Concrete slab cost in Tucson, AZ
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,350 – $5,000
- Per sq ft
- $5.80 – $11.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #156
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a concrete slab in the Tucson area: $2,350 to $5,000 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 3% lower than the US figure. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.2).
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Tucson, AZ, standard level
$3,150 to $4,200
About $7.55 to $9.85 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,250 |
| Labor | $1,400 | $1,700 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $3,150 | $4,200 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Tucson, AZ
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 | $2,700 | 52% |
| Labor | $1,150 | $1,550 | $1,950 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $220 | $390 | 6% |
| Total | $2,350 | $3,700 | $5,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Tucson number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 4 trades: cement masons and concrete finishers at 50%, construction laborers at 30%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 10%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Tucson wages are 0.97 times the national level. Labor makes up about 42% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Tucson is at 96.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,000 nationally becomes $1,900 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.9: $50 to $390.
Who does the work: Tucson 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 Tucson the blend is 0.97.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $27.64 an hour, in line with the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $23.52 and $28.58 an hour. About 590 work in the metro. That is 15.1 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 $21.66 an hour, which is 4% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.18 and $23.05 an hour. BLS counts 3,410 of them working in the area, 87.5 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 $27.93 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.71 and $29.59 an hour. About 1,130 work in the metro. That is 29.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.61 an hour, 19% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $28.94 an hour. About 1,380 work in the metro. That is 35.4 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 $25 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 3.3% to 0.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Tucson has 389,630 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 68th 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% | $23.52 | $27.64 | $28.58 | $27.41 | 1.01 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.18 | $21.66 | $23.05 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $22.71 | $27.93 | $29.59 | $28.78 | 0.97 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.31 | $23.61 | $28.94 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Tucson bid
Finish
A broom finish is the baseline. Stamped, stained, or exposed-aggregate finishes are priced as add-ons on top of the slab.
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.
The best months for concrete slab in Tucson
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Tucson Intl 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 Tucson are October through April: 7 of 12. Outside them, May, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in May, June, July, August and September, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Tucson gets about 11 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (2.2 inches in July). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 0.2 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 158 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 | 67 | 41 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 69 | 43 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 76 | 48 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 83 | 53 | 0.2 | Workable |
| May | 92 | 62 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Jun | 101 | 71 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Jul | 100 | 76 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Aug | 99 | 75 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 95 | 70 | 1.3 | Hot |
| Oct | 86 | 59 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 75 | 48 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 66 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
Is Tucson cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Tucson. Yuma is the lowest at about $3,550 (midpoint, 400 sq ft), 130 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZthis page | $2,350 – $5,000 | $3,700 | |
| Phoenix, AZ75 miles | $2,400 – $5,100 | $3,750 | +2% |
| Yuma, AZ130 miles | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | −4% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ180 miles | $2,300 – $4,950 | $3,600 | −2% |
| El Centro, CA215 miles | $2,550 – $5,400 | $4,000 | +8% |
| Flagstaff, AZ255 miles | $2,400 – $5,100 | $3,750 | +2% |
| Arizona (statewide) | $2,400 – $5,100 | $3,750 | +2% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Tucson ranks #156 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Tucson is 2% below the Arizona figure.
Elsewhere in Arizona
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $2,400 – $5,100 | $3,750 | +2% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $2,300 – $4,950 | $3,600 | −2% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | −4% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $2,400 – $5,100 | $3,750 | +2% |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 56,490 jobs | $2,250 – $4,850 | $3,550 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tucson against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,700 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | +7% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $2,300 – $4,900 | $3,600 | −2% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $2,500 – $5,150 | $3,800 | +4% |
Related projects, priced for Tucson
Jobs that often go together with concrete slab are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Tucson wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, stamped concrete comes out highest (−2%) and detached garage lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,550 – $8,900 | −3% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,850 | −3% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,700 – $53,600 | −8% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,750 | −2% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,150 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,800 | −4% |
Tucson: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Tucson. 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
$2,350 to $3,450
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,150 to $4,200
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$3,950 to $5,000
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $630 – $1,000 | $900 – $1,250 | $1,200 – $1,550 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $880 – $1,350 | $1,250 – $1,700 | $1,600 – $2,050 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,350 – $3,450 | $3,150 – $4,200 | $3,950 – $5,000 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,400 – $4,850 | $4,500 – $5,950 | $5,600 – $7,050 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $7,000 – $9,900 | $9,200 – $12,100 | $11,400 – $14,300 |
Optional extras in Tucson
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.97 for Tucson, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.97) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $390 – $1,150 |
| Remove old concrete first | $770 – $2,300 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Concrete slab in Tucson: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Tucson?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,350 to $5,000 in the Tucson area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,150 to $4,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Tucson?
About $5.80 to $11.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $390 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Tucson or Phoenix?
Phoenix is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,750, which is 2% more than Tucson ($3,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tucson?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $1,550 out of $3,700. Materials are 52% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Tucson?
$2,350 to $5,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Tucson?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $390 for fees in the Tucson area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tucson expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Arizona?
Tucson is 2% below the Arizona statewide estimate ($3,750 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Arizona; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Tucson?
The BLS median is $27.64 an hour in the Tucson area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.52 to $28.58.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Tucson?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,350 to $3,450 and premium work $3,950 to $5,000. 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 Tucson?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through April. 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 Tucson?
$390 to $1,150 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Tucson
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