Concrete slab cost in Tuscaloosa, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,150 – $4,600
- Per sq ft
- $5.25 – $10.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #273
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a concrete slab in the Tuscaloosa area: $2,150 to $4,600 for 400 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 12% lower than the US figure. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $21.30 an hour in the Tuscaloosa area, 22% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Tuscaloosa, AL, standard level
$2,900 to $3,850
About $6.85 to $9.05 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,250 |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,350 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $260 |
| Total | $2,900 | $3,850 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,950 | $2,700 | 57% |
| Labor | $940 | $1,250 | $1,550 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $200 | $350 | 6% |
| Total | $2,150 | $3,350 | $4,600 | 100% |
Where the Tuscaloosa 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 $21.30 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Tuscaloosa is 0.78 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Tuscaloosa is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,000 nationally becomes $1,950 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 87.7: $45 to $350.
Optional extras in Tuscaloosa
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.87 for Tuscaloosa, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.78) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $350 – $1,050 |
| Remove old concrete first | $700 – $2,100 |
The best months for concrete slab in Tuscaloosa
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Northport 2 S (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 Tuscaloosa are March through May and September through November: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below, and June, July and August have 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 June, July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Tuscaloosa gets about 57 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are February, March and April (5.6 inches in February). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 89 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 | 56 | 35 | 5.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 61 | 38 | 5.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 68 | 45 | 5.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 76 | 52 | 5.4 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 5.3 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 4.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 4.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 65 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 78 | 53 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 42 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 58 | 37 | 5.2 | Cold |
Who does the work: Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa the blend is 0.78.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.30 an hour, 22% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $17.67 and $26.36 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 12.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $17.53 an hour, which is 23% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.59 and $20.69 an hour. BLS counts 1,110 of them working in the area, 102.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.94 an hour, 20% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $20.77 and $27.34 an hour. About 650 work in the metro. That is 59.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.49 an hour, 19% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.52 and $27.84 an hour. About 260 work in the metro. That is 24.0 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 $150 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $110. That is a swing of roughly 3.1% to 4.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Tuscaloosa has 108,460 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 192nd 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% | $17.67 | $21.30 | $26.36 | $27.41 | 0.78 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $14.59 | $17.53 | $20.69 | $22.66 | 0.77 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $20.77 | $22.94 | $27.34 | $28.78 | 0.80 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.52 | $23.49 | $27.84 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.78 | |||||
Is Tuscaloosa cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 400 sq ft range from $3,350 to $3,450 across Tuscaloosa and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa, ALthis page | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,350 | |
| Birmingham, AL60 miles | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | +2% |
| Montgomery, AL95 miles | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,350 | level |
| Decatur, AL105 miles | $2,150 – $4,650 | $3,400 | +1% |
| Huntsville, AL130 miles | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | +2% |
| Auburn, AL140 miles | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,350 | level |
| Alabama (statewide) | $2,150 – $4,650 | $3,400 | level |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Tuscaloosa ranks #273 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Tuscaloosa is 0% below the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | +2% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $2,150 – $4,650 | $3,400 | +1% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,350 | level |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $2,150 – $4,650 | $3,400 | +1% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,350 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tuscaloosa against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo, TX | 109,370 jobs | $2,100 – $4,550 | $3,300 | −2% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $2,650 – $5,600 | $4,150 | +23% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $2,350 – $4,950 | $3,650 | +8% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $2,450 – $5,150 | $3,800 | +12% |
Cost by quality level and size in Tuscaloosa
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Tuscaloosa. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) to 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft).
Basic
$2,150 to $3,150
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$2,900 to $3,850
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$3,600 to $4,600
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $570 – $910 | $820 – $1,150 | $1,100 – $1,400 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $800 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,550 | $1,450 – $1,900 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,150 – $3,150 | $2,900 – $3,850 | $3,600 – $4,600 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,050 – $4,450 | $4,100 – $5,450 | $5,100 – $6,500 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $6,350 – $9,050 | $8,350 – $11,100 | $10,400 – $13,100 |
Planning more than one job in Tuscaloosa?
Jobs that often go together with concrete slab are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Tuscaloosa wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, detached garage comes out highest (−11%) and concrete driveway lowest (−16%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,650 | −16% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,400 | −14% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $25,700 – $51,600 | −11% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,900 | −13% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,700 – $6,450 | −12% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $8,900 | −13% |
Concrete slab: what moves the price in Tuscaloosa
Thickness and mix
A 4-inch slab uses about 1.23 cubic yards of concrete per 100 sq ft; a 6-inch slab uses about 1.85. Stepping up from a 3,000 PSI to a 4,000-4,500 PSI mix adds $10-$40 per cubic yard (Estimators.us).
Base and reinforcement
A compacted gravel base, vapor barrier, and wire mesh or rebar are priced separately by some contractors and bundled by others. Ask which one your quote does.
Truck and pump access
If the mixer truck can't back up to the forms, someone has to wheelbarrow it in or hire a pump. Pump or line-pump hire is typically billed per day.
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 $2,900 to $3,850 for Tuscaloosa, AL is attached.
Detailed concrete slab report for Tuscaloosa, AL, $9
The report lays out the concrete slab numbers for Tuscaloosa, AL line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 slab in Tuscaloosa: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Tuscaloosa?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,150 to $4,600 in the Tuscaloosa area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,900 to $3,850. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Tuscaloosa?
About $5.25 to $10.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $350 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Tuscaloosa or Birmingham?
Birmingham is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,450, which is 2% more than Tuscaloosa ($3,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tuscaloosa?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $1,250 out of $3,350. Materials are 57% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Tuscaloosa?
$2,150 to $4,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Tuscaloosa?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $350 for fees in the Tuscaloosa area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tuscaloosa expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Alabama?
Tuscaloosa is 0% below the Alabama statewide estimate ($3,400 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Tuscaloosa?
The BLS median is $21.30 an hour in the Tuscaloosa area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.67 to $26.36.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Tuscaloosa?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,150 to $3,150 and premium work $3,600 to $4,600. Basic means: 4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access. Premium means: 6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access.
+When is the best time to pour a concrete slab in Tuscaloosa?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through May and September through November. September 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 Tuscaloosa?
$350 to $1,050 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Tuscaloosa
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 Slab Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Estimators.us: Concrete Slab Cost in 2026 | $6-$12/Sq Ft Guide (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Concrete Patio Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Concrete Driveway Cost? (2026) (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