Hardwood flooring cost in Scranton, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (500 sq ft)
- $5,550 – $12,600
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $25.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $9,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #67
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install hardwood flooring in Scranton, plan on $5,550 to $12,600 for 500 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $11 to $25.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $28.96 an hour in the Scranton area, 1% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 500 sq ft in Scranton, PA, standard level
$7,700 to $10,500
About $15.50 to $21 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,400 | $6,200 |
| Labor | $3,300 | $4,300 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $7,700 | $10,500 |
Cost breakdown for 500 sq ft in Scranton, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,000 | $5,300 | $7,550 | 58% |
| Labor | $2,550 | $3,800 | $5,100 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $5,550 | $9,100 | $12,600 | 100% |
Why Scranton prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $28.96 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Scranton is 1.02 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Scranton metro is 100.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 500 sq ft comes to $5,300, compared with $5,250 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.6) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 30% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Scranton. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in Scranton
Because every project leans on different trades, Scranton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, tile flooring runs +10% and kitchen remodel +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laminate flooring | 500 sq ft | $2,050 – $7,150 | +2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,850 – $10,700 | +10% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,600 – $31,700 | +1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,800 – $23,900 | +2% |
Scranton labor market for hardwood floor
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Scranton is 1.02 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 70%) the local median is $28.96 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.00 and $35.74 an hour. BLS counts 1,070 of them working in the area, 41.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) carry 30% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Scranton metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median: $28.87 an hour against $27.15 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.50 and $39.67 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($35.74 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $610. At the 25th percentile ($23.00) it shrinks by about $540. The total moves by 6.7% or 5.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 255,620 jobs in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre area. That makes it the 102nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.16% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 70% | $23.00 | $28.96 | $35.74 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Floor layers (except carpet, wood and hard tiles) (47-2042) | 30% | $23.50 | $28.87 | $39.67 | $27.15 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Scranton
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Scranton 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 3 common sizes.
Basic
$5,550 to $8,400
Standard solid oak, simple layout
Standard
$7,700 to $10,500
Wider planks or a better grade, some stairs
Premium
$9,800 to $12,600
Exotic species, herringbone or complex layout
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one room (200 sq ft) | $2,200 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,200 | $3,900 – $5,050 |
| main floor (500 sq ft) | $5,550 – $8,400 | $7,700 – $10,500 | $9,800 – $12,600 |
| whole house (1,200 sq ft) | $13,300 – $20,100 | $18,400 – $25,200 | $23,500 – $30,300 |
Why two Scranton quotes can differ
Permit
Flooring rarely needs a permit, so no permit fee is included in this estimate.
Solid versus engineered
Solid hardwood is $11-$25 per sq ft installed and engineered hardwood is $9-$20 (HomeGuide).
Materials and labor
Materials are $6-$15 per sq ft and installation labor adds $3-$10 per sq ft.
Scranton against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Scranton. Reading is the lowest at about $8,850 (midpoint, 500 sq ft), 65 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton, PAthis page | $5,550 – $12,600 | $9,100 | |
| Allentown, PA45 miles | $5,550 – $12,600 | $9,050 | level |
| Binghamton, NY60 miles | $5,600 – $12,700 | $9,150 | +1% |
| Reading, PA65 miles | $5,400 – $12,300 | $8,850 | −3% |
| Lancaster, PA90 miles | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | −2% |
| Harrisburg, PA90 miles | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | −1% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | −1% |
| United States | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Scranton comes in at #67 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $11,500; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $7,300 (midpoints, 500 sq ft). Statewide, Scranton is 1% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $5,650 – $12,800 | $9,200 | +1% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $5,850 – $13,200 | $9,550 | +5% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $5,550 – $12,600 | $9,050 | level |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $5,500 – $12,500 | $9,000 | −1% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | −2% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $5,600 – $12,700 | $9,150 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Scranton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Scranton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $5,700 – $13,000 | $9,350 | +3% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $5,450 – $12,400 | $8,900 | −2% |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $4,950 – $11,400 | $8,200 | −10% |
| Palm Bay, FL | 245,170 jobs | $5,000 – $11,500 | $8,250 | −9% |
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Hardwood flooring in Scranton: your questions
+How much does it cost to install hardwood flooring in Scranton?
For 500 sq ft, expect $5,550 to $12,600 in the Scranton area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,700 to $10,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for hardwood floor in Scranton?
About $11 to $25.50 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 Scranton or Allentown?
Allentown is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 500 sq ft there is $9,050, which is 0% less than Scranton ($9,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Scranton?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $3,800 out of $9,100. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would main floor (500 sq ft) cost in Scranton?
$5,550 to $12,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does hardwood floor need a permit in Scranton?
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 Scranton area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Scranton expensive for hardwood floor compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Scranton is 1% above the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($9,000 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Scranton?
The BLS median is $28.96 an hour in the Scranton area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.00 to $35.74.
+What do basic and premium hardwood floor work cost in Scranton?
For 500 sq ft, basic work runs $5,550 to $8,400 and premium work $9,800 to $12,600. Basic means: standard solid oak, simple layout. Premium means: exotic species, herringbone or complex layout.
Hardwood flooring near Scranton
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.