Shower pan cost in Des Moines, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $980 – $2,800
- Per pan
- $948 – $2,343
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #108
- 1 = most expensive
Des Moines homeowners pay roughly $980 to $2,800 to install a shower pan at 1 pan, or $948 to $2,343 per pan (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Des Moines is almost level. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $36.08 an hour in the Des Moines area, 18% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Des Moines, IA, standard level
$1,500 to $2,250
About $1,366 to $1,925 per pan before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $1,000 | $1,250 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $330 |
| Total | $1,500 | $2,250 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Des Moines, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $520 | $890 | 27% |
| Labor | $810 | $1,150 | $1,450 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $30 | $240 | $460 | 13% |
| Total | $980 | $1,900 | $2,800 | 100% |
Where the Des Moines price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 50%, tile and stone setters at 50%. Weighted together, Des Moines wages are 1.08 times the national level. Labor makes up about 60% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Des Moines metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1 pan comes to $520, compared with $550 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.7) and land at $30 to $460.
Data note: 50% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Des Moines. The wage table below marks each row.
Des Moines: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Des Moines 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 1 common sizes.
Basic
$980 to $1,700
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,500 to $2,250
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$2,050 to $2,800
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $980 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,250 | $2,050 – $2,800 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Des Moines is 1.08 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 50%) the local median is $36.08 an hour, which is 18% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.70 and $45.12 an hour. BLS counts 2,150 of them working in the area, 53.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Des Moines metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $26.13 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.11 and $34.11 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($45.12 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $150. At the 25th percentile ($28.70) it shrinks by about $130. The total moves by 8.2% or 6.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 404,130 jobs in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area. That makes it the 64th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $28.70 | $36.08 | $45.12 | $30.67 | 1.18 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $23.11 | $26.13 | $34.11 | $26.77 | 0.98 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Des Moines?
Because every project leans on different trades, Des Moines's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, bathroom remodel runs −1% and kitchen remodel −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,650 – $23,100 | −1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,800 | −2% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $30,000 | −5% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $290 – $1,450 | −4% |
Is Des Moines cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (1 pan), priced for the nearest metros. Cedar Rapids is the priciest of the group at $1,950. Sioux City is the cheapest at $1,750.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IAthis page | $980 – $2,800 | $1,900 | |
| Waterloo, IA95 miles | $900 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −6% |
| Iowa City, IA110 miles | $890 – $2,650 | $1,800 | −6% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA115 miles | $1,000 – $2,850 | $1,950 | +3% |
| Omaha, NE120 miles | $950 – $2,750 | $1,850 | −2% |
| Sioux City, IA145 miles | $890 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −7% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $910 – $2,650 | $1,800 | −5% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Des Moines comes in at #108 from the top. The priciest is Bellingham, WA at $2,450; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $1,500 (midpoints, 1 pan). Statewide, Des Moines is 6% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $980 – $2,800 | $1,900 | level |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $1,000 – $2,850 | $1,950 | +3% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $890 – $2,650 | $1,800 | −6% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $900 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −6% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $890 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −7% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $890 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −7% |
Cities with a workforce like Des Moines's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Des Moines against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $1,100 – $3,100 | $2,100 | +11% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $770 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −14% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $860 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −8% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $810 – $2,550 | $1,700 | −11% |
Shower pan: what moves the price in Des Moines
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).
Extras
Benches, trench drains and curb changes add $100-$600.
Tile
Tile for the shower costs $10-$50 per square foot installed, and that comes on top of the pan.
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Shower pan in Des Moines: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Des Moines?
For 1 pan, expect $980 to $2,800 in the Des Moines area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,500 to $2,250. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Des Moines?
About $948 to $2,343 per pan for materials and labor, plus $30 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Des Moines or Waterloo?
Waterloo is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,750, which is 6% less than Des Moines ($1,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Des Moines?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $1,150 out of $1,900. Materials are 27% and permits 13%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Des Moines?
$980 to $2,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Des Moines?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $30 to $460 for fees in the Des Moines area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Des Moines expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Iowa?
Des Moines is 6% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($1,800 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Des Moines?
The BLS median is $36.08 an hour in the Des Moines area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.70 to $45.12.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Des Moines?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $980 to $1,700 and premium work $2,050 to $2,800. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Des Moines
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.