Asphalt driveway cost in Erie, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,050 – $7,450
- Per sq ft
- $5.05 – $12
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #128
- 1 = most expensive
An asphalt driveway in Erie, PA usually costs $3,050 to $7,450 for 600 sq ft. That works out to about $5.05 to $12 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 1% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 100.7).
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Erie, PA, standard level
$4,400 to $6,100
About $7.15 to $9.95 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,600 | $3,400 |
| Labor | $1,700 | $2,600 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $140 |
| Total | $4,400 | $6,100 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Erie, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | 57% |
| Labor | $1,050 | $2,150 | $3,250 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $110 | $180 | 2% |
| Total | $3,050 | $5,250 | $7,450 | 100% |
Where the Erie price comes from
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, Erie wages are 1.01 times the national level. Labor makes up about 41% of the midpoint estimate (41% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Erie is at 100.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,950 nationally becomes $3,000 here (midpoint, 600 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.0: $45 to $180.
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 Erie. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: asphalt driveway pricing in Erie
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Erie. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft to long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft.
Basic
$3,050 to $4,800
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,400 to $6,100
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,700 to $7,450
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,250 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $2,550 | $2,350 – $3,100 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,050 – $3,250 | $2,950 – $4,150 | $3,850 – $5,000 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $4,800 | $4,400 – $6,100 | $5,700 – $7,450 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $5,100 – $7,950 | $7,250 – $10,100 | $9,400 – $12,300 |
Add-ons priced for Erie
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.01 for Erie, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.01) and goods price index (1.01). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $600 – $1,200 |
What nearby projects cost in Erie
Jobs that often go together with asphalt driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Erie wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (level) and paver patio lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,650 – $9,200 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,100 | −1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,950 – $5,300 | −2% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,050 | −2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,450 – $5,200 | level |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,000 | level |
What local crews earn in Erie
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Erie the blend is 1.01.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) carry 40% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Erie metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median: $26.93 an hour against $25.64 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.42 and $30.58 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $22.35 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.41 and $26.60 an hour. BLS counts 540 of them working in the area, 44.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $27.90 an hour, 3% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.42 and $32.99 an hour. About 280 work in the metro. That is 23.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $120 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 2.2% to 2.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Erie has 120,480 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 181st by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 40% | $23.42 | $26.93 | $30.58 | $25.64 | 1.05 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.41 | $22.35 | $26.60 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.42 | $27.90 | $32.99 | $28.78 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Erie weather and the asphalt driveway calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Erie Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Erie are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March 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 112 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Erie gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 104 inches of snow. The wettest months are September, October and December (4.4 inches in October). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 5 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35 | 21 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 21 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 28 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 59 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 64 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 63 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 57 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 46 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 37 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 40 | 28 | 4.2 | Cold |
Erie against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Erie. Pittsburgh comes closest at about $5,250.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PAthis page | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 | |
| Youngstown, OH75 miles | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,400 | +2% |
| Cleveland, OH75 miles | $3,100 – $7,700 | $5,400 | +3% |
| Buffalo, NY95 miles | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,500 | +4% |
| Akron, OH95 miles | $3,100 – $7,700 | $5,400 | +3% |
| Pittsburgh, PA115 miles | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 | level |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,300 | +1% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | level |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Erie ranks #128 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Erie is 1% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,300 | +1% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 | level |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $3,100 – $7,550 | $5,350 | +2% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $3,100 – $7,500 | $5,300 | +1% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $3,100 – $7,500 | $5,300 | +1% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $3,100 – $7,600 | $5,350 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Erie against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocala, FL | 120,980 jobs | $2,800 – $6,700 | $4,750 | −10% |
| Burlington, VT | 120,150 jobs | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,200 | −1% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $3,000 – $7,400 | $5,200 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 | −7% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Erie bid
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).
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 $4,400 to $6,100 for Erie, PA is attached.
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Asphalt driveway in Erie: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Erie?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,050 to $7,450 in the Erie area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,400 to $6,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in Erie?
About $5.05 to $12 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 Erie or Youngstown?
Youngstown is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,400, which is 2% more than Erie ($5,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Erie?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $2,150 out of $5,250. Materials are 57% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Erie?
$3,050 to $7,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Erie?
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 Erie area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Erie expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Erie is 1% below the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($5,300 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Erie?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $26.93 an hour, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.42 to $30.58.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Erie?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,050 to $4,800 and premium work $5,700 to $7,450. 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 Erie?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. July and August 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 Erie?
$600 to $1,200 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Erie
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.