Shower pan cost in Dubuque, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $890 – $2,650
- Per pan
- $867 – $2,199
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #156
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a shower pan in the Dubuque area: $890 to $2,650 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 5% lower than the US figure. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Dubuque, IA, standard level
$1,400 to $2,100
About $1,267 to $1,799 per pan before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $900 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $310 |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,100 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Dubuque, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $520 | $890 | 29% |
| Labor | $730 | $1,000 | $1,300 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $25 | $230 | $440 | 13% |
| Total | $890 | $1,750 | $2,650 | 100% |
Where the Dubuque 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, Dubuque wages are 0.97 times the national level. Labor makes up about 58% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Dubuque is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $550 nationally becomes $520 here (midpoint, 1 pan). Permits follow the all-items index of 87.3: $25 to $440.
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 Dubuque. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Dubuque quotes can differ
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.
Permit
Plumbing permits are $30-$500, and many cities require one to replace a shower pan.
How Dubuque compares
Same job, same size (1 pan), priced for the nearest metros. Madison is the priciest of the group at $2,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IAthis page | $890 – $2,650 | $1,750 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA45 miles | $1,000 – $2,850 | $1,950 | +10% |
| Iowa City, IA75 miles | $890 – $2,650 | $1,800 | +1% |
| Davenport, IA75 miles | $980 – $2,800 | $1,900 | +7% |
| Madison, WI80 miles | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,100 | +18% |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $900 – $2,650 | $1,750 | level |
| Iowa (statewide) | $910 – $2,650 | $1,800 | +1% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Dubuque ranks #156 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Dubuque is 1% below the Iowa figure.
Elsewhere in Iowa
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $980 – $2,800 | $1,900 | +7% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $980 – $2,800 | $1,900 | +7% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $1,000 – $2,850 | $1,950 | +10% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $890 – $2,650 | $1,800 | +1% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $900 – $2,650 | $1,750 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $890 – $2,650 | $1,750 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dubuque against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | 58,650 jobs | $1,000 – $2,900 | $1,950 | +11% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $770 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −9% |
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $1,000 – $2,950 | $1,950 | +12% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $890 – $2,650 | $1,750 | level |
Planning more than one job in Dubuque?
Jobs that often go together with shower pan are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Dubuque wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, window replacement comes out highest (−4%) and kitchen remodel lowest (−6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,100 | −5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $13,400 | −5% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,350 – $14,300 | −4% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $290 – $1,450 | −5% |
Cost by quality level and size in Dubuque
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Dubuque. 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
$890 to $1,600
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,400 to $2,100
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$1,950 to $2,650
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $890 – $1,600 | $1,400 – $2,100 | $1,950 – $2,650 |
Who does the work: Dubuque 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 Dubuque the blend is 0.97.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 50% of the weighting: a median of $29.51 an hour, 4% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.70 and $39.45 an hour. About 120 work in the metro. That is 20.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dubuque 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.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $170 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $100. That is a swing of roughly 5.6% to 9.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Dubuque has 58,470 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 292nd 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% | $23.70 | $29.51 | $39.45 | $30.67 | 0.96 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $23.11 | $26.13 | $34.11 | $26.77 | 0.98 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
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Detailed shower pan report for Dubuque, IA, $9
The report lays out the shower pan numbers for Dubuque, IA 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 Dubuque: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Dubuque?
For 1 pan, expect $890 to $2,650 in the Dubuque area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,400 to $2,100. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Dubuque?
About $867 to $2,199 per pan for materials and labor, plus $25 to $440 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Dubuque or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,950, which is 10% more than Dubuque ($1,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dubuque?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $1,000 out of $1,750. Materials are 29% and permits 13%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Dubuque?
$890 to $2,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Dubuque?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $25 to $440 for fees in the Dubuque area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dubuque expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Iowa?
Dubuque is 1% below 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 Dubuque?
The BLS median is $29.51 an hour in the Dubuque area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.70 to $39.45.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Dubuque?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $890 to $1,600 and premium work $1,950 to $2,650. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Dubuque
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.