Shower pan cost in New Orleans, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $830 – $2,550
- Per pan
- $805 – $2,086
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #214
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a shower pan in New Orleans, plan on $830 to $2,550 for 1 pan, all in. Per pan, that is $805 to $2,086 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 9% lower than the national one. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $30.03 an hour in the New Orleans area, 2% below the US median of $30.67.
Estimate your shower pan cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1 pan in New Orleans, LA, standard level
$1,350 to $2,050
About $1,189 to $1,702 per pan before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $820 | $1,050 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $330 |
| Total | $1,350 | $2,050 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in New Orleans, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $520 | $890 | 30% |
| Labor | $660 | $930 | $1,200 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $30 | $250 | $460 | 15% |
| Total | $830 | $1,700 | $2,550 | 100% |
Why New Orleans prices look the way they do
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, New Orleans wages are 0.89 times the national level. Labor makes up about 55% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the New Orleans 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 (92.6) and land at $30 to $460.
Cost by quality level and size in New Orleans
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for New Orleans 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
$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 |
Why two New Orleans quotes can differ
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).
Extras
Benches, trench drains and curb changes add $100-$600.
Related projects, priced for New Orleans
Because every project leans on different trades, New Orleans's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −8% and kitchen backsplash −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,200 | −9% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,500 | −10% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,050 – $13,700 | −9% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,100 – $29,100 | −8% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $260 – $1,300 | −12% |
New Orleans labor market for shower pan
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 New Orleans is 0.89 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 50%) the local median is $30.03 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.43 and $36.43 an hour. BLS counts 1,510 of them working in the area, 33.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 50%) the local median is $21.22 an hour, which is 21% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $19.20 and $22.99 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 1.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
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 $110. At the 25th percentile ($24.43) it shrinks by about $95. The total moves by 6.5% or 5.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 445,550 jobs in the New Orleans-Metairie area. That makes it the 57th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.29% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $24.43 | $30.03 | $36.43 | $30.67 | 0.98 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $19.20 | $21.22 | $22.99 | $26.77 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Is New Orleans 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 $1,800 across New Orleans and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LAthis page | $830 – $2,550 | $1,700 | |
| Houma, LA75 miles | $790 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −4% |
| Slidell, LA80 miles | $820 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Gulfport, MS90 miles | $810 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA125 miles | $910 – $2,650 | $1,800 | +6% |
| Mobile, AL125 miles | $820 – $2,550 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $840 – $2,550 | $1,700 | level |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, New Orleans comes in at #214 from the top. The priciest is Bellingham, WA at $2,450; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $1,500 (midpoints, 1 pan). Statewide, New Orleans is 0% below the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $910 – $2,650 | $1,800 | +6% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $780 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −5% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $820 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −2% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $870 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +2% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $820 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −1% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $790 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like New Orleans's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is New Orleans against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $1,250 – $3,550 | $2,400 | +42% |
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $760 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −5% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $1,000 – $2,950 | $2,000 | +18% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $820 – $2,550 | $1,700 | −1% |
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 New Orleans, LA is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for New Orleans, LA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 New Orleans: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in New Orleans?
For 1 pan, expect $830 to $2,550 in the New Orleans 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 New Orleans?
About $805 to $2,086 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 New Orleans or Houma?
Houma is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,600, which is 4% less than New Orleans ($1,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in New Orleans?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $930 out of $1,700. Materials are 30% and permits 15%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in New Orleans?
$830 to $2,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in New Orleans?
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 New Orleans area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is New Orleans expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Louisiana?
New Orleans is 0% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($1,700 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in New Orleans?
The BLS median is $30.03 an hour in the New Orleans area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.43 to $36.43.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in New Orleans?
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 New Orleans
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.