Concrete slab cost in Rockford, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,750 – $5,600
- Per sq ft
- $6.75 – $13
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #33
- 1 = most expensive
A concrete slab in Rockford, IL usually costs $2,750 to $5,600 for 400 sq ft. That works out to about $6.75 to $13 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $360 more. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $36.21 an hour in the Rockford area, 32% above the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Rockford, IL, standard level
$3,600 to $4,750
About $8.65 to $11 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $2,150 |
| Labor | $1,900 | $2,300 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $270 |
| Total | $3,600 | $4,750 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Rockford, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,850 | $2,600 | 45% |
| Labor | $1,600 | $2,100 | $2,650 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $210 | $370 | 5% |
| Total | $2,750 | $4,200 | $5,600 | 100% |
Why Rockford prices look the way they do
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, Rockford wages are 1.31 times the national level. Labor makes up about 50% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Rockford is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,000 nationally becomes $1,850 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.2: $45 to $370.
Cost by quality level and size in Rockford
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Rockford. 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
$2,750 to $3,900
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,600 to $4,750
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$4,450 to $5,600
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $720 – $1,100 | $1,000 – $1,400 | $1,300 – $1,700 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $1,000 – $1,500 | $1,400 – $1,900 | $1,750 – $2,250 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,750 – $3,900 | $3,600 – $4,750 | $4,450 – $5,600 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,950 – $5,550 | $5,150 – $6,750 | $6,350 – $7,950 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $8,150 – $11,300 | $10,500 – $13,700 | $12,900 – $16,100 |
Rockford 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, Rockford Gtr Rockford 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 Rockford are May through October: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, 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.
Rockford gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 37 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.2 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.6 and 2.6 inches. The station averages about 15 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 | 29 | 15 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 33 | 18 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 47 | 28 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 60 | 39 | 3.8 | Cold |
| May | 71 | 50 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 60 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 64 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 62 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 54 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 42 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 47 | 31 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 34 | 20 | 1.9 | Cold |
Add-ons priced for Rockford
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.13 for Rockford, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.31) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $450 – $1,350 |
| Remove old concrete first | $900 – $2,700 |
What nearby projects cost in Rockford
Jobs that often go together with concrete slab are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Rockford wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+20%) and detached garage lowest (+9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,250 – $11,100 | +20% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,350 – $4,600 | +13% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $31,600 – $63,500 | +9% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,000 | +12% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,350 – $8,450 | +13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,000 – $12,000 | +18% |
What local crews earn in Rockford
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 Rockford the blend is 1.31.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $36.21 an hour, 32% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $24.80 and $42.13 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 10.2 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 $28.07 an hour, which is 24% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.55 and $38.91 an hour. BLS counts 830 of them working in the area, 60.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 10% of the weighting: a median of $46.75 an hour, 62% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $33.52 and $48.97 an hour. About 260 work in the metro. That is 18.9 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 $34.99 an hour, 20% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.33 and $47.16 an hour. About 810 work in the metro. That is 58.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $170 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $330. That is a swing of roughly 8.0% to 4.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Rockford has 137,650 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 161st 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% | $24.80 | $36.21 | $42.13 | $27.41 | 1.32 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.55 | $28.07 | $38.91 | $22.66 | 1.24 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $33.52 | $46.75 | $48.97 | $28.78 | 1.62 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $27.33 | $34.99 | $47.16 | $29.12 | 1.20 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.31 | |||||
Concrete slab: what moves the price in Rockford
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.
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.
How Rockford compares
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 $3,950 to $4,200 across Rockford and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockford, ILthis page | $2,750 – $5,600 | $4,200 | |
| Janesville, WI25 miles | $2,700 – $5,550 | $4,100 | −1% |
| Madison, WI60 miles | $2,600 – $5,400 | $4,000 | −5% |
| Kenosha, WI60 miles | $2,600 – $5,500 | $4,050 | −3% |
| Racine, WI70 miles | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | −6% |
| Milwaukee, WI70 miles | $2,700 – $5,550 | $4,100 | −2% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $2,950 – $6,050 | $4,500 | +7% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Rockford ranks #33 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Rockford is 7% below the Illinois figure.
Elsewhere in Illinois
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $3,000 – $6,200 | $4,600 | +11% |
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $2,750 – $5,600 | $4,150 | level |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $2,750 – $5,600 | $4,150 | −1% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $2,650 – $5,450 | $4,050 | −3% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $2,600 – $5,400 | $4,000 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Rockford against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,700 | −11% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | −6% |
| Huntington, WV | 140,740 jobs | $2,350 – $5,000 | $3,650 | −12% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,850 | −7% |
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Concrete slab in Rockford: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Rockford?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,750 to $5,600 in the Rockford area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,600 to $4,750. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Rockford?
About $6.75 to $13 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $370 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Rockford or Janesville?
Janesville is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $4,100, which is 1% less than Rockford ($4,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rockford?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $2,100 out of $4,200. Materials are 45% and permits 5%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Rockford?
$2,750 to $5,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Rockford?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $370 for fees in the Rockford area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Rockford expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Illinois?
Rockford is 7% below 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 Rockford?
The BLS median is $36.21 an hour in the Rockford area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.80 to $42.13.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Rockford?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,750 to $3,900 and premium work $4,450 to $5,600. 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 Rockford?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May 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 Rockford?
$450 to $1,350 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Rockford
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