Concrete slab cost in State College, 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
- #80
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to pour a concrete slab in State College, plan on $2,550 to $5,350 for 400 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $6.25 to $12.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 3% higher than the national one. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $29.35 an hour in the State College area, 7% above the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in State College, 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 State College, 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 | $390 | 6% |
| Total | $2,550 | $3,950 | $5,350 | 100% |
Where the State College 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 $29.35 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for State College is 1.07 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the State College metro is 100.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 400 sq ft comes to $2,000, compared with $2,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (96.8) and land at $50 to $390.
What nearby projects cost in State College
Because every project leans on different trades, State College's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete driveway runs +5% and detached garage level.
| 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 | $28,900 – $58,100 | level |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,300 | +4% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,650 | +3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,600 | +4% |
Climate in State College: timing your concrete slab job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for State College (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through October is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in State College (6 of 12 months). 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.
State College gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 44 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.2 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 34 | 21 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 22 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 39 | 3.5 | Cold |
| May | 69 | 50 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 59 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 63 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 62 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 54 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 43 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 34 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 26 | 3.2 | Cold |
State College labor market for concrete slab
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 State College is 1.07 times the national level.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $29.35 an hour, which is 7% above the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $26.52 and $34.81 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 7.3 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 $25.68 an hour, 13% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.13 and $30.00 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 90.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.11 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.42 and $37.55 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the area, 66.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $26.77 an hour, which is 8% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.85 and $34.45 an hour. BLS counts 350 of them working in the area, 50.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper 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 ($34.81 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $160. At the 25th percentile ($26.52) it shrinks by about $85. The total moves by 4.0% or 2.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 68,840 jobs in the State College area. That makes it the 263rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $26.52 | $29.35 | $34.81 | $27.41 | 1.07 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.13 | $25.68 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.13 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $24.42 | $29.11 | $37.55 | $28.78 | 1.01 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.85 | $26.77 | $34.45 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
Why two State College quotes can differ
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).
Extras that change the State College total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to State College by the average of the local wage index (1.07) and goods index (1.01), a factor of 1.04. 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 | $420 – $1,250 |
| Remove old concrete first | $830 – $2,500 |
Is State College cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (400 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. State College is the priciest of the group. Hagerstown is the cheapest at $3,550.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PAthis page | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | |
| Altoona, PA35 miles | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,700 | −6% |
| Harrisburg, PA60 miles | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −1% |
| Chambersburg, PA70 miles | $2,350 – $5,050 | $3,700 | −6% |
| York, PA90 miles | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −1% |
| Hagerstown, MD95 miles | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | −10% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $2,500 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −1% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, State College comes in at #80 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,300; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $3,200 (midpoints, 400 sq ft). Statewide, State College is 1% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | level |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $2,550 – $5,350 | $3,950 | level |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 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 | −2% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like State College's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is State College against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | −10% |
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,700 | −5% |
| Wausau, WI | 69,530 jobs | $2,500 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −2% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $2,300 – $4,950 | $3,600 | −8% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: concrete slab pricing in State College
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for State College 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
$3,400 to $4,500
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$4,200 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) | $940 – $1,450 | $1,300 – $1,800 | $1,700 – $2,150 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,550 – $3,650 | $3,400 – $4,500 | $4,200 – $5,350 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,650 – $5,200 | $4,800 – $6,350 | $5,950 – $7,500 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $7,500 – $10,600 | $9,850 – $12,900 | $12,200 – $15,300 |
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 $3,400 to $4,500 for State College, PA is attached.
Detailed concrete slab report for State College, PA, $9
Multi-page report for State College, PA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 State College: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in State College?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,550 to $5,350 in the State College 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 State College?
About $6.25 to $12.50 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 State College or Altoona?
Altoona is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,700, which is 6% less than State College ($3,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in State College?
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 State College?
$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 State College?
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 State College area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is State College expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
State College 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 State College?
The BLS median is $29.35 an hour in the State College area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.52 to $34.81.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in State College?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,550 to $3,650 and premium work $4,200 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 State College?
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 State College?
$420 to $1,250 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near State College
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