Asphalt driveway cost in Omaha, NE
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $2,850 – $6,950
- Per sq ft
- $4.70 – $11.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #196
- 1 = most expensive
Omaha homeowners pay roughly $2,850 to $6,950 to pave a driveway at 600 sq ft, or $4.70 to $11.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Omaha is 6% lower. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.1).
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Omaha, NE, standard level
$4,100 to $5,750
About $6.70 to $9.35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,150 |
| Labor | $1,600 | $2,450 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $140 |
| Total | $4,100 | $5,750 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Omaha, NE
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $2,800 | $3,700 | 57% |
| Labor | $960 | $2,000 | $3,050 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $110 | $180 | 2% |
| Total | $2,850 | $4,900 | $6,950 | 100% |
Why Omaha prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators, who do 40% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $21.50 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Omaha is 0.94 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 41% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Omaha metro is 94.1 (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 (91.9) and land at $45 to $180.
Related projects, priced for Omaha
Because every project leans on different trades, Omaha's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs +1% and concrete patio −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,600 | −6% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,950 | −2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,500 | +1% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,100 | −1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,300 – $4,850 | −6% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,750 | −6% |
Optional extras in Omaha
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Omaha by the average of the local wage index (0.94) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.94. 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 | $570 – $1,150 |
Pick a size, pick a tier: asphalt driveway pricing in Omaha
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Omaha 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
$2,850 to $4,500
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,100 to $5,750
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,350 to $6,950
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,200 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,400 | $2,200 – $2,900 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $1,950 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,850 | $3,600 – $4,700 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $4,500 | $4,100 – $5,750 | $5,350 – $6,950 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $4,750 – $7,450 | $6,750 – $9,450 | $8,800 – $11,500 |
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 Omaha is 0.94 times the national level.
For paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071, weighted 40%) the local median is $21.50 an hour, which is 16% below the national $25.64. The middle half of them earn between $20.29 and $26.29 an hour. BLS counts 170 of them working in the area, 3.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.22 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.00 and $27.58 an hour. About 3,990 work in the metro. That is 80.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $28.86 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.14 and $31.54 an hour. BLS counts 1,380 of them working in the area, 27.7 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 ($26.29 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $160. At the 25th percentile ($20.29) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 3.2% or 0.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 498,100 jobs in the Omaha area. That makes it the 51st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.32% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $20.29 | $21.50 | $26.29 | $25.64 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $20.00 | $23.22 | $27.58 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.14 | $28.86 | $31.54 | $28.78 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Is Omaha cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (600 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Des Moines is the priciest of the group at $5,200. Topeka is the cheapest at $4,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NEthis page | $2,850 – $6,950 | $4,900 | |
| Lincoln, NE55 miles | $2,950 – $7,150 | $5,050 | +2% |
| Sioux City, IA85 miles | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | +5% |
| Des Moines, IA120 miles | $3,000 – $7,450 | $5,200 | +6% |
| Topeka, KS155 miles | $2,850 – $6,950 | $4,900 | level |
| Sioux Falls, SD160 miles | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | +5% |
| Nebraska (statewide) | $2,850 – $6,950 | $4,900 | level |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, Omaha comes in at #196 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, Omaha is 0% above the Nebraska figure.
Other Nebraska metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | 182,620 jobs | $2,950 – $7,150 | $5,050 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Omaha's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Omaha against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 | −1% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $3,100 – $7,600 | $5,350 | +9% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,500 | +11% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $3,550 – $8,800 | $6,150 | +25% |
When to schedule asphalt driveway in Omaha
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Omaha Eppley Airfield (10 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 Omaha (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 134 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Omaha gets about 32 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 27 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.0 and 2.3 inches. The station averages about 33 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 | 34 | 15 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 19 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 30 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 64 | 41 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 53 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 66 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 56 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 43 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 50 | 30 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 20 | 1.2 | Cold |
Asphalt driveway: what moves the price in Omaha
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.
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 $4,100 to $5,750 for Omaha, NE is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Omaha, NE: 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 Omaha: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Omaha?
For 600 sq ft, expect $2,850 to $6,950 in the Omaha area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,100 to $5,750. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in Omaha?
About $4.70 to $11.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $180 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $12.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in Omaha or Lincoln?
Lincoln is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,050, which is 2% more than Omaha ($4,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Omaha?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $2,000 out of $4,900. Materials are 57% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Omaha?
$2,850 to $6,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Omaha?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $180 for fees in the Omaha area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Omaha expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Nebraska?
Omaha is 0% above the Nebraska statewide estimate ($4,900 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Nebraska; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Omaha?
The BLS median is $21.50 an hour in the Omaha area, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.29 to $26.29.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Omaha?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $2,850 to $4,500 and premium work $5,350 to $6,950. 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 Omaha?
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 Omaha?
$570 to $1,150 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Omaha
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.