Concrete slab cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,200 – $4,750
- Per sq ft
- $5.40 – $11
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #239
- 1 = most expensive
Hickory homeowners pay roughly $2,200 to $4,750 to pour a concrete slab at 400 sq ft, or $5.40 to $11 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Hickory is 9% lower. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $21.43 an hour in the Hickory area, 22% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Hickory, NC, standard level
$2,950 to $3,950
About $7.05 to $9.25 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,250 |
| Labor | $1,200 | $1,450 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $260 |
| Total | $2,950 | $3,950 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,950 | $2,700 | 56% |
| Labor | $1,000 | $1,350 | $1,650 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $200 | $350 | 6% |
| Total | $2,200 | $3,450 | $4,750 | 100% |
Where the Hickory price comes from
Labor is 38% 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 Hickory the blended ratio comes out at 0.83.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Hickory metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 400 sq ft comes to $1,950, compared with $2,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (88.5) and land at $45 to $350.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 4 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Hickory is 0.83 times the national level.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $21.43 an hour, which is 22% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $17.02 and $23.18 an hour. BLS counts 70 of them working in the area, 4.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.42 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.03 and $24.58 an hour. About 800 work in the metro. That is 51.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.76 an hour, which is 21% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $19.88 and $27.84 an hour. BLS counts 370 of them working in the area, 24.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.20 an hour, which is 20% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.63 and $27.52 an hour. BLS counts 250 of them working in the area, 16.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the cement masons and concrete finishers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.18 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $50. At the 25th percentile ($17.02) it shrinks by about $130. The total moves by 1.5% or 3.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 154,090 jobs in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area. That makes it the 152nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $17.02 | $21.43 | $23.18 | $27.41 | 0.78 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.03 | $21.42 | $24.58 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $19.88 | $22.76 | $27.84 | $28.78 | 0.79 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.63 | $23.20 | $27.52 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Extras that change the Hickory total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Hickory by the average of the local wage index (0.83) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 0.90. 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 | $360 – $1,100 |
| Remove old concrete first | $720 – $2,150 |
Hickory against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Same job, same size (400 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Charlotte is the priciest of the group at $3,550. Winston is the cheapest at $3,450.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,450 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,450 | level |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $2,250 – $4,850 | $3,550 | +3% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | +2% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | +1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | +2% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, Hickory comes in at #239 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,300; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $3,200 (midpoints, 400 sq ft). Statewide, Hickory is 2% below the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $2,250 – $4,850 | $3,550 | +3% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $2,250 – $4,850 | $3,550 | +3% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | level |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | +2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $2,200 – $4,800 | $3,500 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Hickory's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hickory against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $2,100 – $4,500 | $3,300 | −5% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,500 | +1% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $2,600 – $5,450 | $4,000 | +16% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $2,200 – $4,750 | $3,500 | level |
When to schedule concrete slab in Hickory
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Hickory Faa Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Hickory (7 of 12 months). 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.
Hickory gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.6 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 33 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49 | 30 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 4.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 70 | 48 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 64 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 68 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 67 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Dec | 52 | 33 | 3.9 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Hickory
Because every project leans on different trades, Hickory's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, asphalt driveway runs −8% and concrete driveway −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,000 | −13% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,550 | −11% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,100 – $52,300 | −10% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,100 | −10% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,800 | −8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,350 | −8% |
Hickory: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Hickory wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 5 common sizes.
Basic
$2,200 to $3,200
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$2,950 to $3,950
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$3,700 to $4,750
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $580 – $930 | $840 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,450 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $820 – $1,250 | $1,150 – $1,600 | $1,500 – $1,950 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,200 – $3,200 | $2,950 – $3,950 | $3,700 – $4,750 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,150 – $4,550 | $4,200 – $5,600 | $5,250 – $6,650 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $6,500 – $9,300 | $8,600 – $11,400 | $10,700 – $13,500 |
Why two Hickory quotes can differ
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.
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 $2,950 to $3,950 for Hickory, NC is attached.
Detailed concrete slab report for Hickory, NC, $9
The report lays out the concrete slab numbers for Hickory, NC 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 Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Hickory?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,200 to $4,750 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,950 to $3,950. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Hickory?
About $5.40 to $11 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 Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,450, which is 0% more than Hickory ($3,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $1,350 out of $3,450. Materials are 56% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Hickory?
$2,200 to $4,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Hickory?
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 Hickory area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 2% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($3,500 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Hickory?
The BLS median is $21.43 an hour in the Hickory area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.02 to $23.18.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Hickory?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,200 to $3,200 and premium work $3,700 to $4,750. 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 Hickory?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. May 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 Hickory?
$360 to $1,100 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Hickory
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