Concrete driveway cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,250 – $8,000
- Per sq ft
- $5.30 – $13
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $6,450
- Rank of 300 metros
- #241
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a concrete driveway in the Hickory area: $3,250 to $8,000 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 13% lower than the US figure. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $21.43 an hour in the Hickory area, 22% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Hickory, NC, standard level
$4,650 to $6,550
About $7.60 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 65% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,650 | $2,000 |
| Labor | $2,950 | $4,400 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $140 |
| Total | $4,650 | $6,550 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,350 | $1,850 | $2,300 | 33% |
| Labor | $1,850 | $3,650 | $5,500 | 65% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $110 | $180 | 2% |
| Total | $3,250 | $5,600 | $8,000 | 100% |
Why Hickory prices look the way they do
Labor is 65% 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 Hickory the blended ratio comes out at 0.83.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Hickory is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,900 nationally becomes $1,850 here (midpoint, 600 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 88.5: $45 to $180.
Related projects, priced for Hickory
Jobs that often go together with concrete driveway are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Hickory wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−8%) and concrete patio lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,800 | −8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,350 | −8% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,750 | −9% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,100 | −10% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,000 | −8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,550 | −11% |
Is Hickory cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (600 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Charlotte is the priciest of the group at $5,850. Winston is the cheapest at $5,550.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $3,250 – $8,000 | $5,600 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $3,250 – $8,050 | $5,650 | level |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $3,350 – $8,350 | $5,850 | +4% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $3,300 – $8,200 | $5,750 | +2% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,550 | −1% |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 | +2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,750 | +2% |
| United States | $3,650 – $9,200 | $6,450 | +14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Hickory ranks #241 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Hickory is 2% below the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $3,350 – $8,350 | $5,850 | +4% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $3,350 – $8,300 | $5,800 | +4% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,550 | −1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 | +2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,550 | −1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $3,250 – $8,100 | $5,650 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hickory against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $3,050 – $7,500 | $5,250 | −6% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $3,250 – $8,100 | $5,650 | +1% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $3,850 – $9,700 | $6,750 | +20% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $3,250 – $8,000 | $5,600 | level |
Who does the work: Hickory 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 Hickory the blend is 0.83.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.43 an hour, 22% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $17.02 and $23.18 an hour. About 70 work in the metro. That is 4.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $21.42 an hour, which is 5% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.03 and $24.58 an hour. BLS counts 800 of them working in the area, 51.9 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 $22.76 an hour, 21% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $19.88 and $27.84 an hour. About 370 work in the metro. That is 24.0 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 $23.20 an hour, 20% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.63 and $27.52 an hour. About 250 work in the metro. That is 16.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer 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 $140 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $350. That is a swing of roughly 6.3% to 2.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton has 154,090 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 152nd 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% | $17.02 | $21.43 | $23.18 | $27.41 | 0.78 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.03 | $21.42 | $24.58 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $19.88 | $22.76 | $27.84 | $28.78 | 0.79 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.63 | $23.20 | $27.52 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
The best months for concrete driveway in Hickory
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Hickory Faa 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 Hickory are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have 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.
Hickory gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.6 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 33 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 | 49 | 30 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 4.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 70 | 48 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 64 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 68 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 67 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Dec | 52 | 33 | 3.9 | Cold |
Hickory: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Hickory. 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
$3,250 to $5,150
Plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site
Standard
$4,650 to $6,550
5-inch with rebar and saw-cut joints, a border or one color
Premium
$6,100 to $8,000
6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,300 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,700 | $2,500 – $3,300 |
| 2-car (20x24), 480 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,150 | $3,750 – $5,300 | $4,900 – $6,450 |
| 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) | $3,250 – $5,150 | $4,650 – $6,550 | $6,100 – $8,000 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $4,800 – $7,650 | $6,950 – $9,800 | $9,050 – $11,900 |
Add-ons priced for Hickory
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.90 for Hickory, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.83) and goods price index (0.97). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $540 – $1,600 |
| Remove the old driveway | $1,100 – $3,250 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Hickory bid
Grading and drainage
Professional grading runs $3-$8 per sq ft or $700-$2,500 for a typical job. A sloped lot or poor soil raises it.
Finish
Decorative driveways run $10-$25 per sq ft installed: colors and borders at $10-$15, stamped patterns at $15-$20, and high-end finishes at $20-$25+ (HomeGuide).
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.
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 $4,650 to $6,550 for Hickory, NC is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Hickory, NC: 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.
Concrete driveway in Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete driveway in Hickory?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,250 to $8,000 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,650 to $6,550. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete driveway in Hickory?
About $5.30 to $13 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $180 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $15.
+Is concrete driveway cheaper in Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,650, which is 0% more than Hickory ($5,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 65% at the midpoint, or $3,650 out of $5,600. Materials are 33% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 69%.
+What would 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) cost in Hickory?
$3,250 to $8,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete driveway need a permit in Hickory?
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 Hickory area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for concrete driveway compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 2% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($5,750 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Hickory?
The BLS median is $21.43 an hour in the Hickory area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.02 to $23.18.
+What do basic and premium concrete driveway work cost in Hickory?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,250 to $5,150 and premium work $6,100 to $8,000. 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 Hickory?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. May 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 rebar reinforcement" add in Hickory?
$540 to $1,600 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete driveway near Hickory
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.