Concrete slab cost in Allentown, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,550 – $5,350
- Per sq ft
- $6.25 – $12.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #77
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a concrete slab in the Allentown area: $2,550 to $5,350 for 400 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 3% higher than the US figure. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $30.28 an hour in the Allentown area, 10% above the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Allentown, PA, standard level
$3,400 to $4,500
About $8.10 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,700 | $2,350 |
| Labor | $1,550 | $1,900 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $3,400 | $4,500 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Allentown, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $2,000 | $2,800 | 51% |
| Labor | $1,300 | $1,700 | $2,150 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $220 | $400 | 6% |
| Total | $2,550 | $3,950 | $5,350 | 100% |
Where the Allentown 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 $30.28 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Allentown is 1.07 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Allentown is at 100.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,000 nationally becomes $2,000 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 100.0: $50 to $400.
Who does the work: Allentown trade wages
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 Allentown the blend is 1.07.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $30.28 an hour, 10% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $25.23 and $33.46 an hour. About 220 work in the metro. That is 5.8 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 $23.70 an hour, which is 5% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.27 and $30.00 an hour. BLS counts 1,670 of them working in the area, 44.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.31 an hour, 5% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.46 and $36.55 an hour. About 920 work in the metro. That is 24.4 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 $28.63 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.31 and $32.64 an hour. About 1,390 work in the metro. That is 36.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (cement masons and concrete finishers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $95 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $150. That is a swing of roughly 3.7% to 2.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton has 377,180 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 69th 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% | $25.23 | $30.28 | $33.46 | $27.41 | 1.10 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.27 | $23.70 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $25.46 | $30.31 | $36.55 | $28.78 | 1.05 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.31 | $28.63 | $32.64 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
Optional extras in Allentown
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.04 for Allentown, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.07) and goods price index (1.01). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $420 – $1,250 |
| Remove old concrete first | $830 – $2,500 |
Why two Allentown quotes can differ
Finish
A broom finish is the baseline. Stamped, stained, or exposed-aggregate finishes are priced as add-ons on top of the slab.
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.
Related projects, priced for Allentown
Jobs that often go together with concrete slab are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Allentown wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+5%) and detached garage lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,800 – $9,650 | +5% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | +4% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $29,400 – $59,100 | +2% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,350 – $8,300 | +4% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,550 | +2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,500 | +3% |
Allentown against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
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 $3,850 to $4,350 across Allentown and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown, PAthis page | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | |
| Reading, PA40 miles | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | −2% |
| Scranton, PA45 miles | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −3% |
| Trenton, NJ50 miles | $2,800 – $5,850 | $4,350 | +10% |
| Philadelphia, PA60 miles | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | −1% |
| Lancaster, PA70 miles | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | −2% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −1% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Allentown ranks #77 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Allentown is 1% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | −1% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | level |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −1% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −3% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | −2% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Allentown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $2,350 – $5,000 | $3,700 | −6% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $2,500 – $5,150 | $3,800 | −3% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,700 | −6% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −12% |
Allentown: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Allentown. 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
$2,550 to $3,650
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,400 to $4,500
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$4,250 to $5,350
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $670 – $1,050 | $960 – $1,350 | $1,250 – $1,650 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $950 – $1,450 | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,700 – $2,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,550 – $3,650 | $3,400 – $4,500 | $4,250 – $5,350 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,650 – $5,200 | $4,800 – $6,350 | $6,000 – $7,550 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $7,500 – $10,600 | $9,850 – $12,900 | $12,200 – $15,300 |
The best months for concrete slab in Allentown
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Allentown 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 Allentown 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.
Allentown gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 33 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.3 inches in July). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.6 and 4.1 inches. The station averages about 18 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 | 38 | 22 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 42 | 23 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 51 | 31 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 63 | 40 | 3.7 | Cold |
| May | 74 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 60 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 65 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 63 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 55 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 34 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 43 | 27 | 3.9 | Cold |
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Concrete slab in Allentown: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Allentown?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,550 to $5,350 in the Allentown area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,400 to $4,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Allentown?
About $6.25 to $12.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Allentown or Reading?
Reading is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,900, which is 2% less than Allentown ($3,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Allentown?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $1,700 out of $3,950. Materials are 51% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Allentown?
$2,550 to $5,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Allentown?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $400 for fees in the Allentown area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Allentown expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Allentown is 1% above the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($3,900 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Allentown?
The BLS median is $30.28 an hour in the Allentown area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.23 to $33.46.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Allentown?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,550 to $3,650 and premium work $4,250 to $5,350. 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 Allentown?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May 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 Allentown?
$420 to $1,250 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Allentown
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