Asphalt driveway cost in State College, PA
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
- #98
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for an asphalt driveway in the State College area: $3,150 to $7,650 for 600 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $26.93 an hour in the State College area, 5% above the US median of $25.64.
Estimate your asphalt driveway cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in State College, PA, standard level
$4,500 to $6,300
About $7.30 to $10 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,600 | $3,400 |
| Labor | $1,800 | $2,750 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $150 |
| Total | $4,500 | $6,300 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in State College, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,000 | $3,000 | $4,000 | 56% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $2,250 | $3,450 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $120 | $190 | 2% |
| Total | $3,150 | $5,400 | $7,650 | 100% |
What is behind the State College 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 $26.93 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for State College is 1.06 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total. 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. State College 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 96.8: $50 to $190.
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 State College. The wage table below marks each row.
Asphalt driveway: what moves the price in State College
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.
The best months for asphalt driveway in State College
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, State College (in the city). 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 State College 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 121 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
State College gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 44 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.2 inches in August). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 34 | 21 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 22 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 39 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 50 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 59 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 63 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 62 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 54 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 43 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 34 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 26 | 3.2 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in State College
Jobs that often go together with asphalt driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same State College wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+6%) and French drain lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,800 – $9,650 | +5% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,600 | +4% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,750 | +6% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $610 – $2,150 | +2% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,350 | +3% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | +4% |
Who does the work: State College trade wages
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 State College the blend is 1.06.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) carry 40% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the State College 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 $25.68 an hour, which is 13% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.13 and $30.00 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 90.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $29.11 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.42 and $37.55 an hour. About 460 work in the metro. That is 66.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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.
State College has 68,840 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 263rd 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% | $22.13 | $25.68 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.13 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.42 | $29.11 | $37.55 | $28.78 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
State College against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Same job, same size (600 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. State College is the priciest of the group. Hagerstown is the cheapest at $5,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PAthis page | $3,150 – $7,650 | $5,400 | |
| Altoona, PA35 miles | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 | −4% |
| Harrisburg, PA60 miles | $3,100 – $7,500 | $5,300 | −1% |
| Chambersburg, PA70 miles | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 | −2% |
| York, PA90 miles | $3,100 – $7,550 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Hagerstown, MD95 miles | $2,950 – $7,100 | $5,000 | −7% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,300 | −2% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | −3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, State College ranks #98 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, State College is 2% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,300 | −2% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $3,050 – $7,450 | $5,250 | −2% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $3,100 – $7,550 | $5,350 | −1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $3,100 – $7,500 | $5,300 | −1% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $3,100 – $7,500 | $5,300 | −2% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $3,100 – $7,600 | $5,350 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is State College against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $2,900 – $7,050 | $4,950 | −8% |
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $2,950 – $7,200 | $5,100 | −6% |
| Wausau, WI | 69,530 jobs | $3,250 – $8,150 | $5,700 | +6% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $2,900 – $7,050 | $5,000 | −7% |
Add-ons priced for State College
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.04 for State College, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.06) and goods price index (1.01). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $620 – $1,250 |
State College: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to State College. 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
$3,150 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 – $3,150 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,100 – $3,300 | $3,000 – $4,250 | $3,950 – $5,150 |
| 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 – $8,150 | $7,400 – $10,400 | $9,600 – $12,600 |
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 $4,500 to $6,300 for State College, PA is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the asphalt driveway numbers for State College, PA 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 State College: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in State College?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,150 to $7,650 in the State College 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 State College?
About $5.15 to $12.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $190 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $12.
+Is asphalt driveway cheaper in State College or Altoona?
Altoona is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,150, which is 4% less than State College ($5,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in State College?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $2,250 out of $5,400. Materials are 56% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in State College?
$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 State College?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $190 for fees in the State College area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is State College expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
State College is 2% above 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 State College?
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 State College?
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 State College?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October and November 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 State College?
$620 to $1,250 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near State College
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.