Concrete slab cost in Chicago, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $3,000 – $6,200
- Per sq ft
- $7.45 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +21%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #6
- 1 = most expensive
A concrete slab in Chicago, IL usually costs $3,000 to $6,200 for 400 sq ft. That works out to about $7.45 to $14.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $800 more. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $38.95 an hour in the Chicago area, 42% above the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Chicago, IL, standard level
$4,000 to $5,250
About $9.55 to $12.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,800 | $2,500 |
| Labor | $2,000 | $2,450 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $310 |
| Total | $4,000 | $5,250 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Chicago, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $2,150 | $3,000 | 46% |
| Labor | $1,700 | $2,250 | $2,800 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $230 | $410 | 5% |
| Total | $3,000 | $4,600 | $6,200 | 100% |
Where the Chicago price comes from
Labor is 49% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% 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 Chicago the blended ratio comes out at 1.40.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chicago is at 107.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,000 nationally becomes $2,150 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.6: $50 to $410.
What local crews earn in Chicago
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 Chicago the blend is 1.40.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $38.95 an hour, 42% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $28.71 and $50.74 an hour. About 3,890 work in the metro. That is 8.6 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 $29.27 an hour, which is 29% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.25 and $48.44 an hour. BLS counts 26,690 of them working in the area, 59.1 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 $49.57 an hour, 72% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $37.78 and $56.42 an hour. About 7,930 work in the metro. That is 17.6 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 $38.68 an hour, 33% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.26 and $54.79 an hour. About 14,220 work in the metro. That is 31.5 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 $340 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $300. That is a swing of roughly 6.5% to 7.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has 4,513,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 3rd 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% | $28.71 | $38.95 | $50.74 | $27.41 | 1.42 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.25 | $29.27 | $48.44 | $22.66 | 1.29 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $37.78 | $49.57 | $56.42 | $28.78 | 1.72 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.26 | $38.68 | $54.79 | $29.12 | 1.33 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.40 | |||||
Extras that change the Chicago total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.24 for Chicago, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.40) and goods price index (1.07). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $500 – $1,500 |
| Remove old concrete first | $990 – $2,950 |
How Chicago compares
Same job, same size (400 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Chicago is the priciest of the group. Niles is the cheapest at $3,650.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, ILthis page | $3,000 – $6,200 | $4,600 | |
| Niles, MI55 miles | $2,350 – $4,950 | $3,650 | −21% |
| Kenosha, WI55 miles | $2,600 – $5,500 | $4,050 | −12% |
| Racine, WI70 miles | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | −15% |
| Rockford, IL75 miles | $2,750 – $5,600 | $4,200 | −10% |
| Milwaukee, WI80 miles | $2,700 – $5,550 | $4,100 | −11% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $2,950 – $6,050 | $4,500 | −3% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −17% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chicago ranks #6 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chicago is 3% above the Illinois figure.
Elsewhere in Illinois
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $2,750 – $5,600 | $4,150 | −10% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $2,750 – $5,600 | $4,200 | −10% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $2,750 – $5,600 | $4,150 | −10% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $2,650 – $5,450 | $4,050 | −12% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $2,600 – $5,400 | $4,000 | −13% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chicago against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $2,800 – $5,850 | $4,350 | −6% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $2,350 – $5,050 | $3,700 | −20% |
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $2,900 – $6,050 | $4,450 | −4% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $2,250 – $4,900 | $3,600 | −23% |
Chicago: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chicago. 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
$3,000 to $4,300
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$4,000 to $5,250
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$4,950 to $6,200
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $790 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,550 | $1,450 – $1,850 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $1,100 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,100 | $1,950 – $2,500 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $3,000 – $4,300 | $4,000 – $5,250 | $4,950 – $6,200 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $4,350 – $6,100 | $5,650 – $7,450 | $7,000 – $8,800 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $8,950 – $12,500 | $11,600 – $15,200 | $14,300 – $17,800 |
Chicago weather and the concrete slab calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Chicago Midway 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 Chicago 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.
Chicago gets about 34 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.1 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 2.8 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 20 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 | 33 | 19 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 23 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 32 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 60 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 52 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 62 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 66 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 59 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 47 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 35 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 25 | 1.8 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Chicago
Jobs that often go together with concrete slab are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chicago wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+30%) and detached garage lowest (+22%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,650 – $12,000 | +30% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,500 – $5,000 | +24% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $35,500 – $71,100 | +22% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,950 – $9,850 | +24% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,700 – $9,350 | +25% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,250 – $13,100 | +29% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Chicago bid
Small-job minimums
Many crews have a minimum charge, so a 10x10 pad can cost more per square foot than a 20x20 slab.
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).
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Concrete slab in Chicago: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Chicago?
For 400 sq ft, expect $3,000 to $6,200 in the Chicago area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,000 to $5,250. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Chicago?
About $7.45 to $14.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $410 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Chicago or Niles?
Niles is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,650, which is 21% less than Chicago ($4,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chicago?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $2,250 out of $4,600. Materials are 46% and permits 5%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Chicago?
$3,000 to $6,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Chicago?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $410 for fees in the Chicago area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chicago expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Illinois?
Chicago is 3% above the Illinois statewide estimate ($4,500 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Illinois; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Chicago?
The BLS median is $38.95 an hour in the Chicago area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.71 to $50.74.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Chicago?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $3,000 to $4,300 and premium work $4,950 to $6,200. 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 Chicago?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. 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 Chicago?
$500 to $1,500 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Chicago
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