600 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Massachusetts?
About 46% ($2,650). Materials are 51%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.25x the national wage level.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Massachusetts?
The BLS statewide median is $29.31 an hour, against $25.64 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.82 to $37.47.
+Where does Massachusetts rank for asphalt driveway costs?
12th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,700 for 600 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Massachusetts?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,300 to $5,250 and premium work $6,200 to $8,150. Basic means: new topcoat over a sound base, flat lot. Premium means: full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth.
+Does the season matter for asphalt driveway in Massachusetts?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Massachusetts metros we cover, Boston has the most comfortable months (8 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add a sealcoat" add in Massachusetts?
$670 to $1,350 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway by city in Massachusetts
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.