Asphalt driveway cost in North Dakota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (600 sq ft)
- $3,000 – $7,300
- Per sq ft
- $4.90 – $12
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $5,250
- Metros covered
- 2
Across North Dakota, an asphalt driveway costs about $3,000 to $7,300 for 600 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 2% below the US figure of $5,250. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median $25.64 an hour in North Dakota (US: $25.64).
Inside North Dakota, the metros we cover range from $5,150 (Fargo) to $5,150 (Bismarck) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in North Dakota (statewide), standard level
$4,250 to $6,000
About $7 to $9.75 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,450 | $3,200 |
| Labor | $1,750 | $2,650 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $140 |
| Total | $4,250 | $6,000 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in North Dakota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $2,850 | $3,800 | 55% |
| Labor | $1,050 | $2,200 | $3,300 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $110 | $180 | 2% |
| Total | $3,000 | $5,150 | $7,300 | 100% |
North Dakota metro-by-metro prices
0 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $5,150, and the top-to-bottom gap is 0%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 | level |
| Fargo, ND | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 | level |
North Dakota 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 1.02 for North Dakota.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) carry 40% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for North Dakota, so we used the national median: $25.64 an hour against $25.64 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.93 and $31.12 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.59 an hour, 4% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.96 and $29.17 an hour. About 5,050 work in the state. That is 117.6 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 $29.88 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.97 and $36.75 an hour. BLS counts 4,890 of them working in the state, 113.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators ($31.12 an hour) would add about $180 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.93) would take off about $120. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 429,430 jobs across North Dakota (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $21.93 | $25.64 | $31.12 | $25.64 | 1.00 | US |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.96 | $23.59 | $29.17 | $22.66 | 1.04 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $27.97 | $29.88 | $36.75 | $28.78 | 1.04 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Quality levels and sizes in North Dakota
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide North Dakota wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$3,000 to $4,700
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,250 to $6,000
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,550 to $7,300
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 – $3,000 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,000 – $3,150 | $2,900 – $4,050 | $3,750 – $4,900 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,000 – $4,700 | $4,250 – $6,000 | $5,550 – $7,300 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $4,950 – $7,750 | $7,050 – $9,900 | $9,200 – $12,000 |
Weather windows across North Dakota
Season matters for asphalt driveway. For each North Dakota metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Every North Dakota metro on the list has 6 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 19 inches a year in Bismarck to 24 in Fargo.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | 0 | 82 | 24 | 6: May through October |
| Bismarck | 2 | 85 | 19 | 6: May through October |
Other North Dakota jobs that often go with asphalt driveway
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide North Dakota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+5%) and concrete slab lowest (−2%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,200 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | level |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,150 – $5,700 | +5% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | −1% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,400 – $5,050 | −2% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,950 | −2% |
Optional extras in North Dakota
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to North Dakota by the average of the local wage index (1.02) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.99. 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 | $590 – $1,200 |
Asphalt driveway: what moves the price in North Dakota
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.
North Dakota against its neighbors
North Dakota ranks 31 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. North Dakota sits at $5,150. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 220 miles away | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | +1% |
| Minnesota | 270 miles away | $3,350 – $8,350 | $5,850 | +14% |
| Nebraska | 410 miles away | $2,850 – $6,950 | $4,900 | −5% |
| Iowa | 450 miles away | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | +1% |
| Wyoming | 500 miles away | $3,000 – $7,350 | $5,150 | +1% |
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Asphalt driveway in North Dakota: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in North Dakota?
$3,000 to $7,300 for 600 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside North Dakota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in North Dakota is cheapest for asphalt driveway?
Fargo at about $5,150 (midpoint, 600 sq ft). The priciest is Bismarck at $5,150.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in North Dakota than the US average?
It is 2% cheaper: $5,150 against $5,250 for 600 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in North Dakota?
About 42% ($2,200). Materials are 55%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.02x the national wage level.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in North Dakota?
BLS has no statewide figure for this trade, so we use the national median of $25.64 an hour, against $25.64 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.93 to $31.12.
+Where does North Dakota rank for asphalt driveway costs?
31st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $5,150 for 600 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in North Dakota?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,000 to $4,700 and premium work $5,550 to $7,300. 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 North Dakota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the North Dakota metros we cover, Fargo has the most comfortable months (6 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 North Dakota?
$590 to $1,200 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway by city in North Dakota
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.