Shower pan cost in Bismarck, ND
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $870 – $2,650
- Per pan
- $844 – $2,170
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #165
- 1 = most expensive
Bismarck homeowners pay roughly $870 to $2,650 to install a shower pan at 1 pan, or $844 to $2,170 per pan (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Bismarck is 6% lower. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $33.81 an hour in the Bismarck area, 10% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Bismarck, ND, standard level
$1,400 to $2,100
About $1,242 to $1,772 per pan before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $680 |
| Labor | $870 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $330 |
| Total | $1,400 | $2,100 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Bismarck, ND
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $530 | $910 | 30% |
| Labor | $700 | $980 | $1,250 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $25 | $240 | $460 | 14% |
| Total | $870 | $1,750 | $2,650 | 100% |
Why Bismarck 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, Bismarck wages are 0.93 times the national level. Labor makes up about 56% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bismarck metro is 95.7 (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 (91.0) and land at $25 to $460.
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 Bismarck. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Bismarck
Because every project leans on different trades, Bismarck's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, window replacement runs −3% and kitchen backsplash −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,000 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,000 – $13,100 | −6% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,600 – $29,900 | −5% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $260 – $1,350 | −12% |
Cost by quality level and size in Bismarck
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bismarck 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
$870 to $1,550
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,400 to $2,100
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$1,900 to $2,650
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $870 – $1,550 | $1,400 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,650 |
Bismarck against nearby metros and the rest of North Dakota
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Bismarck. Sioux Falls is the lowest at about $1,700 (midpoint, 1 pan), 305 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, NDthis page | $870 – $2,650 | $1,750 | |
| Fargo, ND190 miles | $900 – $2,700 | $1,800 | +3% |
| Rapid City, SD210 miles | $840 – $2,550 | $1,700 | −3% |
| Sioux Falls, SD305 miles | $830 – $2,550 | $1,700 | −3% |
| St. Cloud, MN325 miles | $1,200 – $3,150 | $2,150 | +24% |
| Sioux City, IA380 miles | $890 – $2,650 | $1,750 | +1% |
| North Dakota (statewide) | $830 – $2,550 | $1,700 | −3% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Bismarck comes in at #165 from the top. The priciest is Bellingham, WA at $2,450; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $1,500 (midpoints, 1 pan). Statewide, Bismarck is 4% above the North Dakota figure.
Other North Dakota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 148,660 jobs | $900 – $2,700 | $1,800 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Bismarck's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bismarck against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $880 – $2,750 | $1,800 | +4% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $830 – $2,600 | $1,700 | −2% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | +16% |
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $1,050 – $2,950 | $2,000 | +15% |
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 Bismarck is 0.93 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 50%) the local median is $33.81 an hour, which is 10% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.18 and $38.82 an hour. BLS counts 220 of them working in the area, 30.9 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 Bismarck metro, so we used the North Dakota statewide median: $20.49 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.00 and $29.68 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($38.82 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $85. At the 25th percentile ($24.18) it shrinks by about $160. The total moves by 4.9% or 9.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 71,270 jobs in the Bismarck area. That makes it the 258th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $24.18 | $33.81 | $38.82 | $30.67 | 1.10 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $18.00 | $20.49 | $29.68 | $26.77 | 0.77 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Bismarck 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.
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 $1,400 to $2,100 for Bismarck, ND is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the shower pan numbers for Bismarck, ND 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 Bismarck: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Bismarck?
For 1 pan, expect $870 to $2,650 in the Bismarck area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,400 to $2,100. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Bismarck?
About $844 to $2,170 per pan for materials and labor, plus $25 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Bismarck or Fargo?
Fargo is 190 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,800, which is 3% more than Bismarck ($1,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bismarck?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $980 out of $1,750. Materials are 30% and permits 14%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Bismarck?
$870 to $2,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Bismarck?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $25 to $460 for fees in the Bismarck area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bismarck expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of North Dakota?
Bismarck is 4% above the North Dakota statewide estimate ($1,700 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in North Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Bismarck?
The BLS median is $33.81 an hour in the Bismarck area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.18 to $38.82.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Bismarck?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $870 to $1,550 and premium work $1,900 to $2,650. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Bismarck
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.