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Concrete slab cost in Dayton, OH

Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.

Typical range (400 sq ft)
$2,500 – $5,150
Per sq ft
$6.10 – $12
before permit
Versus US midpoint
Level
US $3,850
Rank of 300 metros
#117
1 = most expensive

Dayton homeowners pay roughly $2,500 to $5,150 to pour a concrete slab at 400 sq ft, or $6.10 to $12 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dayton is almost level. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $30.09 an hour in the Dayton area, 10% above 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.

Quality level

4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep

Add-ons

Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Dayton, OH, standard level

$3,300 to $4,350

About $7.85 to $10 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.

Cost breakdown
PartLowHigh
Materials$1,550$2,150
Labor$1,550$1,900
Permits and fees$140$270
Total$3,300$4,350
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Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Dayton, OH

Part of the jobLowMidpointHighShare
Materials$1,100$1,850$2,60049%
Labor$1,300$1,750$2,20046%
Permits and fees$45$210$3705%
Total$2,500$3,800$5,150100%

Where the Dayton price comes from

The wage side of the estimate leans on cement masons and concrete finishers, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $30.09 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Dayton is 1.09 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.

On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dayton metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 400 sq ft comes to $1,850, compared with $2,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.7) and land at $45 to $370.

Specs and site conditions that change a Dayton bid

  • 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.

Dayton against nearby metros and the rest of Ohio

Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Dayton. Lexington is the lowest at about $3,650 (midpoint, 400 sq ft), 120 miles away.

Comparison with nearby areas
AreaRangeMidpointvs. here
Dayton, OHthis page$2,500 – $5,150$3,800
Cincinnati, OH55 miles$2,500 – $5,250$3,850+1%
Columbus, OH70 miles$2,600 – $5,400$4,000+5%
Fort Wayne, IN100 miles$2,450 – $5,150$3,800−1%
Indianapolis, IN105 miles$2,500 – $5,250$3,900+2%
Lexington, KY120 miles$2,300 – $4,950$3,650−5%
Ohio (statewide)$2,500 – $5,250$3,850+1%
United States$2,450 – $5,200$3,850level

Across 300 US metros, Dayton comes in at #117 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,300; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $3,200 (midpoints, 400 sq ft). Statewide, Dayton is 1% below the Ohio figure.

Other Ohio metros

Ohio metros compared with Dayton
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
Columbus, OH1,105,580 jobs$2,600 – $5,400$4,000+5%
Cincinnati, OH1,101,030 jobs$2,500 – $5,250$3,850+1%
Cleveland, OH1,031,130 jobs$2,550 – $5,300$3,950+3%
Akron, OH319,560 jobs$2,550 – $5,300$3,900+2%
Toledo, OH291,530 jobs$2,450 – $5,150$3,800−1%
Canton, OH163,080 jobs$2,450 – $5,150$3,800level

Cities with a workforce like Dayton's

Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dayton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.

Metros closest to this one by total employment
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
Allentown, PA377,180 jobs$2,550 – $5,350$3,950+3%
Greensboro, NC365,410 jobs$2,200 – $4,700$3,450−10%
Tucson, AZ389,630 jobs$2,350 – $5,000$3,700−3%
Little Rock, AR358,210 jobs$2,100 – $4,550$3,350−12%

Planning more than one job in Dayton?

Because every project leans on different trades, Dayton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete driveway runs +4% and detached garage −3%.

Related projects with local prices
ProjectSizeRangevs. US
Concrete driveway600 sq ft$3,750 – $9,600+4%
Concrete patio300 sq ft$1,250 – $4,100+1%
Detached garage576 sq ft$28,200 – $56,600−3%
Stamped concrete400 sq ft$3,300 – $8,100+2%
Asphalt driveway600 sq ft$2,950 – $7,250−2%
Gravel driveway1,000 sq ft$2,550 – $10,400+2%

When to schedule concrete slab in Dayton

We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dayton Mcd (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 Dayton (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.

