Asphalt driveway cost in Racine, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,250 – $8,150
- Per sq ft
- $5.35 – $13.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $5,250
- Rank of 300 metros
- #58
- 1 = most expensive
An asphalt driveway in Racine, WI usually costs $3,250 to $8,150 for 600 sq ft. That works out to about $5.35 to $13.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $480 more. Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators earn a median of $33.18 an hour in the Racine area, 29% above the US median of $25.64.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Racine, WI, standard level
$4,700 to $6,700
About $7.70 to $11 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,400 | $3,150 |
| Labor | $2,200 | $3,400 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $150 |
| Total | $4,700 | $6,700 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Racine, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $2,800 | $3,700 | 49% |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,800 | $4,250 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $120 | $190 | 2% |
| Total | $3,250 | $5,700 | $8,150 | 100% |
Where the Racine 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, Racine wages are 1.32 times the national level. Labor makes up about 49% of the midpoint estimate (41% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Racine 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 96.0: $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 Racine. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Racine bid
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.
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.
Racine against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Same job, same size (600 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Chicago is the priciest of the group at $6,500. Sheboygan is the cheapest at $5,450.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Racine, WIthis page | $3,250 – $8,150 | $5,700 | |
| Milwaukee, WI10 miles | $3,300 – $8,400 | $5,850 | +3% |
| Kenosha, WI15 miles | $3,400 – $8,300 | $5,850 | +2% |
| Sheboygan, WI65 miles | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,450 | −4% |
| Janesville, WI65 miles | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,450 | −4% |
| Chicago, IL70 miles | $3,700 – $9,350 | $6,500 | +14% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | −2% |
| United States | $3,050 – $7,400 | $5,250 | −8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Racine ranks #58 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Racine is 2% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $3,300 – $8,400 | $5,850 | +3% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $3,400 – $8,700 | $6,050 | +6% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,250 | −8% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $3,300 – $8,350 | $5,850 | +2% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $3,150 – $7,900 | $5,500 | −3% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $3,200 – $8,000 | $5,600 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Racine against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $3,600 – $9,100 | $6,350 | +11% |
| Warner Robins, GA | 76,050 jobs | $2,800 – $6,700 | $4,750 | −17% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $3,550 – $8,800 | $6,150 | +8% |
| Kenosha, WI | 75,450 jobs | $3,400 – $8,300 | $5,850 | +2% |
Racine 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, Racine Batten 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 Racine are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, 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 126 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Racine gets about 32 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are April, May and June (4.0 inches in June). Inside the workable window, July and October are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 7 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 | 31 | 16 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 34 | 19 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 43 | 28 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 37 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 66 | 46 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 57 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 63 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 63 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 55 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 43 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 47 | 32 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 36 | 22 | 1.6 | Cold |
What local crews earn in Racine
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 Racine the blend is 1.32.
Paving, surfacing and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) carry 40% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Racine metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $33.18 an hour against $25.64 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $24.22 and $43.86 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $26.11 an hour, which is 15% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.83 and $33.66 an hour. BLS counts 540 of them working in the area, 70.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $43.43 an hour, 51% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $33.27 and $44.81 an hour. About 280 work in the metro. That is 36.7 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 $350 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $300. That is a swing of roughly 5.2% to 6.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Racine-Mount Pleasant has 76,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 243rd 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% | $24.22 | $33.18 | $43.86 | $25.64 | 1.29 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.83 | $26.11 | $33.66 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $33.27 | $43.43 | $44.81 | $28.78 | 1.51 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.32 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Racine
Jobs that often go together with asphalt driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Racine wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+17%) and concrete slab lowest (+3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,900 – $10,100 | +9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,500 | +13% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,850 | +8% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +17% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,300 | +3% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,250 | +5% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: asphalt driveway pricing in Racine
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Racine. 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
$3,250 to $5,200
New topcoat over a sound base, flat lot
Standard
$4,700 to $6,700
Full new driveway: base, 2-3 in of hot mix, edging
Premium
$6,200 to $8,150
Full tear-out and rebuild, drainage work, heavy-duty depth
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,350 – $2,150 | $1,950 – $2,750 | $2,550 – $3,400 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,200 – $3,500 | $3,200 – $4,500 | $4,200 – $5,500 |
| 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $5,200 | $4,700 – $6,700 | $6,200 – $8,150 |
| long rural (10x100), 1,000 sq ft | $5,400 – $8,600 | $7,800 – $11,100 | $10,200 – $13,500 |
Optional extras in Racine
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.13 for Racine, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.32) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a sealcoat | $680 – $1,350 |
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 $4,700 to $6,700 for Racine, WI is attached.
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Asphalt driveway in Racine: your questions
+How much does it cost to pave a driveway in Racine?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,250 to $8,150 in the Racine area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,700 to $6,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for asphalt driveway in Racine?
About $5.35 to $13.50 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 Racine or Milwaukee?
Milwaukee is 10 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,850, which is 3% more than Racine ($5,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Racine?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $2,800 out of $5,700. Materials are 49% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 41%.
+What would 2-car (20x30), 600 sq ft cost in Racine?
$3,250 to $8,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does asphalt driveway need a permit in Racine?
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 Racine area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Racine expensive for asphalt driveway compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Racine is 2% 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 Racine?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $33.18 an hour, compared with $25.64 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.22 to $43.86.
+What do basic and premium asphalt driveway work cost in Racine?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,250 to $5,200 and premium work $6,200 to $8,150. 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 Racine?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. July 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 Racine?
$680 to $1,350 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Asphalt driveway near Racine
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.