Shower pan cost in Columbia, MO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $920 – $2,700
- Per pan
- $890 – $2,243
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #138
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a shower pan in Columbia, plan on $920 to $2,700 for 1 pan, all in. Per pan, that is $890 to $2,243 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 3% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.2).
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Columbia, MO, standard level
$1,450 to $2,150
About $1,296 to $1,837 per pan before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $930 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $320 |
| Total | $1,450 | $2,150 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Columbia, MO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $520 | $890 | 29% |
| Labor | $750 | $1,050 | $1,350 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $25 | $240 | $450 | 13% |
| Total | $920 | $1,800 | $2,700 | 100% |
What is behind the Columbia number
The wage side of the estimate leans on plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $27.89 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Columbia is 1.00 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 58% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Columbia metro is 94.2 (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 (89.4) and land at $25 to $450.
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 Columbia. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Columbia
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Columbia 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
$920 to $1,650
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,450 to $2,150
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$2,000 to $2,700
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $920 – $1,650 | $1,450 – $2,150 | $2,000 – $2,700 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Columbia 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.
Columbia 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 Columbia is 1.00 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 50%) the local median is $27.89 an hour, which is 9% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.45 and $34.45 an hour. BLS counts 310 of them working in the area, 28.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Columbia metro, so we used the Missouri statewide median: $29.13 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.86 and $35.61 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($34.45 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($22.45) it shrinks by about $95. The total moves by 6.2% or 5.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 107,680 jobs in the Columbia area. That makes it the 194th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.07% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $22.45 | $27.89 | $34.45 | $30.67 | 0.91 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $20.86 | $29.13 | $35.61 | $26.77 | 1.09 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Columbia against nearby metros and the rest of Missouri
Same job, same size (1 pan), priced for the nearest metros. Springfield is the priciest of the group at $2,150. Springfield is the cheapest at $1,650.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, MOthis page | $920 – $2,700 | $1,800 | |
| Jefferson City, MO35 miles | $870 – $2,600 | $1,750 | −4% |
| Kansas City, MO100 miles | $1,000 – $2,850 | $1,950 | +7% |
| Springfield, MO115 miles | $810 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −8% |
| St. Louis, MO120 miles | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | +13% |
| Springfield, IL165 miles | $1,200 – $3,150 | $2,150 | +20% |
| Missouri (statewide) | $970 – $2,800 | $1,900 | +5% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Columbia comes in at #138 from the top. The priciest is Bellingham, WA at $2,450; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $1,500 (midpoints, 1 pan). Statewide, Columbia is 5% below the Missouri figure.
Other Missouri metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | +13% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $1,000 – $2,850 | $1,950 | +7% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $810 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −8% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $950 – $2,750 | $1,850 | +2% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $870 – $2,600 | $1,750 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Columbia's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Columbia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $1,050 – $3,100 | $2,100 | +15% |
| Hagerstown, MD | 107,170 jobs | $800 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −8% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $820 – $2,550 | $1,650 | −7% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $1,200 – $3,200 | $2,200 | +21% |
Planning more than one job in Columbia?
Because every project leans on different trades, Columbia's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen backsplash runs level and kitchen cabinets −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,500 – $22,400 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $13,000 | −7% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,200 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,700 | −6% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $300 – $1,500 | level |
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 $1,450 to $2,150 for Columbia, MO is attached.
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Shower pan in Columbia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Columbia?
For 1 pan, expect $920 to $2,700 in the Columbia area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,450 to $2,150. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Columbia?
About $890 to $2,243 per pan for materials and labor, plus $25 to $450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Columbia or Jefferson City?
Jefferson City is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,750, which is 4% less than Columbia ($1,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Columbia?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $1,800. Materials are 29% and permits 13%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Columbia?
$920 to $2,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Columbia?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $25 to $450 for fees in the Columbia area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Columbia expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Missouri?
Columbia is 5% below the Missouri statewide estimate ($1,900 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Missouri; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Columbia?
The BLS median is $27.89 an hour in the Columbia area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.45 to $34.45.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Columbia?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $920 to $1,650 and premium work $2,000 to $2,700. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Columbia
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.