Dayton gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 12 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (4.5 inches in April). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.0 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 39 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.

Monthly normals, Dayton Mcd (NOAA, 1991-2020)
MonthAvg high °FAvg low °FPrecip (in)For this job
Jan36203.2Cold
Feb40232.4Cold
Mar51313.5Cold
Apr64414.5Workable
May75534.4Workable
Jun84624.4Workable
Jul87664.0Workable
Aug86643.1Workable
Sep79563.0Workable
Oct66443.0Workable
Nov52333.0Cold
Dec41263.1Cold

Add-ons priced for Dayton

Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Dayton by the average of the local wage index (1.09) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 1.01. 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 prices
Add-onLocal range
Add rebar reinforcement$410 – $1,200
Remove old concrete first$810 – $2,450

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 Dayton is 1.09 times the national level.

For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $30.09 an hour, which is 10% above the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $23.64 and $37.19 an hour. BLS counts 260 of them working in the area, 7.0 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 $25.48 an hour, 12% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.00 and $35.00 an hour. About 1,390 work in the metro. That is 37.3 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 $30.79 an hour, which is 7% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.96 and $40.96 an hour. BLS counts 710 of them working in the area, 19.1 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 $28.04 an hour, which is 4% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.03 and $31.60 an hour. BLS counts 950 of them working in the area, 25.5 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 ($37.19 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $210. At the 25th percentile ($23.64) it shrinks by about $190. The total moves by 5.4% or 4.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.

For context on the local economy, BLS counts 372,660 jobs in the Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek area. That makes it the 70th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.24% of US employment.

Median hourly wages behind the labor line (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
TradeWeight25th pctMedian75th pctUS medianRatioLevel used
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051)50%$23.64$30.09$37.19$27.411.10metro
Construction laborers (47-2061)30%$22.00$25.48$35.00$22.661.12metro
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073)10%$25.96$30.79$40.96$28.781.07metro
Carpenters (47-2031)10%$23.03$28.04$31.60$29.120.96metro
Blended100%1.09

Cost by quality level and size in Dayton

Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dayton 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

$2,500 to $3,550

4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access

Standard

$3,300 to $4,350

4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep

Premium

$4,100 to $5,150

6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access

Cost by size and quality level
SizeBasicStandardPremium
10x10 pad (100 sq ft)$650 – $1,000$930 – $1,300$1,200 – $1,550
12x12 (144 sq ft)$920 – $1,400$1,250 – $1,750$1,650 – $2,100
20x20 (400 sq ft)$2,500 – $3,550$3,300 – $4,350$4,100 – $5,150
24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft)$3,550 – $5,050$4,650 – $6,150$5,800 – $7,300
30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft)$7,350 – $10,300$9,550 – $12,500$11,800 – $14,800

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 $3,300 to $4,350 for Dayton, OH is attached.

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Concrete slab in Dayton: your questions

+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Dayton?

For 400 sq ft, expect $2,500 to $5,150 in the Dayton area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,300 to $4,350. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.

+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Dayton?

About $6.10 to $12 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 Dayton or Cincinnati?

Cincinnati is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,850, which is 1% more than Dayton ($3,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.

+How much of the bill is labor in Dayton?

About 46% at the midpoint, or $1,750 out of $3,800. Materials are 49% and permits 5%. Nationally, labor is 42%.

+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Dayton?

$2,500 to $5,150. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.

+Does concrete slab need a permit in Dayton?

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 Dayton area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).

+Is Dayton expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Ohio?

Dayton is 1% below the Ohio statewide estimate ($3,850 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.

+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Dayton?

The BLS median is $30.09 an hour in the Dayton area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.64 to $37.19.

+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Dayton?

For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,500 to $3,550 and premium work $4,100 to $5,150. 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 Dayton?

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 Dayton?

$410 to $1,200 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.

Concrete slab near Dayton

Concrete slab: all pricesConcrete slab in OhioAll projects in DaytonOhio cost hub

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.