Asphalt driveway cost in Utica, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,150 – $7,650
- Per sq ft
- $5.15 – $12.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #92
- 1 = most expensive
Utica homeowners pay roughly $3,150 to $7,650 to pave a driveway at 600 sq ft, or $5.15 to $12.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Utica is 3% higher. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $29.70 an hour in the Utica area, 16% above the US median of $25.64.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Utica, NY, standard level
$4,500 to $6,300
About $7.35 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,550 | $3,350 |
| Labor | $1,850 | $2,800 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $140 |
| Total | $4,500 | $6,300 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Utica, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $2,950 | $3,950 | 55% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $2,350 | $3,550 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $120 | $190 | 2% |
| Total | $3,150 | $5,400 | $7,650 | 100% |
What is behind the Utica number
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 $29.70 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Utica is 1.09 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Utica metro is 99.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 600 sq ft comes to $2,950, compared with $2,950 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.7) and land at $45 to $190.
Optional extras in Utica
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Utica by the average of the local wage index (1.09) and goods index (1.00), a factor of 1.04. 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 | $630 – $1,250 |
What nearby projects cost in Utica
Because every project leans on different trades, Utica's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs +8% and concrete slab +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,700 – $9,400 | +2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,400 | +2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,250 – $5,850 | +8% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $640 – $2,250 | +6% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,500 – $5,250 | +1% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,050 | +1% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Utica bid
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.
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.
When to schedule asphalt driveway in Utica
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Utica Oneida Co Ap (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 Utica (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 140 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Utica gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, August and October (4.7 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and September are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 5 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 | 30 | 14 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 32 | 15 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 23 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 35 | 3.9 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 46 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 55 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 60 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 58 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 51 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 41 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 31 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Dec | 35 | 21 | 3.6 | Cold |
How Utica 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 $5,250 to $5,650 across Utica and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utica, NYthis page | $3,150 – $7,650 | $5,400 | |
| Syracuse, NY55 miles | $3,100 – $7,600 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Albany, NY75 miles | $3,250 – $8,050 | $5,650 | +4% |
| Binghamton, NY90 miles | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 | −3% |
| Kingston, NY105 miles | $3,200 – $7,850 | $5,500 | +2% |
| Pittsfield, MA120 miles | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,350 | −1% |
| New York (statewide) | $3,450 – $8,450 | $5,950 | +10% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, Utica comes in at #92 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, Utica is 9% below the New York figure.
Other New York metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $3,600 – $8,900 | $6,250 | +16% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,500 | +1% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $3,100 – $7,600 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $3,250 – $8,050 | $5,650 | +4% |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $3,100 – $7,600 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $3,400 – $8,250 | $5,850 | +8% |
Cities with a workforce like Utica's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Utica against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,250 | −2% |
| Longview, TX | 118,060 jobs | $2,750 – $6,600 | $4,650 | −13% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 | −10% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $2,800 – $6,600 | $4,700 | −13% |
Utica: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Utica 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
$3,150 to $4,950
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,500 to $6,300
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,850 to $7,650
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,300 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,600 | $2,400 – $3,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,100 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,250 | $3,950 – $5,200 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $4,950 | $4,500 – $6,300 | $5,850 – $7,650 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $5,200 – $8,200 | $7,450 – $10,400 | $9,650 – $12,700 |
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 Utica is 1.09 times the national level.
For paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071, weighted 40%) the local median is $29.70 an hour, which is 16% above the national $25.64. The middle half of them earn between $24.90 and $30.99 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 6.8 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 $23.90 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.66 and $30.48 an hour. About 550 work in the metro. That is 46.5 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 $29.94 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.30 and $42.89 an hour. BLS counts 200 of them working in the area, 16.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than 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 ($30.99 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $45. At the 25th percentile ($24.90) it shrinks by about $160. The total moves by 0.8% or 3.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 118,390 jobs in the Utica-Rome area. That makes it the 185th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $24.90 | $29.70 | $30.99 | $25.64 | 1.16 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.66 | $23.90 | $30.48 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $25.30 | $29.94 | $42.89 | $28.78 | 1.04 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
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Detailed asphalt driveway report for Utica, NY, $9
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Asphalt driveway in Utica: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Utica?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,150 to $7,650 in the Utica area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,500 to $6,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in Utica?
About $5.15 to $12.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $190 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $12.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in Utica or Syracuse?
Syracuse is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,350, which is 1% less than Utica ($5,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Utica?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $2,350 out of $5,400. Materials are 55% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Utica?
$3,150 to $7,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Utica?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $190 for fees in the Utica area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Utica expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of New York?
Utica is 9% below the New York statewide estimate ($5,950 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in New York; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Utica?
The BLS median is $29.70 an hour in the Utica area, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.90 to $30.99.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Utica?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,150 to $4,950 and premium work $5,850 to $7,650. 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 Utica?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. May and September 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 Utica?
$630 to $1,250 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Utica
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.