Concrete slab cost in Madison, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $2,600 – $5,400
- Per sq ft
- $6.35 – $12.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #68
- 1 = most expensive
A concrete slab in Madison, WI usually costs $2,600 to $5,400 for 400 sq ft. That works out to about $6.35 to $12.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $160 more. Cement masons and concrete finishers earn a median of $31.69 an hour in the Madison area, 16% above the US median of $27.41.
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in Madison, WI, standard level
$3,450 to $4,550
About $8.20 to $10.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $2,200 |
| Labor | $1,700 | $2,100 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $3,450 | $4,550 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in Madison, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,900 | $2,650 | 47% |
| Labor | $1,400 | $1,900 | $2,350 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $220 | $390 | 5% |
| Total | $2,600 | $4,000 | $5,400 | 100% |
What is behind the Madison number
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 $31.69 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Madison is 1.18 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 47% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Madison is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,000 nationally becomes $1,900 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.3: $50 to $390.
Madison weather and the concrete slab calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Madison Dane Rgnl Ap (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 Madison are May through September: 5 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, October, 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.
Madison gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 52 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, May and September are the driest, at 4.1 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 27 | 12 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 15 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 25 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Cold |
| May | 69 | 47 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 51 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Nov | 45 | 29 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 32 | 18 | 1.6 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Madison
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Madison. 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
$2,600 to $3,700
4-inch broom-finish slab, light mesh, easy truck access
Standard
$3,450 to $4,550
4-5 inch slab with rebar or heavier mesh and standard base prep
Premium
$4,250 to $5,400
6-inch slab, heavy reinforcement, thick base, pump truck or tight access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x10 pad (100 sq ft) | $690 – $1,050 | $970 – $1,350 | $1,250 – $1,650 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $970 – $1,450 | $1,350 – $1,800 | $1,700 – $2,200 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $2,600 – $3,700 | $3,450 – $4,550 | $4,250 – $5,400 |
| 24x24 garage floor (576 sq ft) | $3,700 – $5,250 | $4,900 – $6,400 | $6,050 – $7,600 |
| 30x40 foundation (1,200 sq ft) | $7,700 – $10,800 | $10,000 – $13,100 | $12,300 – $15,400 |
What nearby projects cost in Madison
Jobs that often go together with concrete slab are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Madison wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, asphalt driveway comes out highest (+16%) and detached garage lowest (+3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,950 – $10,300 | +11% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,300 | +7% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $29,800 – $59,800 | +3% |
| Stamped concrete | 400 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,500 | +6% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,700 | +16% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,800 – $11,400 | +12% |
Madison against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Same job, same size (400 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Rockford is the priciest of the group at $4,200. Dubuque is the cheapest at $3,700.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WIthis page | $2,600 – $5,400 | $4,000 | |
| Janesville, WI40 miles | $2,700 – $5,550 | $4,100 | +3% |
| Rockford, IL60 miles | $2,750 – $5,600 | $4,200 | +5% |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $2,400 – $5,050 | $3,700 | −7% |
| Oshkosh, WI85 miles | $2,650 – $5,500 | $4,100 | +2% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | −3% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,950 | −1% |
| United States | $2,450 – $5,200 | $3,850 | −4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Madison ranks #68 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Madison is 1% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $2,700 – $5,550 | $4,100 | +3% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $2,550 – $5,300 | $3,900 | −2% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $2,650 – $5,450 | $4,050 | +1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $2,650 – $5,500 | $4,100 | +2% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $2,550 – $5,250 | $3,900 | −2% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $2,500 – $5,250 | $3,900 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Madison against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $2,350 – $4,950 | $3,650 | −9% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $2,250 – $4,850 | $3,550 | −11% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $2,250 – $4,800 | $3,500 | −12% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $2,600 – $5,450 | $4,000 | level |
Extras that change the Madison total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.06 for Madison, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.18) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add rebar reinforcement | $420 – $1,250 |
| Remove old concrete first | $850 – $2,550 |
What local crews earn in Madison
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 Madison the blend is 1.18.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 50% of the weighting: a median of $31.69 an hour, 16% above the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $29.38 and $38.76 an hour. About 570 work in the metro. That is 14.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $27.40 an hour, which is 21% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.70 and $31.94 an hour. BLS counts 2,370 of them working in the area, 58.1 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 $39.93 an hour, 39% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $31.65 and $47.46 an hour. About 680 work in the metro. That is 16.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.52 an hour, 5% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.71 and $39.68 an hour. About 2,320 work in the metro. That is 56.9 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 $210 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 1.7% to 5.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Madison has 408,070 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 61st 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% | $29.38 | $31.69 | $38.76 | $27.41 | 1.16 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.70 | $27.40 | $31.94 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $31.65 | $39.93 | $47.46 | $28.78 | 1.39 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $25.71 | $30.52 | $39.68 | $29.12 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.18 | |||||
Concrete slab: what moves the price in Madison
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).
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Concrete slab in Madison: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour a concrete slab in Madison?
For 400 sq ft, expect $2,600 to $5,400 in the Madison area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,450 to $4,550. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for concrete slab in Madison?
About $6.35 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 Madison or Janesville?
Janesville is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $4,100, which is 3% more than Madison ($4,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Madison?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $1,900 out of $4,000. Materials are 47% and permits 5%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would 20x20 (400 sq ft) cost in Madison?
$2,600 to $5,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does concrete slab need a permit in Madison?
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 Madison area (our national range of $50 to $400 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Madison expensive for concrete slab compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Madison is 1% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($3,950 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in Madison?
The BLS median is $31.69 an hour in the Madison area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.38 to $38.76.
+What do basic and premium concrete slab work cost in Madison?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $2,600 to $3,700 and premium work $4,250 to $5,400. 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 Madison?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through September. May and September 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 Madison?
$420 to $1,250 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Concrete slab near Madison
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