Concrete slab cost in Austin, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,250 – $4,800
- Per sq ft
- $5.45 – $11
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #223
- 1 = most expensive
Austin homeowners pay roughly $2,250 to $4,800 to pour a concrete slab at 400 sq ft, or $5.45 to $11 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Austin is 8% lower. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $23.76 an hour in the Austin area, 13% below the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Austin, TX, standard level
$3,000 to $4,000
About $7.10 to $9.30 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 | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $3,000 | $4,000 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Austin, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 | $2,650 | 53% |
| Labor | $1,050 | $1,400 | $1,750 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $220 | $390 | 6% |
| Total | $2,250 | $3,500 | $4,800 | 100% |
Why Austin 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 $23.76 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Austin is 0.88 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 40% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Austin metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 400 sq ft comes to $1,900, compared with $2,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.1) and land at $50 to $390.
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 Austin is 0.88 times the national level.
For cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051, weighted 50%) the local median is $23.76 an hour, which is 13% below the national $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $21.66 and $27.82 an hour. BLS counts 2,650 of them working in the area, 20.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 13.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.16 an hour, 7% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.34 and $23.12 an hour. About 11,140 work in the metro. That is 86.1 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 $24.50 an hour, which is 15% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.09 and $29.38 an hour. BLS counts 5,010 of them working in the area, 38.7 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 $24.16 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $28.01 an hour. BLS counts 2,540 of them working in the area, 19.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner 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 ($27.82 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $120. At the 25th percentile ($21.66) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 3.4% or 1.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,293,690 jobs in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area. That makes it the 24th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.83% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 50% | $21.66 | $23.76 | $27.82 | $27.41 | 0.87 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.34 | $21.16 | $23.12 | $22.66 | 0.93 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $23.09 | $24.50 | $29.38 | $28.78 | 0.85 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.05 | $24.16 | $28.01 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Austin
Because every project leans on different trades, Austin's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, asphalt driveway runs −8% and concrete driveway −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,250 | −10% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,650 | −9% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,200 – $52,600 | −10% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,000 – $7,250 | −9% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $2,800 – $6,850 | −8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,350 | −8% |
When to schedule concrete slab in Austin
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Austin-Camp Mabry (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Austin (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in June, July, August and September, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Austin gets about 36 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and October (5.0 inches in May). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 1.9 and 2.4 inches. The station averages about 123 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 | 63 | 42 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 46 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 52 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 80 | 59 | 2.4 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 67 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 93 | 73 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Jul | 97 | 75 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 98 | 75 | 2.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 70 | 3.5 | Hot |
| Oct | 83 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 51 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 43 | 2.7 | Workable |
Austin against nearby metros and the rest of Texas
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Austin. College Station is the lowest at about $3,300 (midpoint, 400 sq ft), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TXthis page | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | |
| Killeen, TX65 miles | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,400 | −4% |
| College Station, TX75 miles | $2,100 – $4,550 | $3,300 | −5% |
| San Antonio, TX80 miles | $2,150 – $4,650 | $3,400 | −3% |
| Waco, TX95 miles | $2,100 – $4,550 | $3,350 | −5% |
| Houston, TX140 miles | $2,250 – $4,900 | $3,600 | +2% |
| Texas (statewide) | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | +1% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Austin comes in at #223 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $5,300; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $3,200 (midpoints, 400 sq ft). Statewide, Austin is 1% below the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $2,350 – $5,050 | $3,700 | +5% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $2,250 – $4,900 | $3,600 | +2% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $2,150 – $4,650 | $3,400 | −3% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $2,050 – $4,450 | $3,250 | −7% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $2,000 – $4,350 | $3,200 | −9% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $2,200 – $4,700 | $3,450 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Austin's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Austin against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $2,750 – $5,650 | $4,200 | +19% |
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $2,800 – $5,900 | $4,350 | +24% |
| Baltimore, MD | 1,356,680 jobs | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,800 | +9% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | +9% |
Add-ons priced for Austin
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Austin by the average of the local wage index (0.88) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.91. 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 | $360 – $1,100 |
| Remove old concrete first | $730 – $2,200 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Austin bid
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).
Austin: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Austin 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
$2,250 to $3,250
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,000 to $4,000
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$3,750 to $4,800
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $590 – $950 | $860 – $1,200 | $1,150 – $1,500 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $830 – $1,300 | $1,200 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $1,950 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,250 – $3,250 | $3,000 – $4,000 | $3,750 – $4,800 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,200 – $4,600 | $4,250 – $5,650 | $5,300 – $6,700 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $6,600 – $9,400 | $8,700 – $11,500 | $10,800 – $13,600 |
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 $3,000 to $4,000 for Austin, TX is attached.
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Concrete slab in Austin: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Austin?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,250 to $4,800 in the Austin area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,000 to $4,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Austin?
About $5.45 to $11 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 Austin or Killeen?
Killeen is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $3,400, which is 4% less than Austin ($3,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Austin?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $1,400 out of $3,500. Materials are 53% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Austin?
$2,250 to $4,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Austin?
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 Austin area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Austin expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Texas?
Austin is 1% below the Texas statewide estimate ($3,500 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Austin?
The BLS median is $23.76 an hour in the Austin area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.66 to $27.82.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Austin?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,250 to $3,250 and premium work $3,750 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.
+When is the best time to pour a concrete slab in Austin?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. February and April 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 Austin?
$360 to $1,100 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Austin
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