Concrete slab cost in Wilmington, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,200 – $4,800
- Per sq ft
- $5.45 – $11
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #226
- 1 = most expensive
A concrete slab in Wilmington, NC usually costs $2,200 to $4,800 for 400 sq ft. That works out to about $5.45 to $11 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $330 less. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $21.17 an hour in the Wilmington area, 23% below the US median of $27.41.
Estimate your concrete slab cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Wilmington, NC, standard level
$3,000 to $4,000
About $7.10 to $9.30 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,250 |
| Labor | $1,200 | $1,500 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $280 |
| Total | $3,000 | $4,000 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Wilmington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,950 | $2,700 | 55% |
| Labor | $1,000 | $1,350 | $1,700 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $220 | $390 | 6% |
| Total | $2,200 | $3,500 | $4,800 | 100% |
Where the Wilmington price comes from
Labor is 39% 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 Wilmington the blended ratio comes out at 0.84.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Wilmington is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,000 nationally becomes $1,950 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.4: $50 to $390.
Planning more than one job in Wilmington?
Jobs that often go together with concrete slab are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Wilmington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, asphalt driveway comes out highest (−7%) and concrete driveway lowest (−12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,100 | −12% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −10% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,500 – $53,200 | −9% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $2,950 – $7,150 | −10% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,850 – $6,900 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,450 | −7% |
Add-ons priced for Wilmington
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.90 for Wilmington, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.84) and goods price index (0.97). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $360 – $1,100 |
| Remove old concrete first | $720 – $2,150 |
What local crews earn in Wilmington
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 Wilmington the blend is 0.84.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.17 an hour, 23% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $17.91 and $23.49 an hour. About 150 work in the metro. That is 7.8 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 $22.16 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.02 and $26.94 an hour. BLS counts 1,870 of them working in the area, 97.8 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 $23.03 an hour, 20% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.55 and $27.13 an hour. About 790 work in the metro. That is 41.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $24.44 an hour, 16% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.06 and $28.70 an hour. About 640 work in the metro. That is 33.5 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 $70 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $95. That is a swing of roughly 2.7% to 1.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Wilmington has 191,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 120th 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% | $17.91 | $21.17 | $23.49 | $27.41 | 0.77 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.02 | $22.16 | $26.94 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $21.55 | $23.03 | $27.13 | $28.78 | 0.80 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.06 | $24.44 | $28.70 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Wilmington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Wilmington. 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
$2,200 to $3,250
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,000 to $4,000
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$3,750 to $4,800
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $590 – $950 | $860 – $1,200 | $1,150 – $1,500 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $830 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $1,950 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,200 – $3,250 | $3,000 – $4,000 | $3,750 – $4,800 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,200 – $4,600 | $4,250 – $5,650 | $5,300 – $6,700 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $6,550 – $9,350 | $8,650 – $11,500 | $10,800 – $13,600 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Wilmington bid
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.
Wilmington 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, Wilmington 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 Wilmington are March through June and August through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below, and July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
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.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in July, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Wilmington gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (8.7 inches in September). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 45 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 | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 60 | 38 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 67 | 44 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 53 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 61 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 69 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 73 | 6.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 72 | 8.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 84 | 67 | 8.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 56 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 45 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 39 | 3.7 | Cold |
Wilmington against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
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 $3,350 to $3,550 across Wilmington and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NCthis page | $2,200 – $4,800 | $3,500 | |
| Myrtle Beach, SC60 miles | $2,150 – $4,700 | $3,400 | −2% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,350 | −4% |
| Greenville, NC100 miles | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,350 | −4% |
| Florence, SC100 miles | $2,250 – $4,750 | $3,500 | level |
| Raleigh, NC105 miles | $2,250 – $4,850 | $3,550 | +2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | +1% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Wilmington ranks #226 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Wilmington is 1% below the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $2,250 – $4,850 | $3,550 | +2% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $2,250 – $4,850 | $3,550 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | +1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −1% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wilmington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +10% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $2,200 – $4,800 | $3,500 | level |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −1% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $2,700 – $5,700 | $4,200 | +20% |
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 $3,000 to $4,000 for Wilmington, NC is attached.
Detailed concrete slab report for Wilmington, NC, $9
The report lays out the concrete slab numbers for Wilmington, 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 Wilmington: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Wilmington?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,200 to $4,800 in the Wilmington area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,000 to $4,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Wilmington?
About $5.45 to $11 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 Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,400, which is 2% less than Wilmington ($3,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wilmington?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $1,350 out of $3,500. Materials are 55% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Wilmington?
$2,200 to $4,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Wilmington?
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 Wilmington area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wilmington expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Wilmington is 1% 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 Wilmington?
The BLS median is $21.17 an hour in the Wilmington area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.91 to $23.49.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Wilmington?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,200 to $3,250 and premium work $3,750 to $4,800. 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 Wilmington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and August through November. 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 Wilmington?
$360 to $1,100 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Wilmington
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