Hardwood flooring cost in Worcester, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,950 – $13,400
- Per sq ft
- $12 – $26.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #33
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a hardwood floor in the Worcester area: $5,950 to $13,400 for 500 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 7% higher than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $35.10 an hour in the Worcester area, 21% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Worcester, MA, standard level
$8,200 to $11,100
About $16.50 to $22.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $5,950 |
| Labor | $3,950 | $5,150 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $8,200 | $11,100 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Worcester, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,100 | $7,300 | 53% |
| Labor | $3,050 | $4,550 | $6,100 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,950 | $9,650 | $13,400 | 100% |
Why Worcester prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: carpenters at 70%, floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) at 30%. Weighted together, Worcester wages are 1.22 times the national level. Labor makes up about 47% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Worcester is at 97.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,250 nationally becomes $5,100 here (midpoint, 500 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 102.5: $0 to $0.
What nearby projects cost in Worcester
Jobs that often go together with hardwood floor are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Worcester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, laminate flooring comes out highest (+13%) and tile flooring lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,350 – $7,850 | +13% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,100 | +2% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,900 – $32,100 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,400 | +9% |
Who does the work: Worcester trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 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 Worcester the blend is 1.22.
Carpenters (47-2031), 70% of the weighting: a median of $35.10 an hour, 21% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.63 and $43.40 an hour. About 1,590 work in the metro. That is 45.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042), 30% of the weighting: a median of $33.82 an hour, 25% above the US median of $27.15. The middle half of them earn between $30.62 and $48.28 an hour. About 130 work in the metro. That is 3.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 1.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $750 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $580. That is a swing of roughly 6.0% to 7.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Worcester has 349,880 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 73rd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $28.63 | $35.10 | $43.40 | $29.12 | 1.21 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $30.62 | $33.82 | $48.28 | $27.15 | 1.25 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.22 | |||||
Is Worcester cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Worcester. Hartford is the lowest at about $8,850 (midpoint, 500 sq ft), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MAthis page | $5,950 – $13,400 | $9,650 | |
| Amherst, MA35 miles | $5,900 – $13,200 | $9,550 | −1% |
| Springfield, MA40 miles | $6,050 – $13,600 | $9,800 | +2% |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | −8% |
| Boston, MA50 miles | $6,450 – $14,400 | $10,400 | +8% |
| Hartford, CT55 miles | $5,400 – $12,300 | $8,850 | −8% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $6,200 – $13,900 | $10,000 | +4% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | −7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Worcester ranks #33 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Worcester is 4% below the Massachusetts figure.
Elsewhere in Massachusetts
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $6,450 – $14,400 | $10,400 | +8% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $6,050 – $13,600 | $9,800 | +2% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $6,000 – $13,500 | $9,750 | +1% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $5,900 – $13,200 | $9,550 | −1% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $5,800 – $13,000 | $9,400 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Worcester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $4,750 – $10,900 | $7,800 | −19% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $5,050 – $11,600 | $8,350 | −14% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $5,050 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −14% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $5,150 – $11,700 | $8,450 | −13% |
Cost by quality level and size in Worcester
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Worcester. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from one room (200 sq ft) to whole house (1,200 sq ft).
Basic
$5,950 to $8,900
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$8,200 to $11,100
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$10,400 to $13,400
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,400 – $3,550 | $3,250 – $4,450 | $4,150 – $5,350 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,950 – $8,900 | $8,200 – $11,100 | $10,400 – $13,400 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $14,300 – $21,400 | $19,600 – $26,700 | $25,000 – $32,100 |
Hardwood flooring: what moves the price in Worcester
Materials and labor
Materials are $6-$15 per sq ft and installation labor adds $3-$10 per sq ft.
Layout
Room shape, stairs and installation method change the labor side.
Permit
Flooring rarely needs a permit, so no permit fee is included in this estimate.
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Hardwood flooring in Worcester: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Worcester?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,950 to $13,400 in the Worcester area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,200 to $11,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Worcester?
About $12 to $26.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $11 to $25.
+Is hardwood floor cheaper in Worcester or Amherst?
Amherst is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $9,550, which is 1% less than Worcester ($9,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Worcester?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $4,550 out of $9,650. Materials are 53% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Worcester?
$5,950 to $13,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Worcester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Worcester area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Worcester expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Worcester is 4% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($10,000 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Worcester?
The BLS median is $35.10 an hour in the Worcester area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.63 to $43.40.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Worcester?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,950 to $8,900 and premium work $10,400 to $13,400. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Worcester
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.