Shower pan cost in Boston, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $1,300 – $3,500
- Per pan
- $1,272 – $2,968
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +29%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #3
- 1 = most expensive
A shower pan in Boston, MA usually costs $1,300 to $3,500 for 1 pan. That works out to about $1,272 to $2,968 per pan before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $540 more. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $46.52 an hour in the Boston area, 52% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Boston, MA, standard level
$1,950 to $2,850
About $1,781 to $2,459 per pan before permits. Labor is about 65% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $1,400 | $1,750 |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $390 |
| Total | $1,950 | $2,850 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Boston, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $550 | $950 | 23% |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,550 | $2,000 | 65% |
| Permits and fees | $30 | $290 | $540 | 12% |
| Total | $1,300 | $2,400 | $3,500 | 100% |
Where the Boston price comes from
Labor is 65% 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 Boston the blended ratio comes out at 1.50.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Boston is at 99.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $550 nationally becomes $550 here (midpoint, 1 pan). Permits follow the all-items index of 108.3: $30 to $540.
Shower pan: what moves the price in Boston
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.
Boston: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Boston. 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
$1,300 to $2,200
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,950 to $2,850
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$2,650 to $3,500
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $1,300 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $2,850 | $2,650 – $3,500 |
What nearby projects cost in Boston
Jobs that often go together with shower pan are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Boston wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+19%) and kitchen remodel lowest (+6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,600 – $27,800 | +19% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,600 – $16,100 | +14% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,350 – $17,100 | +15% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,600 – $33,400 | +6% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $370 – $1,750 | +19% |
What local crews earn in Boston
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 Boston the blend is 1.50.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 50% of the weighting: a median of $46.52 an hour, 52% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $30.12 and $56.68 an hour. About 9,200 work in the metro. That is 34.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 50% of the weighting: a median of $39.54 an hour, 48% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $37.62 and $46.13 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 $280. That is a swing of roughly 11.7% to 7.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has 2,703,890 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 10th 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% | $30.12 | $46.52 | $56.68 | $30.67 | 1.52 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $37.62 | $39.54 | $46.13 | $26.77 | 1.48 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.50 | |||||
Boston against nearby metros and the rest of Massachusetts
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Boston. Manchester is the lowest at about $1,850 (midpoint, 1 pan), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MAthis page | $1,300 – $3,500 | $2,400 | |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $910 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −23% |
| Worcester, MA50 miles | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | −15% |
| Providence, RI60 miles | $1,050 – $2,950 | $2,000 | −17% |
| Barnstable, MA70 miles | $1,150 – $3,200 | $2,200 | −9% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $1,050 – $2,950 | $2,000 | −17% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $1,300 – $3,450 | $2,350 | −2% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −23% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Boston ranks #3 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Boston is 2% above the Massachusetts figure.
Elsewhere in Massachusetts
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | −15% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $1,150 – $3,200 | $2,200 | −9% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $1,150 – $3,200 | $2,200 | −9% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $1,200 – $3,250 | $2,200 | −8% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $1,200 – $3,250 | $2,250 | −8% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $850 – $2,750 | $1,800 | −25% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $910 – $2,750 | $1,850 | −24% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $850 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −27% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $1,100 – $3,200 | $2,150 | −11% |
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Shower pan in Boston: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Boston?
For 1 pan, expect $1,300 to $3,500 in the Boston area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,950 to $2,850. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Boston?
About $1,272 to $2,968 per pan for materials and labor, plus $30 to $540 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Boston or Manchester?
Manchester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,850, which is 23% less than Boston ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boston?
About 65% at the midpoint, or $1,550 out of $2,400. Materials are 23% and permits 12%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Boston?
$1,300 to $3,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Boston?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $30 to $540 for fees in the Boston area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boston expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Boston is 2% above the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($2,350 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Boston?
The BLS median is $46.52 an hour in the Boston area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.12 to $56.68.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Boston?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $1,300 to $2,200 and premium work $2,650 to $3,500. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Boston
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.