Concrete slab cost in Nebraska
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (400 sq ft)
- $2,250 – $4,850
- Per sq ft
- $5.55 – $11
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 2
What does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Nebraska? Plan on $2,250 to $4,850 for 400 sq ft. Wages (0.92x the US blend), materials (price index 94.1) and permit costs (90.1) put the state below the national midpoint by 7%.
Inside Nebraska, the metros we cover range from $3,550 (Lincoln) to $3,600 (Omaha) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Nebraska (statewide), standard level
$3,050 to $4,050
About $7.25 to $9.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,200 |
| Labor | $1,300 | $1,600 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $270 |
| Total | $3,050 | $4,050 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Nebraska
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 | $2,650 | 53% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,450 | $1,850 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $200 | $360 | 6% |
| Total | $2,250 | $3,550 | $4,850 | 100% |
Other Nebraska jobs that often go with concrete slab
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Nebraska wages and prices. Against national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (−4%) and detached garage lowest (−9%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,500 | −8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,700 | −8% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,400 – $53,000 | −9% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,400 | −7% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,950 | −6% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,850 | −4% |
Add-ons priced for Nebraska
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Nebraska by the average of the local wage index (0.92) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.93. 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 | $370 – $1,100 |
| Remove old concrete first | $740 – $2,250 |
Quality levels and sizes in Nebraska
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Nebraska wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 5 common sizes.
Basic
$2,250 to $3,300
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,050 to $4,050
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$3,800 to $4,850
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $600 – $950 | $860 – $1,200 | $1,150 – $1,500 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $850 – $1,300 | $1,200 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $1,950 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,250 – $3,300 | $3,050 – $4,050 | $3,800 – $4,850 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,250 – $4,650 | $4,300 – $5,750 | $5,400 – $6,800 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $6,750 – $9,550 | $8,850 – $11,600 | $10,900 – $13,800 |
When Nebraska weather lets you pour
Season matters for concrete slab. For each Nebraska metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Omaha has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Nebraska at 7 months (April through October); Lincoln has the shortest at 6 (May through October). Rainfall runs from 29 inches a year in Lincoln to 32 inches in Omaha.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 15 | 88 | 32 | 7: April through October |
| Lincoln | 14 | 89 | 29 | 6: May through October |
Nebraska versus the states around it
Nebraska ranks 39 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for concrete slab, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $5,150 and the cheapest Arkansas at $3,350, both for 400 sq ft at the midpoint. Nebraska sits at $3,550. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 190 miles away | $2,400 – $5,000 | $3,700 | +4% |
| South Dakota | 220 miles away | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −1% |
| Kansas | 220 miles away | $2,300 – $4,850 | $3,550 | level |
| Missouri | 270 miles away | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | +10% |
| Minnesota | 320 miles away | $2,700 – $5,650 | $4,150 | +17% |
Concrete slab: what moves the price in Nebraska
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.
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.
What cement masons and concrete finishers and the other trades earn in Nebraska
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 4 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.92 for Nebraska.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $23.80 an hour, which is 13% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $22.58 and $28.76 an hour. BLS counts 3,200 of them working in the state, 31.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $22.72 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.38 and $26.71 an hour. About 8,530 work in the state. That is 83.3 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 $28.06 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $30.52 an hour. BLS counts 3,180 of them working in the state, 31.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.19 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.77 and $30.09 an hour. BLS counts 5,710 of them working in the state, 55.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for cement masons and concrete finishers ($28.76 an hour) would add about $140 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.58) would take off about $35. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,024,370 jobs across Nebraska (May 2025), which is 0.7% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $22.58 | $23.80 | $28.76 | $27.41 | 0.87 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $19.38 | $22.72 | $26.71 | $22.66 | 1.00 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $23.05 | $28.06 | $30.52 | $28.78 | 0.97 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $21.77 | $24.19 | $30.09 | $29.12 | 0.83 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Which Nebraska city is cheapest for concrete slab?
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,550, and the top-to-bottom gap is 1%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (400 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | $2,300 – $4,850 | $3,600 | +1% |
| Lincoln, NE | $2,300 – $4,850 | $3,550 | level |
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Concrete slab in Nebraska: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Nebraska?
$2,250 to $4,850 for 400 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Nebraska can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Nebraska is cheapest for concrete slab?
Lincoln at about $3,550 (midpoint, 400 sq ft). The priciest is Omaha at $3,600.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Nebraska than the US average?
It is 7% cheaper: $3,550 against $3,850 for 400 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Nebraska?
About 41% ($1,450). Materials are 53%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.92x the national wage level.
+Does a concrete slab need a permit?
Often yes if it's structural (a garage floor or foundation) and often no for a small at-grade pad. Permit fees run $50-$400 depending on the city (HomeGuide).
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Nebraska?
The BLS statewide median is $23.80 an hour, against $27.41 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.58 to $28.76.
+Where does Nebraska rank for concrete slab costs?
39th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,550 for 400 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Nebraska?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,250 to $3,300 and premium work $3,800 to $4,850. 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.
+Does the season matter for concrete slab in Nebraska?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Nebraska metros we cover, Omaha has the most comfortable months (7 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add rebar reinforcement" add in Nebraska?
$370 to $1,100 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab by city in Nebraska
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