Concrete driveway cost in Santa Maria, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $4,050 – $10,300
- Per sq ft
- $6.65 – $16.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $6,450
- Rank of 300 metros
- #49
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a concrete driveway in the Santa Maria area: $4,050 to $10,300 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 11% higher than the US figure. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $28.58 an hour in the Santa Maria area, 4% above the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Santa Maria, CA, standard level
$5,900 to $8,400
About $9.65 to $13.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 70% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,750 | $2,200 |
| Labor | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $170 |
| Total | $5,900 | $8,400 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Santa Maria, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,450 | $2,000 | $2,500 | 28% |
| Labor | $2,550 | $5,000 | $7,500 | 70% |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $140 | $220 | 2% |
| Total | $4,050 | $7,150 | $10,300 | 100% |
Why Santa Maria prices look the way they do
Labor is 70% of the midpoint bill here, against 69% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is cement masons and concrete finishers (50%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (10%), carpenters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Santa Maria the blended ratio comes out at 1.14.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Santa Maria is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,900 nationally becomes $2,000 here (midpoint, 600 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 108.8: $55 to $220.
Santa Maria against nearby metros and the rest of California
Same job, same size (600 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Los Angeles is the priciest of the group at $7,500. Visalia is the cheapest at $6,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria, CAthis page | $4,050 – $10,300 | $7,150 | |
| Oxnard, CA55 miles | $4,150 – $10,700 | $7,400 | +4% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA65 miles | $4,100 – $10,500 | $7,300 | +2% |
| Bakersfield, CA95 miles | $3,950 – $10,100 | $7,000 | −2% |
| Los Angeles, CA110 miles | $4,200 – $10,800 | $7,500 | +5% |
| Visalia, CA135 miles | $3,750 – $9,400 | $6,600 | −8% |
| California (statewide) | $4,200 – $10,700 | $7,450 | +4% |
| United States | $3,650 – $9,200 | $6,450 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Santa Maria ranks #49 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Santa Maria is 4% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $4,200 – $10,800 | $7,500 | +5% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $4,850 – $12,600 | $8,750 | +22% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $4,000 – $10,200 | $7,100 | level |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $4,250 – $10,800 | $7,500 | +5% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $4,700 – $12,200 | $8,450 | +19% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $4,150 – $10,600 | $7,350 | +3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Santa Maria against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $4,050 – $10,500 | $7,250 | +2% |
| Manchester, NH | 199,560 jobs | $3,650 – $9,200 | $6,400 | −10% |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 205,260 jobs | $4,250 – $10,900 | $7,550 | +6% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $3,150 – $7,750 | $5,450 | −24% |
What nearby projects cost in Santa Maria
Jobs that often go together with concrete driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Santa Maria wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, asphalt driveway comes out highest (+19%) and stamped concrete lowest (+9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,550 – $8,900 | +19% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,900 – $11,900 | +16% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,700 – $5,650 | +9% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,500 – $8,650 | +9% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,300 – $6,000 | +10% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,350 – $4,400 | +10% |
The best months for concrete driveway in Santa Maria
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Santa Maria Public Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in Santa Maria are January through November: 11 of 12. Outside them, December has an average overnight low of 40°F or below.
The 40°F line is a deliberately cautious stand-in. The American Concrete Institute's cold-weather guide (ACI 306R-16) defines cold-weather concreting around an average daily air temperature below 40°F, which is colder than our test of an average overnight low at or below 40°F, so we flag a few extra shoulder months. In cold weather crews may need heated enclosures, insulating blankets or accelerated mixes, and those measures can raise a quote.
Santa Maria gets about 13 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and March (2.9 inches in February). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 0.0 and 0.0 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 | 65 | 41 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Feb | 65 | 43 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 44 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 68 | 45 | 0.9 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 71 | 52 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 73 | 55 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 74 | 55 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 54 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 75 | 50 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 70 | 44 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 40 | 2.0 | Cold |
Extras that change the Santa Maria total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.10 for Santa Maria, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.14) and goods price index (1.05). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $660 – $1,950 |
| Remove the old driveway | $1,300 – $3,950 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Santa Maria bid
Permits and the apron
A driveway permit is typically $50-$200 and is often required for new work. The apron where the driveway meets the street can need a separate right-of-way permit.
