Concrete driveway cost in Wilmington, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (600 sq ft)
- $3,250 – $8,100
- Per sq ft
- $5.35 – $13
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $6,450
- Rank of 300 metros
- #234
- 1 = most expensive
Wilmington homeowners pay roughly $3,250 to $8,100 to pour a concrete driveway at 600 sq ft, or $5.35 to $13 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Wilmington is 12% lower. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $21.17 an hour in the Wilmington area, 23% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 600 sq ft in Wilmington, NC, standard level
$4,700 to $6,650
About $7.70 to $11 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 66% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,650 | $2,000 |
| Labor | $3,000 | $4,450 |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $150 |
| Total | $4,700 | $6,650 |
Cost breakdown for 600 sq ft in Wilmington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,350 | $1,850 | $2,300 | 32% |
| Labor | $1,850 | $3,700 | $5,550 | 66% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $120 | $190 | 2% |
| Total | $3,250 | $5,650 | $8,100 | 100% |
Where the Wilmington price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on cement masons and concrete finishers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $21.17 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Wilmington is 0.84 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 66% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Wilmington metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 600 sq ft comes to $1,850, compared with $1,900 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (96.4) and land at $50 to $190.
Specs and site conditions that change a Wilmington bid
Old driveway removal
Tearing out the old surface adds about $2-$6 per sq ft, and some cities want the haul-off documented.
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).
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 4 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Wilmington is 0.84 times the national level.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $21.17 an hour, which is 23% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $17.91 and $23.49 an hour. BLS counts 150 of them working in the area, 7.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $22.16 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.02 and $26.94 an hour. About 1,870 work in the metro. That is 97.8 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 10%) the local median is $23.03 an hour, which is 20% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.55 and $27.13 an hour. BLS counts 790 of them working in the area, 41.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.44 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.06 and $28.70 an hour. BLS counts 640 of them working in the area, 33.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the cement masons and concrete finishers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.49 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $190. At the 25th percentile ($17.91) it shrinks by about $260. The total moves by 3.3% or 4.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 191,280 jobs in the Wilmington area. That makes it the 120th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $17.91 | $21.17 | $23.49 | $27.41 | 0.77 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.02 | $22.16 | $26.94 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $21.55 | $23.03 | $27.13 | $28.78 | 0.80 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.06 | $24.44 | $28.70 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Wilmington
Because every project leans on different trades, Wilmington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, asphalt driveway runs −7% and concrete patio −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,900 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,450 | −7% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,200 – $4,800 | −9% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,150 | −10% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,100 | −7% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −10% |
Wilmington against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Wilmington. Fayetteville is the lowest at about $5,300 (midpoint, 600 sq ft), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NCthis page | $3,250 – $8,100 | $5,650 | |
| Myrtle Beach, SC60 miles | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,500 | −3% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $3,100 – $7,550 | $5,300 | −6% |
| Greenville, NC100 miles | $3,100 – $7,600 | $5,350 | −6% |
| Florence, SC100 miles | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 | +1% |
| Raleigh, NC105 miles | $3,350 – $8,300 | $5,800 | +3% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,750 | +1% |
| United States | $3,650 – $9,200 | $6,450 | +13% |
Across 300 US metros, Wilmington comes in at #234 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $10,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $4,950 (midpoints, 600 sq ft). Statewide, Wilmington is 1% below the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $3,350 – $8,350 | $5,850 | +3% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $3,350 – $8,300 | $5,800 | +3% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,550 | −2% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $3,300 – $8,150 | $5,700 | +1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $3,200 – $7,950 | $5,550 | −2% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $3,300 – $8,200 | $5,750 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Wilmington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wilmington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $3,700 – $9,450 | $6,600 | +16% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $3,250 – $8,100 | $5,700 | level |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $3,250 – $8,150 | $5,700 | +1% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $4,100 – $10,400 | $7,250 | +28% |
When to schedule concrete driveway in Wilmington
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Wilmington Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through June and August through November are the stretches where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Wilmington (8 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below; July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
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.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in July, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Wilmington gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (8.7 inches in September). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 45 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 | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 60 | 38 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 67 | 44 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 53 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 61 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 69 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 73 | 6.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 72 | 8.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 84 | 67 | 8.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 56 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 45 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 39 | 3.7 | Cold |
Wilmington: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Wilmington 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
$3,250 to $5,200
Plain gray, 4-inch broom finish, flat site
Standard
$4,700 to $6,650
5-inch with rebar and saw-cut joints, a border or one color
Premium
$6,150 to $8,100
6-inch for heavy vehicles, stamped or colored, grading needed
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-car (12x20), 240 sq ft | $1,350 – $2,150 | $1,950 – $2,750 | $2,550 – $3,350 |
| 2-car (20x24), 480 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,150 | $3,800 – $5,350 | $4,950 – $6,500 |
| 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) | $3,250 – $5,200 | $4,700 – $6,650 | $6,150 – $8,100 |
| 3-car (900 sq ft) | $4,850 – $7,700 | $7,000 – $9,850 | $9,150 – $12,000 |
Optional extras in Wilmington
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Wilmington by the average of the local wage index (0.84) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 0.90. 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 rebar reinforcement | $540 – $1,650 |
| Remove the old driveway | $1,100 – $3,250 |
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 $6,650 for Wilmington, NC is attached.
Detailed concrete driveway report for Wilmington, NC, $9
Multi-page report for Wilmington, 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 Wilmington: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete driveway in Wilmington?
For 600 sq ft, expect $3,250 to $8,100 in the Wilmington area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,700 to $6,650. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete driveway in Wilmington?
About $5.35 to $13 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $190 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $15.
+Is concrete driveway cheaper in Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 600 sq ft there is $5,500, which is 3% less than Wilmington ($5,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wilmington?
About 66% at the midpoint, or $3,700 out of $5,650. Materials are 32% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 69%.
+What would 2-car + apron (600 sq ft) cost in Wilmington?
$3,250 to $8,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete driveway need a permit in Wilmington?
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 Wilmington area (our national range of $50 to $200 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wilmington expensive for concrete driveway compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Wilmington is 1% 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 Wilmington?
The BLS median is $21.17 an hour in the Wilmington area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.91 to $23.49.
+What do basic and premium concrete driveway work cost in Wilmington?
For 600 sq ft, basic work runs $3,250 to $5,200 and premium work $6,150 to $8,100. 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 Wilmington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and August through November. April and November 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 Wilmington?
$540 to $1,650 for 600 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete driveway near Wilmington
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.