Shower pan cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $770 – $2,450
- Per pan
- $747 – $2,002
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −14%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #275
- 1 = most expensive
Hickory homeowners pay roughly $770 to $2,450 to install a shower pan at 1 pan, or $747 to $2,002 per pan (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Hickory is 14% lower. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $24.68 an hour in the Hickory area, 20% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Hickory, NC, standard level
$1,300 to $1,950
About $1,124 to $1,626 per pan before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $690 |
| Labor | $750 | $940 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $320 |
| Total | $1,300 | $1,950 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $530 | $920 | 33% |
| Labor | $600 | $840 | $1,100 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $25 | $230 | $440 | 15% |
| Total | $770 | $1,600 | $2,450 | 100% |
What is behind the Hickory 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 $24.68 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Hickory is 0.80 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 52% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Hickory 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 (88.5) and land at $25 to $440.
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 Hickory. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Hickory
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Hickory 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
$770 to $1,450
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,300 to $1,950
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$1,800 to $2,450
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $770 – $1,450 | $1,300 – $1,950 | $1,800 – $2,450 |
Planning more than one job in Hickory?
Because every project leans on different trades, Hickory's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −7% and bathroom remodel −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,100 – $20,400 | −12% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,200 | −12% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,100 – $13,900 | −7% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,200 – $29,300 | −7% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −10% |
Why two Hickory quotes can differ
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.
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 Hickory is 0.80 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 50%) the local median is $24.68 an hour, which is 20% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $21.99 and $29.44 an hour. BLS counts 330 of them working in the area, 21.4 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 Hickory 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 ($29.44 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $80. At the 25th percentile ($21.99) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 5.1% or 2.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 154,090 jobs in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area. That makes it the 152nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $21.99 | $24.68 | $29.44 | $30.67 | 0.80 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $19.02 | $21.47 | $24.36 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Hickory against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
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 $1,550 to $1,750 across Hickory and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $770 – $2,450 | $1,600 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $750 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −2% |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $820 – $2,550 | $1,700 | +5% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $850 – $2,600 | $1,750 | +8% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $770 – $2,450 | $1,600 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $770 – $2,450 | $1,600 | level |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $810 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +4% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | +16% |
Across 300 US metros, Hickory comes in at #275 from the top. The priciest is Bellingham, WA at $2,450; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $1,500 (midpoints, 1 pan). Statewide, Hickory is 4% below 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 | +5% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $830 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +6% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $840 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +7% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $830 – $2,600 | $1,700 | +6% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $770 – $2,450 | $1,600 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $810 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +4% |
Cities with a workforce like Hickory's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hickory against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $760 – $2,400 | $1,550 | −2% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $810 – $2,550 | $1,650 | +4% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $1,100 – $3,150 | $2,100 | +32% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $790 – $2,500 | $1,650 | +2% |
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The report lays out the shower pan numbers for Hickory, 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 Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Hickory?
For 1 pan, expect $770 to $2,450 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,300 to $1,950. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Hickory?
About $747 to $2,002 per pan for materials and labor, plus $25 to $440 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,550, which is 2% less than Hickory ($1,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $840 out of $1,600. Materials are 33% and permits 15%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Hickory?
$770 to $2,450. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Hickory?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $25 to $440 for fees in the Hickory area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 4% below 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 Hickory?
The BLS median is $24.68 an hour in the Hickory area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.99 to $29.44.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Hickory?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $770 to $1,450 and premium work $1,800 to $2,450. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Hickory
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.