Concrete slab cost in Altoona, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,400 – $5,050
- Per sq ft
- $5.85 – $11.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #151
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a concrete slab in the Altoona area: $2,400 to $5,050 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 lands close to the US figure. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $25.48 an hour in the Altoona area, 7% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Altoona, PA, standard level
$3,200 to $4,250
About $7.60 to $9.95 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,700 | $2,350 |
| Labor | $1,350 | $1,650 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $260 |
| Total | $3,200 | $4,250 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Altoona, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $2,000 | $2,800 | 54% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,500 | $1,850 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $200 | $360 | 5% |
| Total | $2,400 | $3,700 | $5,050 | 100% |
Why Altoona prices look the way they do
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 $25.48 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Altoona is 0.94 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 40% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Altoona is at 100.7 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 89.5: $45 to $360.
The best months for concrete slab in Altoona
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Altoona 3 W (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 Altoona 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.
Altoona gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 38 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and September (4.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, August and October are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.8 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 34 | 19 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 20 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 28 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 60 | 39 | 3.8 | Cold |
| May | 70 | 49 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 57 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 53 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 42 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 33 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 24 | 3.4 | Cold |
Altoona: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Altoona. 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
$2,400 to $3,450
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,200 to $4,250
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$4,000 to $5,050
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $630 – $990 | $900 – $1,250 | $1,150 – $1,550 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $880 – $1,350 | $1,250 – $1,700 | $1,600 – $2,050 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,400 – $3,450 | $3,200 – $4,250 | $4,000 – $5,050 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,400 – $4,900 | $4,500 – $6,000 | $5,650 – $7,100 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $7,050 – $10,000 | $9,250 – $12,200 | $11,500 – $14,400 |
How Altoona compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Altoona. Hagerstown is the lowest at about $3,550 (midpoint, 400 sq ft), 65 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PAthis page | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,700 | |
| State College, PA35 miles | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | +6% |
| Chambersburg, PA50 miles | $2,350 – $5,050 | $3,700 | level |
| Harrisburg, PA65 miles | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | +5% |
| Hagerstown, MD65 miles | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | −5% |
| Pittsburgh, PA80 miles | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | +7% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | +5% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Altoona ranks #151 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Altoona is 5% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | +6% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | +7% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | +6% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | +5% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +4% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | +5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Altoona against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,850 | +4% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,700 | level |
| Niles, MI | 59,970 jobs | $2,350 – $4,950 | $3,650 | −2% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $2,050 – $4,450 | $3,250 | −13% |
Who does the work: Altoona 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 Altoona the blend is 0.94.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $25.48 an hour, 7% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $20.12 and $26.68 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 8.5 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 $22.03 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.45 and $24.02 an hour. BLS counts 350 of them working in the area, 59.7 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 $24.42 an hour, 15% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.52 and $27.36 an hour. About 230 work in the metro. That is 39.2 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 $27.58 an hour, 5% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.09 and $36.73 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 61.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $35 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $160. That is a swing of roughly 4.2% to 0.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Altoona has 58,650 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 291st 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% | $20.12 | $25.48 | $26.68 | $27.41 | 0.93 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.45 | $22.03 | $24.02 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $23.52 | $24.42 | $27.36 | $28.78 | 0.85 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.09 | $27.58 | $36.73 | $29.12 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Concrete slab: what moves the price in Altoona
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.
Related projects, priced for Altoona
Jobs that often go together with concrete slab are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Altoona wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, asphalt driveway comes out highest (−1%) and concrete driveway lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,500 – $8,750 | −4% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,800 | −4% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $28,100 – $56,300 | −3% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,650 | −3% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,000 – $7,300 | −1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,750 | −4% |
Extras that change the Altoona total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.97 for Altoona, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.94) and goods price index (1.01). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $390 – $1,150 |
| Remove old concrete first | $780 – $2,350 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Concrete slab in Altoona: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Altoona?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,400 to $5,050 in the Altoona area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,200 to $4,250. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Altoona?
About $5.85 to $11.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $360 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Altoona or State College?
State College is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,950, which is 6% more than Altoona ($3,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Altoona?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $1,500 out of $3,700. Materials are 54% and permits 5%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Altoona?
$2,400 to $5,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Altoona?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $360 for fees in the Altoona area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Altoona expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Altoona is 5% below 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 Altoona?
The BLS median is $25.48 an hour in the Altoona area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.12 to $26.68.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Altoona?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,400 to $3,450 and premium work $4,000 to $5,050. 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 Altoona?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. August 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 Altoona?
$390 to $1,150 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Altoona
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