Asphalt driveway cost in College Station, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $2,700 – $6,500
- Per sq ft
- $4.45 – $10.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #286
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for an asphalt driveway in the College Station area: $2,700 to $6,500 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 runs 12% lower than the US figure. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $20.89 an hour in the College Station area, 19% below the US median of $25.64.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in College Station, TX, standard level
$3,850 to $5,350
About $6.30 to $8.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,150 |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,050 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $140 |
| Total | $3,850 | $5,350 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in College Station, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $2,800 | $3,700 | 60% |
| Labor | $820 | $1,700 | $2,600 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $110 | $180 | 2% |
| Total | $2,700 | $4,600 | $6,500 | 100% |
Why College Station 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 $20.89 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for College Station is 0.80 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. College Station is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,950 nationally becomes $2,800 here (midpoint, 600 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.0: $45 to $180.
Cost by quality level and size in College Station
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to College Station. 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
$2,700 to $4,250
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$3,850 to $5,350
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$5,000 to $6,500
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,100 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,250 | $2,050 – $2,700 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $1,850 – $2,850 | $2,600 – $3,600 | $3,350 – $4,400 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,250 | $3,850 – $5,350 | $5,000 – $6,500 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $4,500 – $7,000 | $6,350 – $8,850 | $8,250 – $10,700 |
The best months for asphalt driveway in College Station
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, College Stn (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 College Station are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
College Station gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and October (4.9 inches in October). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 117 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 | 62 | 41 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 66 | 45 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 52 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 58 | 2.9 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 66 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 73 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 75 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 75 | 3.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 70 | 3.5 | Hot |
| Oct | 82 | 60 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 50 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 63 | 43 | 3.7 | Workable |
What nearby projects cost in College Station
Jobs that often go together with asphalt driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same College Station wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (−13%) and concrete driveway lowest (−18%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,550 | −18% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,150 – $8,850 | −13% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,550 – $4,650 | −14% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,800 | −13% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,100 – $4,550 | −13% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,350 | −15% |
Is College Station cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $4,500 to $4,950 across College Station and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Station, TXthis page | $2,700 – $6,500 | $4,600 | |
| Waco, TX75 miles | $2,750 – $6,550 | $4,650 | +1% |
| Austin, TX75 miles | $2,800 – $6,850 | $4,850 | +5% |
| Killeen, TX85 miles | $2,750 – $6,600 | $4,650 | +1% |
| Houston, TX95 miles | $2,950 – $7,000 | $4,950 | +8% |
| Tyler, TX135 miles | $2,650 – $6,350 | $4,500 | −2% |
| Texas (statewide) | $2,850 – $6,900 | $4,900 | +6% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | +13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, College Station ranks #286 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, College Station is 5% below the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $3,000 – $7,250 | $5,100 | +11% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $2,950 – $7,000 | $4,950 | +8% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $2,800 – $6,850 | $4,850 | +5% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $2,750 – $6,650 | $4,700 | +2% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $2,650 – $6,350 | $4,500 | −2% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $2,650 – $6,250 | $4,450 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is College Station against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $3,050 – $7,600 | $5,350 | +16% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $3,100 – $7,650 | $5,400 | +17% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $3,100 – $7,600 | $5,350 | +16% |
| Fayetteville, NC | 131,430 jobs | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 | +5% |
Optional extras in College Station
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.87 for College Station, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.80) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $520 – $1,050 |
Specs and site conditions that change a College Station 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).
Who does the work: College Station 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 College Station the blend is 0.80.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071), 40% of the weighting: a median of $20.89 an hour, 19% below the US median of $25.64. The middle half of them earn between $17.41 and $22.49 an hour. About 60 work in the metro. That is 4.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $17.88 an hour, which is 21% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.43 and $20.78 an hour. BLS counts 770 of them working in the area, 57.4 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 $23.07 an hour, 20% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.42 and $27.69 an hour. About 590 work in the metro. That is 44.0 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 $55 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 2.5% to 1.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
College Station-Bryan has 134,040 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 164th 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% | $17.41 | $20.89 | $22.49 | $25.64 | 0.81 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $16.43 | $17.88 | $20.78 | $22.66 | 0.79 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.42 | $23.07 | $27.69 | $28.78 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
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 $3,850 to $5,350 for College Station, TX is attached.
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Asphalt driveway in College Station: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in College Station?
For 600 sq ft, expect $2,700 to $6,500 in the College Station area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,850 to $5,350. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in College Station?
About $4.45 to $10.50 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 College Station or Waco?
Waco is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $4,650, which is 1% more than College Station ($4,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in College Station?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $1,700 out of $4,600. Materials are 60% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in College Station?
$2,700 to $6,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in College Station?
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 College Station area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is College Station expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Texas?
College Station is 5% below the Texas statewide estimate ($4,900 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in College Station?
The BLS median is $20.89 an hour in the College Station area, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.41 to $22.49.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in College Station?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $2,700 to $4,250 and premium work $5,000 to $6,500. 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 College Station?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. February and April 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 College Station?
$520 to $1,050 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near College Station
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.