Concrete slab cost in South Dakota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (400 sq ft)
- $2,250 – $4,800
- Per sq ft
- $5.50 – $11
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 2
Across South Dakota, a concrete slab costs about $2,250 to $4,800 for 400 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 8% below the US figure of $3,850. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median $22.67 an hour in South Dakota (US: $27.41).
Inside South Dakota, the metros we cover range from $3,550 (Rapid City) to $3,550 (Sioux Falls) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in South Dakota (statewide), standard level
$3,000 to $4,050
About $7.20 to $9.40 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,200 |
| Labor | $1,250 | $1,550 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $260 |
| Total | $3,000 | $4,050 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in South Dakota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 | $2,650 | 54% |
| Labor | $1,050 | $1,400 | $1,750 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $200 | $350 | 6% |
| Total | $2,250 | $3,500 | $4,800 | 100% |
South Dakota versus the states around it
South Dakota ranks 43 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for concrete slab, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $5,150 and the cheapest Arkansas at $3,350, both for 400 sq ft at the midpoint. South Dakota sits at $3,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 220 miles away | $2,250 – $4,850 | $3,550 | +1% |
| North Dakota | 220 miles away | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,750 | +6% |
| Minnesota | 290 miles away | $2,700 – $5,650 | $4,150 | +18% |
| Iowa | 330 miles away | $2,400 – $5,000 | $3,700 | +5% |
| Wyoming | 350 miles away | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,700 | +6% |
Related projects, priced for South Dakota
Each project weights the trades differently, so South Dakota's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, asphalt driveway is −1% and concrete driveway −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,300 | −10% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,650 | −9% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,200 – $52,700 | −9% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,000 – $7,300 | −8% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,000 – $7,350 | −1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,850 | −3% |
South Dakota seasons and concrete slab
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and South Dakota is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Every South Dakota metro on the list has 5 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 20 inches a year in Rapid City to 28 in Sioux Falls.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | 9 | 85 | 28 | 5: May through September |
| Rapid City | 16 | 84 | 20 | 5: May through September |
South Dakota labor market for concrete slab
South Dakota's labor line is priced from 4 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.88 times the national level.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $22.67 an hour, 17% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $19.37 and $27.58 an hour. About 2,550 work in the state. That is 55.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $21.98 an hour, which is 3% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.42 and $23.14 an hour. BLS counts 1,780 of them working in the state, 38.9 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 $28.61 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.37 and $30.51 an hour. About 2,050 work in the state. That is 44.8 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 $23.14 an hour, 21% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.29 and $28.87 an hour. About 4,560 work in the state. That is 99.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for cement masons and concrete finishers ($27.58 an hour) would add about $140 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.37) would take off about $95. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 457,380 jobs across South Dakota (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $19.37 | $22.67 | $27.58 | $27.41 | 0.83 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.42 | $21.98 | $23.14 | $22.66 | 0.97 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $24.37 | $28.61 | $30.51 | $28.78 | 0.99 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.29 | $23.14 | $28.87 | $29.12 | 0.79 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Which South Dakota city is cheapest for concrete slab?
2 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,500, and the top-to-bottom gap is 0%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (400 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | $2,250 – $4,850 | $3,550 | +1% |
| Rapid City, SD | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,550 | +1% |
Extras that change the South Dakota total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.92 for South Dakota, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.88) and goods price index (0.95). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $370 – $1,100 |
| Remove old concrete first | $740 – $2,200 |
Basic, standard or premium: South Dakota prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) to 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft).
Basic
$2,250 to $3,250
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,000 to $4,050
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$3,800 to $4,800
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $600 – $940 | $860 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,450 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $840 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,600 | $1,500 – $1,950 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,250 – $3,250 | $3,000 – $4,050 | $3,800 – $4,800 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,200 – $4,650 | $4,300 – $5,700 | $5,350 – $6,750 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $6,650 – $9,450 | $8,750 – $11,600 | $10,900 – $13,700 |
Why two South Dakota quotes can differ
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.
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.
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Concrete slab in South Dakota: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in South Dakota?
$2,250 to $4,800 for 400 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside South Dakota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in South Dakota is cheapest for concrete slab?
Rapid City at about $3,550 (midpoint, 400 sq ft). The priciest is Sioux Falls at $3,550.
+Is concrete slab cheaper in South Dakota than the US average?
It is 8% cheaper: $3,500 against $3,850 for 400 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in South Dakota?
About 40% ($1,400). Materials are 54%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.88x the national wage level.
+Does a concrete slab need a permit?
Often yes if it's structural (a garage floor or foundation) and often no for a small at-grade pad. Permit fees run $50-$400 depending on the city (HomeGuide).
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in South Dakota?
The BLS statewide median is $22.67 an hour, against $27.41 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.37 to $27.58.
+Where does South Dakota rank for concrete slab costs?
43rd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,500 for 400 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in South Dakota?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,250 to $3,250 and premium work $3,800 to $4,800. 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.
+Does the season matter for concrete slab in South Dakota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the South Dakota metros we cover, Sioux Falls has the most comfortable months (5 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add rebar reinforcement" add in South Dakota?
$370 to $1,100 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab by city in South Dakota
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