Shower pan cost in Iowa City, 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 – $2,198
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #150
- 1 = most expensive
Iowa City homeowners pay roughly $890 to $2,650 to install a shower pan at 1 pan, or $867 to $2,198 per pan (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Iowa City is 5% lower. 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 Iowa City, IA, standard level
$1,400 to $2,150
About $1,267 to $1,799 per pan before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $900 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $330 |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,150 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Iowa City, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $520 | $890 | 29% |
| Labor | $730 | $1,000 | $1,300 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $25 | $240 | $460 | 14% |
| Total | $890 | $1,800 | $2,650 | 100% |
Why Iowa City prices look the way they do
Labor is 57% of the midpoint bill here, against 56% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (50%), tile and stone setters (50%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Iowa City the blended ratio comes out at 0.97.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Iowa City 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 (91.5) and land at $25 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 Iowa City. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Iowa City bid
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.
What nearby projects cost in Iowa City
Because every project leans on different trades, Iowa City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen backsplash runs −5% and kitchen cabinets −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,350 – $21,600 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,400 | −11% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,200 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,100 – $29,200 | −7% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $280 – $1,400 | −5% |
Is Iowa City cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Iowa City. Dubuque is the lowest at about $1,750 (midpoint, 1 pan), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IAthis page | $890 – $2,650 | $1,800 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA40 miles | $1,000 – $2,850 | $1,950 | +10% |
| Davenport, IA60 miles | $980 – $2,800 | $1,900 | +7% |
| Dubuque, IA75 miles | $890 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −1% |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $900 – $2,650 | $1,750 | level |
| Des Moines, IA110 miles | $980 – $2,800 | $1,900 | +6% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $910 – $2,650 | $1,800 | +1% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Iowa City comes in at #150 from the top. The priciest is Bellingham, WA at $2,450; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $1,500 (midpoints, 1 pan). Statewide, Iowa City is 1% below the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $980 – $2,800 | $1,900 | +6% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $980 – $2,800 | $1,900 | +7% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $1,000 – $2,850 | $1,950 | +10% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $900 – $2,650 | $1,750 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $890 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −1% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $890 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Iowa City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Iowa City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $1,050 – $2,950 | $2,000 | +13% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,050 | +16% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $1,150 – $3,200 | $2,200 | +23% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $1,250 – $3,500 | $2,400 | +34% |
Cost by quality level and size in Iowa City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Iowa City 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
$890 to $1,600
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,400 to $2,150
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 – $2,150 | $1,950 – $2,650 |
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 Iowa City is 0.97 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 50%) the local median is $29.49 an hour, which is 4% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.29 and $36.43 an hour. BLS counts 190 of them working in the area, 20.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Iowa City 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 ($36.43 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $120. At the 25th percentile ($23.29) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 6.7% or 6.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,760 jobs in the Iowa City area. That makes it the 214th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $23.29 | $29.49 | $36.43 | $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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Shower pan in Iowa City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Iowa City?
For 1 pan, expect $890 to $2,650 in the Iowa City area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,400 to $2,150. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Iowa City?
About $867 to $2,198 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 Iowa City or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,950, which is 10% more than Iowa City ($1,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Iowa City?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $1,000 out of $1,800. Materials are 29% and permits 14%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Iowa City?
$890 to $2,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Iowa City?
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 Iowa City area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Iowa City expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Iowa?
Iowa City 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 Iowa City?
The BLS median is $29.49 an hour in the Iowa City area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.29 to $36.43.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Iowa City?
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 Iowa City
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.