Concrete slab cost in Philadelphia, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,550 – $5,300
- Per sq ft
- $6.20 – $12.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #84
- 1 = most expensive
Philadelphia homeowners pay roughly $2,550 to $5,300 to pour a concrete slab at 400 sq ft, or $6.20 to $12.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Philadelphia is almost level. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $29.28 an hour in the Philadelphia area, 7% above the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Philadelphia, PA, standard level
$3,350 to $4,500
About $8 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,650 | $2,250 |
| Labor | $1,600 | $1,950 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $300 |
| Total | $3,350 | $4,500 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Philadelphia, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,950 | $2,700 | 49% |
| Labor | $1,300 | $1,750 | $2,200 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $230 | $410 | 6% |
| Total | $2,550 | $3,950 | $5,300 | 100% |
Where the Philadelphia 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 $29.28 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Philadelphia is 1.10 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 45% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Philadelphia metro is 96.8 (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 (102.6) and land at $50 to $410.
Planning more than one job in Philadelphia?
Because every project leans on different trades, Philadelphia's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete driveway runs +6% and asphalt driveway +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,850 – $9,800 | +6% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,200 | +4% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $29,600 – $59,500 | +2% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,350 – $8,250 | +4% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,050 – $7,500 | +1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,800 | +6% |
Concrete slab: what moves the price in Philadelphia
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.
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).
Pick a size, pick a tier: concrete slab pricing in Philadelphia
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Philadelphia 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
$2,550 to $3,650
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,350 to $4,500
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$4,200 to $5,300
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) | $940 – $1,450 | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,700 – $2,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,550 – $3,650 | $3,350 – $4,500 | $4,200 – $5,300 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,600 – $5,150 | $4,800 – $6,300 | $5,950 – $7,500 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $7,500 – $10,500 | $9,800 – $12,800 | $12,100 – $15,100 |
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 Philadelphia is 1.10 times the national level.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $29.28 an hour, which is 7% above the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $24.00 and $36.50 an hour. BLS counts 1,870 of them working in the area, 6.5 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 $26.50 an hour, 17% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.43 and $34.37 an hour. About 14,580 work in the metro. That is 50.3 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 $32.12 an hour, which is 12% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.12 and $44.43 an hour. BLS counts 5,620 of them working in the area, 19.4 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 $29.70 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.17 and $36.83 an hour. BLS counts 14,260 of them working in the area, 49.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the cement masons and concrete finishers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.50 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $210. At the 25th percentile ($24.00) it shrinks by about $150. The total moves by 5.4% or 3.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,897,830 jobs in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area. That makes it the 7th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.86% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $24.00 | $29.28 | $36.50 | $27.41 | 1.07 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.43 | $26.50 | $34.37 | $22.66 | 1.17 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $27.12 | $32.12 | $44.43 | $28.78 | 1.12 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.17 | $29.70 | $36.83 | $29.12 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.10 | |||||
Optional extras in Philadelphia
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Philadelphia by the average of the local wage index (1.10) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 1.03. 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 | $410 – $1,250 |
| Remove old concrete first | $830 – $2,500 |
When to schedule concrete slab in Philadelphia
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Philadelphia Ne Ap (10 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 Philadelphia (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.
Philadelphia gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (4.5 inches in September). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 29 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 | 42 | 27 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 28 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 53 | 35 | 4.0 | Cold |
| Apr | 65 | 44 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 54 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 64 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 69 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 68 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 60 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 68 | 48 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 57 | 38 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 47 | 31 | 4.0 | Cold |
Philadelphia against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Philadelphia. Reading is the lowest at about $3,900 (midpoint, 400 sq ft), 50 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PAthis page | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | |
| Vineland, NJ40 miles | $2,800 – $5,800 | $4,300 | +9% |
| Trenton, NJ40 miles | $2,800 – $5,850 | $4,350 | +10% |
| Reading, PA50 miles | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | −1% |
| Lancaster, PA50 miles | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | −1% |
| Atlantic City, NJ50 miles | $2,600 – $5,450 | $4,050 | +3% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −1% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, Philadelphia comes in at #84 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,300; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $3,200 (midpoints, 400 sq ft). Statewide, Philadelphia is 1% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | +1% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −1% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −2% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | −1% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Philadelphia's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Philadelphia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $2,550 – $5,400 | $3,950 | +1% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $2,250 – $4,900 | $3,600 | −9% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $2,250 – $4,900 | $3,600 | −9% |
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $2,350 – $5,150 | $3,750 | −4% |
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Detailed concrete slab report for Philadelphia, PA, $9
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Concrete slab in Philadelphia: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Philadelphia?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,550 to $5,300 in the Philadelphia area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,350 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 Philadelphia?
About $6.20 to $12.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $410 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $6 to $12.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in Philadelphia or Vineland?
Vineland is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $4,300, which is 9% more than Philadelphia ($3,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Philadelphia?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $1,750 out of $3,950. Materials are 49% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Philadelphia?
$2,550 to $5,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Philadelphia?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $410 for fees in the Philadelphia area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Philadelphia expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia?
The BLS median is $29.28 an hour in the Philadelphia area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.00 to $36.50.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Philadelphia?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,550 to $3,650 and premium work $4,200 to $5,300. 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 Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia?
$410 to $1,250 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Philadelphia
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