Composite deck cost in Atlantic City, NJ
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $12,300 – $24,700
- Per sq ft
- $41 – $81.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $18,100
- Rank of 300 metros
- #77
- 1 = most expensive
A composite deck in Atlantic City, NJ usually costs $12,300 to $24,700 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $41 to $81.50 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Carpenters earn a median of $29.25 an hour in the Atlantic City area, 0% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Atlantic City, NJ, standard level
$16,000 to $21,000
About $53 to $69.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,250 | $8,150 |
| Labor | $9,700 | $12,700 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $120 |
| Total | $16,000 | $21,000 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Atlantic City, NJ
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,800 | $7,200 | $9,600 | 39% |
| Labor | $7,450 | $11,200 | $14,900 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $12,300 | $18,500 | $24,700 | 100% |
Why Atlantic City prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Atlantic City wages are 1.04 times the national level. Labor makes up about 61% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Atlantic City is at 99.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $7,200 nationally becomes $7,200 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.9: $50 to $150.
What nearby projects cost in Atlantic City
Jobs that often go together with composite deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Atlantic City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gutters comes out highest (+16%) and wood deck lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,650 – $15,400 | +2% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,300 | +7% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,250 – $5,950 | +9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,550 – $4,800 | +16% |
Why two Atlantic City quotes can differ
Labor
Labor for composite is $24-$48 per sq ft, higher than wood because the boards need extra parts and more careful assembly.
Drainage
Ground-level decks over poorly draining yards may need $1,000-$4,000 of drainage work first.
Engineering
Large or complex decks may need a structural engineer at $100-$220 an hour to get a permit.
What local crews earn in Atlantic City
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 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 Atlantic City the blend is 1.04.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $29.25 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.62 and $35.44 an hour. About 970 work in the metro. That is 57.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $26.50 an hour, which is 17% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.00 and $35.67 an hour. BLS counts 1,140 of them working in the area, 67.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,850 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,650. That is a swing of roughly 9.0% to 9.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Atlantic City-Hammonton has 168,700 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 139th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.62 | $29.25 | $35.44 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $20.00 | $26.50 | $35.67 | $22.66 | 1.17 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Is Atlantic City cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Atlantic City. Dover is the lowest at about $16,600 (midpoint, 300 sq ft), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City, NJthis page | $12,300 – $24,700 | $18,500 | |
| Vineland, NJ20 miles | $13,400 – $26,900 | $20,200 | +9% |
| Dover, DE45 miles | $11,000 – $22,100 | $16,600 | −10% |
| Philadelphia, PA50 miles | $12,300 – $24,600 | $18,400 | level |
| Trenton, NJ70 miles | $13,300 – $26,600 | $20,000 | +8% |
| Lancaster, PA95 miles | $11,700 – $23,400 | $17,500 | −5% |
| New Jersey (statewide) | $13,200 – $26,500 | $19,900 | +8% |
| United States | $12,100 – $24,200 | $18,100 | −2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Atlantic City ranks #77 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Atlantic City is 7% below the New Jersey figure.
Elsewhere in New Jersey
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton, NJ | 240,190 jobs | $13,300 – $26,600 | $20,000 | +8% |
| Vineland, NJ | 62,300 jobs | $13,400 – $26,900 | $20,200 | +9% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Atlantic City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $11,700 – $23,400 | $17,500 | −5% |
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $9,800 – $19,700 | $14,700 | −20% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 170,820 jobs | $10,600 – $21,300 | $15,900 | −14% |
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $13,600 – $27,300 | $20,500 | +11% |
Atlantic City weather and the composite deck calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Atlantic City (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Atlantic City are March through December: 10 of 12. Outside them, January and February have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January and February the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Atlantic City gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, October and December (4.3 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and June are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.2 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 | 42 | 30 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 43 | 31 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 37 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 57 | 46 | 3.4 | Workable |
| May | 66 | 55 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 65 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 71 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 70 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 65 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 65 | 54 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 43 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 35 | 4.2 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: composite deck pricing in Atlantic City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Atlantic City. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 10x12 (120 sq ft) to 20x20 (400 sq ft).
Basic
$12,300 to $17,300
Entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape
Standard
$16,000 to $21,000
Mid-grade capped boards with railing and stairs
Premium
$19,700 to $24,700
Premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $4,950 – $6,950 | $6,450 – $8,450 | $7,950 – $9,950 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $5,950 – $8,350 | $7,750 – $10,100 | $9,500 – $11,900 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $13,100 – $18,400 | $17,100 – $22,300 | $21,000 – $26,300 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $16,400 – $23,000 | $21,300 – $27,900 | $26,300 – $32,800 |
Add-ons priced for Atlantic City
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.02 for Atlantic City, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.04) and goods price index (1.00). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a deck railing (approx. 0.3 ft per sq ft) | $1,850 – $5,500 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Composite deck in Atlantic City: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a composite deck in Atlantic City?
For 300 sq ft, expect $12,300 to $24,700 in the Atlantic City area. A standard-spec job lands at $16,000 to $21,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for composite deck in Atlantic City?
About $41 to $81.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $150 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $40 to $80.
+Is composite deck cheaper in Atlantic City or Vineland?
Vineland is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $20,200, which is 9% more than Atlantic City ($18,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Atlantic City?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $11,200 out of $18,500. Materials are 39% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Atlantic City?
$13,100 to $26,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does composite deck need a permit in Atlantic City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $150 for fees in the Atlantic City area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Atlantic City expensive for composite deck compared with the rest of New Jersey?
Atlantic City is 7% below the New Jersey statewide estimate ($19,900 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in New Jersey; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Atlantic City?
The BLS median is $29.25 an hour in the Atlantic City area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.62 to $35.44.
+What do basic and premium composite deck work cost in Atlantic City?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $12,300 to $17,300 and premium work $19,700 to $24,700. Basic means: entry-level composite boards, low deck, simple shape. Premium means: premium capped or PVC boards, multi-level, hidden fasteners.
+When is the best time to build a composite deck in Atlantic City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through December. May and June 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 deck railing" add in Atlantic City?
$1,850 to $5,500 for 300 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Composite deck near Atlantic City
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 Composite Decking Cost? (2026) (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