Shower pan cost in Birmingham, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $830 – $2,550
- Per pan
- $803 – $2,102
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #208
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a shower pan in the Birmingham area: $830 to $2,550 for 1 pan. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 9% lower than the US figure. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $28.89 an hour in the Birmingham area, 6% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Birmingham, AL, standard level
$1,350 to $2,050
About $1,193 to $1,712 per pan before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $680 |
| Labor | $820 | $1,050 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $330 |
| Total | $1,350 | $2,050 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Birmingham, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $530 | $920 | 31% |
| Labor | $660 | $920 | $1,200 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $25 | $240 | $460 | 14% |
| Total | $830 | $1,700 | $2,550 | 100% |
Why Birmingham prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $28.89 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Birmingham is 0.88 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 54% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Birmingham is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $550 nationally becomes $530 here (midpoint, 1 pan). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.6: $25 to $460.
Is Birmingham cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 1 pan range from $1,600 to $1,700 across Birmingham and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, ALthis page | $830 – $2,550 | $1,700 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL60 miles | $820 – $2,550 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Decatur, AL75 miles | $820 – $2,550 | $1,700 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL80 miles | $810 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −2% |
| Huntsville, AL90 miles | $820 – $2,550 | $1,700 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL100 miles | $780 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −5% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $820 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −1% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | +10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Birmingham ranks #208 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Birmingham is 1% above the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $820 – $2,550 | $1,700 | −1% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $820 – $2,550 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $810 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −2% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $820 – $2,550 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $810 – $2,550 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $780 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Birmingham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $1,000 – $2,900 | $1,950 | +15% |
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $950 – $2,750 | $1,850 | +10% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $960 – $2,800 | $1,850 | +10% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $1,050 – $2,950 | $2,000 | +18% |
Planning more than one job in Birmingham?
Jobs that often go together with shower pan are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Birmingham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen remodel comes out highest (−6%) and kitchen backsplash lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $12,600 | −10% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,100 – $13,900 | −7% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: shower pan pricing in Birmingham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Birmingham. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from one shower pan to one shower pan.
Basic
$830 to $1,500
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,350 to $2,050
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$1,850 to $2,550
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $830 – $1,500 | $1,350 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,550 |
Who does the work: Birmingham 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 Birmingham the blend is 0.88.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 50% of the weighting: a median of $28.89 an hour, 6% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.67 and $30.98 an hour. About 1,840 work in the metro. That is 35.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.82 an hour, 18% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $17.94 and $23.89 an hour. About 70 work in the metro. That is 1.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $35 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $90. That is a swing of roughly 5.3% to 2.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Birmingham has 520,290 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 50th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $23.67 | $28.89 | $30.98 | $30.67 | 0.94 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $17.94 | $21.82 | $23.89 | $26.77 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Shower pan: what moves the price in Birmingham
Tile
Tile for the shower costs $10-$50 per square foot installed, and that comes on top of the pan.
Permit
Plumbing permits are $30-$500, and many cities require one to replace a shower pan.
Pre-made versus custom
Pre-made trays are $500-$1,550 installed; a custom tile pan is $900-$3,500; a custom stone pan is $1,200-$2,000 or more (HomeGuide).
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 $1,350 to $2,050 for Birmingham, AL is attached.
Detailed shower pan report for Birmingham, AL, $9
The report lays out the shower pan numbers for Birmingham, AL line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Shower pan in Birmingham: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Birmingham?
For 1 pan, expect $830 to $2,550 in the Birmingham area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,350 to $2,050. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Birmingham?
About $803 to $2,102 per pan for materials and labor, plus $25 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Birmingham or Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,650, which is 1% less than Birmingham ($1,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Birmingham?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $920 out of $1,700. Materials are 31% and permits 14%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Birmingham?
$830 to $2,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Birmingham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $25 to $460 for fees in the Birmingham area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Birmingham expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Alabama?
Birmingham is 1% above the Alabama statewide estimate ($1,650 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Birmingham?
The BLS median is $28.89 an hour in the Birmingham area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.67 to $30.98.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Birmingham?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $830 to $1,500 and premium work $1,850 to $2,550. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Birmingham
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.