Shower pan cost in Durham, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $830 – $2,600
- Per pan
- $799 – $2,095
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #200
- 1 = most expensive
Durham homeowners pay roughly $830 to $2,600 to install a shower pan at 1 pan, or $799 to $2,095 per pan (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Durham is 9% lower. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $28.90 an hour in the Durham area, 6% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Durham, NC, standard level
$1,350 to $2,050
About $1,188 to $1,706 per pan before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $690 |
| Labor | $810 | $1,000 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $350 |
| Total | $1,350 | $2,050 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Durham, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $530 | $920 | 31% |
| Labor | $650 | $920 | $1,200 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $30 | $260 | $490 | 15% |
| Total | $830 | $1,700 | $2,600 | 100% |
Where the Durham price comes from
Labor is 54% 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 Durham the blended ratio comes out at 0.87.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Durham metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1 pan comes to $530, compared with $550 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.6) and land at $30 to $490.
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 Durham. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Durham?
Because every project leans on different trades, Durham's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −5% and kitchen backsplash −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,300 | −8% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $12,800 | −8% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,800 | −5% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
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 Durham is 0.87 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 50%) the local median is $28.90 an hour, which is 6% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.25 and $31.27 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 18.0 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 Durham metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $21.47 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $24.36 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($31.27 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $40. At the 25th percentile ($23.25) it shrinks by about $95. The total moves by 2.4% or 5.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 344,020 jobs in the Durham-Chapel Hill area. That makes it the 74th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.22% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $23.25 | $28.90 | $31.27 | $30.67 | 0.94 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $19.02 | $21.47 | $24.36 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Durham against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Same job, same size (1 pan), priced for the nearest metros. Greensboro is the priciest of the group at $1,700. Winston is the cheapest at $1,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | $830 – $2,600 | $1,700 | |
| Burlington, NC15 miles | $810 – $2,550 | $1,650 | −2% |
| Greensboro, NC40 miles | $840 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +1% |
| Raleigh, NC40 miles | $830 – $2,600 | $1,700 | level |
| Fayetteville, NC65 miles | $780 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −5% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $770 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −5% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $810 – $2,550 | $1,650 | −2% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Durham comes in at #200 from the top. The priciest is Bellingham, WA at $2,450; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $1,500 (midpoints, 1 pan). Statewide, Durham is 2% above the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $820 – $2,550 | $1,700 | −1% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $830 – $2,600 | $1,700 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $840 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $770 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −5% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $810 – $2,550 | $1,650 | −2% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $850 – $2,600 | $1,750 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Durham's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Durham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | +19% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $820 – $2,600 | $1,700 | level |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $710 – $2,300 | $1,500 | −12% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $800 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −4% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Durham bid
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.
Durham: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Durham 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 $1,550
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,350 to $2,050
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$1,900 to $2,600
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $830 – $1,550 | $1,350 – $2,050 | $1,900 – $2,600 |
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 Durham, NC is attached.
Detailed shower pan report for Durham, NC, $9
The report lays out the shower pan numbers for Durham, NC 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 Durham: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Durham?
For 1 pan, expect $830 to $2,600 in the Durham 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 Durham?
About $799 to $2,095 per pan for materials and labor, plus $30 to $490 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Durham or Burlington?
Burlington is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,650, which is 2% less than Durham ($1,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Durham?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $920 out of $1,700. Materials are 31% and permits 15%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Durham?
$830 to $2,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Durham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $30 to $490 for fees in the Durham area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Durham expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Durham is 2% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($1,650 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Durham?
The BLS median is $28.90 an hour in the Durham area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.25 to $31.27.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Durham?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $830 to $1,550 and premium work $1,900 to $2,600. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Durham
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.