Thickness
HomeGuide prices a standard 4-inch driveway at $6-$15/sq ft and a 6-inch one, recommended for heavy vehicles, at $8-$20/sq ft.
Old driveway removal
Tearing out the old surface adds about $2-$6 per sq ft, and some cities want the haul-off documented.
Pick a size, pick a tier: concrete driveway pricing in Santa Maria
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Santa Maria. 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 3-car (900 sq ft).
Basic
$4,050 to $6,500
Plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site
Standard
$5,900 to $8,400
5-inch with rebar and saw-cut joints, a border or one color
Premium
$7,750 to $10,300
6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,650 – $2,700 | $2,400 – $3,450 | $3,200 – $4,250 |
| 2-car (20x24), 480 sq ft | $3,250 – $5,250 | $4,750 – $6,750 | $6,250 – $8,250 |
| 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) | $4,050 – $6,500 | $5,900 – $8,400 | $7,750 – $10,300 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $6,000 – $9,750 | $8,800 – $12,500 | $11,600 – $15,300 |
Who does the work: Santa Maria trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 4 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 Santa Maria the blend is 1.14.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $28.58 an hour, 4% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $23.61 and $37.50 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 19.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $26.99 an hour, which is 19% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.80 and $32.79 an hour. BLS counts 1,150 of them working in the area, 57.3 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), 10% of the weighting: a median of $39.18 an hour, 36% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $31.38 and $54.35 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 19.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $36.12 an hour, 24% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.00 and $40.21 an hour. About 1,100 work in the metro. That is 54.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (cement masons and concrete finishers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $720 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $400. That is a swing of roughly 5.6% to 10.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara has 200,760 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 114th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $23.61 | $28.58 | $37.50 | $27.41 | 1.04 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.80 | $26.99 | $32.79 | $22.66 | 1.19 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $31.38 | $39.18 | $54.35 | $28.78 | 1.36 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.00 | $36.12 | $40.21 | $29.12 | 1.24 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.14 | |||||
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 $5,900 to $8,400 for Santa Maria, CA is attached.
Detailed concrete driveway report for Santa Maria, CA, $9
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Concrete driveway in Santa Maria: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete driveway in Santa Maria?
For 600 sq ft, expect $4,050 to $10,300 in the Santa Maria area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,900 to $8,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete driveway in Santa Maria?
About $6.65 to $16.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $55 to $220 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $15.
+Is concrete driveway cheaper in Santa Maria or Oxnard?
Oxnard is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $7,400, which is 4% more than Santa Maria ($7,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Santa Maria?
About 70% at the midpoint, or $5,000 out of $7,150. Materials are 28% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 69%.
+What would 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) cost in Santa Maria?
$4,050 to $10,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete driveway need a permit in Santa Maria?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $55 to $220 for fees in the Santa Maria area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Santa Maria expensive for concrete driveway compared with the rest of California?
Santa Maria is 4% below the California statewide estimate ($7,450 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Santa Maria?
The BLS median is $28.58 an hour in the Santa Maria area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.61 to $37.50.
+What do basic and premium concrete driveway work cost in Santa Maria?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $4,050 to $6,500 and premium work $7,750 to $10,300. Basic means: plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site. Premium means: 6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed.
+When is the best time to pour a concrete driveway in Santa Maria?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are January through November. July and August 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 rebar reinforcement" add in Santa Maria?
$660 to $1,950 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete driveway near Santa Maria
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 a Concrete Driveway Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- SimplyWise: Concrete Estimate Template: Free PDF + Excel (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
Note on derived figures: Materials = SimplyWise's sample 600 sq ft, 4-inch driveway line ($1,400-$2,400 in materials) divided by 600 sq ft.