Asphalt driveway cost in Appleton, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,300 – $8,350
- Per sq ft
- $5.45 – $13.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #51
- 1 = most expensive
Appleton homeowners pay roughly $3,300 to $8,350 to pave a driveway at 600 sq ft, or $5.45 to $13.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Appleton is 12% higher. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $37.62 an hour in the Appleton area, 47% above the US median of $25.64.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Appleton, WI, standard level
$4,850 to $6,850
About $7.90 to $11 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,150 |
| Labor | $2,350 | $3,550 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $140 |
| Total | $4,850 | $6,850 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Appleton, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $2,800 | $3,700 | 48% |
| Labor | $1,400 | $2,950 | $4,450 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $120 | $180 | 2% |
| Total | $3,300 | $5,850 | $8,350 | 100% |
Why Appleton prices look the way they do
Labor is 50% of the midpoint bill here, against 41% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (40%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Appleton the blended ratio comes out at 1.38.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Appleton metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 600 sq ft comes to $2,800, compared with $2,950 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.4) and land at $45 to $180.
Cost by quality level and size in Appleton
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Appleton 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
$3,300 to $5,350
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,850 to $6,850
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$6,350 to $8,350
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,350 – $2,200 | $2,000 – $2,850 | $2,600 – $3,450 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,200 – $3,600 | $3,250 – $4,600 | $4,250 – $5,650 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $5,350 | $4,850 – $6,850 | $6,350 – $8,350 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $5,500 – $8,800 | $8,000 – $11,300 | $10,500 – $13,800 |
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 Appleton is 1.38 times the national level.
For paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071, weighted 40%) the local median is $37.62 an hour, which is 47% above the national $25.64. The middle half of them earn between $29.58 and $45.27 an hour. BLS counts 40 of them working in the area, 3.2 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 $28.49 an hour, 26% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.86 and $36.28 an hour. About 1,030 work in the metro. That is 82.9 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 $39.91 an hour, which is 39% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $32.49 and $45.77 an hour. BLS counts 480 of them working in the area, 38.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper 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 ($45.27 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $250. At the 25th percentile ($29.58) it shrinks by about $270. The total moves by 4.4% or 4.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 124,230 jobs in the Appleton area. That makes it the 174th 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% | $29.58 | $37.62 | $45.27 | $25.64 | 1.47 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.86 | $28.49 | $36.28 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $32.49 | $39.91 | $45.77 | $28.78 | 1.39 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.38 | |||||
Appleton against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
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 $5,850 across Appleton and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WIthis page | $3,300 – $8,350 | $5,850 | |
| Oshkosh, WI20 miles | $3,150 – $7,900 | $5,500 | −5% |
| Green Bay, WI20 miles | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,250 | −10% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,450 | −7% |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $3,250 – $8,150 | $5,700 | −3% |
| Milwaukee, WI100 miles | $3,300 – $8,400 | $5,850 | level |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | −4% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | −11% |
Across 300 US metros, Appleton comes in at #51 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, Appleton is 5% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $3,300 – $8,400 | $5,850 | level |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $3,400 – $8,700 | $6,050 | +4% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,250 | −10% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $3,150 – $7,900 | $5,500 | −5% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | −4% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,550 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Appleton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Appleton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $3,250 – $8,100 | $5,650 | −3% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $2,750 – $6,600 | $4,700 | −20% |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $2,850 – $6,850 | $4,850 | −17% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $3,350 – $8,500 | $5,900 | +1% |
Why two Appleton quotes can differ
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 Appleton
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Appleton (5 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 Appleton (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 157 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Appleton gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 25 | 10 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 29 | 12 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 22 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 34 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 46 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 57 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 61 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 51 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 39 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 43 | 28 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Dec | 31 | 17 | 1.8 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Appleton
Because every project leans on different trades, Appleton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +18% and concrete slab +6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,050 – $10,500 | +13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,500 | +13% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,350 – $6,100 | +12% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $710 – $2,450 | +18% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,650 – $5,450 | +6% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,400 | +8% |
Add-ons priced for Appleton
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Appleton by the average of the local wage index (1.38) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 1.16. 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 | $700 – $1,400 |
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 $4,850 to $6,850 for Appleton, WI is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Appleton, WI: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Appleton: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Appleton?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,300 to $8,350 in the Appleton area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,850 to $6,850. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in Appleton?
About $5.45 to $13.50 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 Appleton or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,500, which is 5% less than Appleton ($5,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Appleton?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $2,950 out of $5,850. Materials are 48% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Appleton?
$3,300 to $8,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Appleton?
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 Appleton area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Appleton expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Appleton is 5% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($5,600 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn in Appleton?
The BLS median is $37.62 an hour in the Appleton area, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.58 to $45.27.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Appleton?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,300 to $5,350 and premium work $6,350 to $8,350. 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 Appleton?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September and October 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 Appleton?
$700 to $1,400 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Appleton
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.