Shower pan cost in Allentown, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $910 – $2,750
- Per pan
- $879 – $2,266
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #131
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a shower pan in the Allentown area: $910 to $2,750 for 1 pan. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $31.22 an hour in the Allentown area, 2% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Allentown, PA, standard level
$1,450 to $2,200
About $1,295 to $1,850 per pan before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $900 | $1,150 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $360 |
| Total | $1,450 | $2,200 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Allentown, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $550 | $960 | 30% |
| Labor | $730 | $1,000 | $1,300 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $30 | $260 | $500 | 14% |
| Total | $910 | $1,850 | $2,750 | 100% |
Where the Allentown price comes from
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 $31.22 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Allentown is 0.97 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 55% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Allentown is at 100.6 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 100.0: $30 to $500.
Cost by quality level and size in Allentown
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Allentown. 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
$910 to $1,650
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,450 to $2,200
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$2,000 to $2,750
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $910 – $1,650 | $1,450 – $2,200 | $2,000 – $2,750 |
Shower pan: what moves the price in Allentown
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.
Allentown against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Same job, same size (1 pan), priced for the nearest metros. Philadelphia is the priciest of the group at $2,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown, PAthis page | $910 – $2,750 | $1,850 | |
| Reading, PA40 miles | $1,000 – $2,950 | $2,000 | +8% |
| Scranton, PA45 miles | $1,000 – $2,900 | $1,950 | +7% |
| Trenton, NJ50 miles | $1,050 – $3,050 | $2,050 | +11% |
| Philadelphia, PA60 miles | $1,100 – $3,100 | $2,100 | +14% |
| Lancaster, PA70 miles | $990 – $2,900 | $1,950 | +6% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | +10% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Allentown ranks #131 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Allentown is 9% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $1,100 – $3,100 | $2,100 | +14% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $1,050 – $2,950 | $2,000 | +9% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $1,100 – $3,100 | $2,100 | +13% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $1,000 – $2,900 | $1,950 | +7% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $990 – $2,900 | $1,950 | +6% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $1,050 – $3,050 | $2,050 | +11% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Allentown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $860 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −5% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $850 – $2,600 | $1,700 | −7% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $850 – $2,600 | $1,750 | −6% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $840 – $2,600 | $1,700 | −7% |
Planning more than one job in Allentown?
Jobs that often go together with shower pan are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Allentown wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, window replacement comes out highest (+1%) and kitchen backsplash lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,700 – $23,300 | level |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,000 | level |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,550 – $15,100 | +1% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,600 – $31,600 | level |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $290 – $1,450 | −3% |
Who does the work: Allentown trade wages
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 Allentown the blend is 0.97.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 50% of the weighting: a median of $31.22 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.41 and $39.61 an hour. About 730 work in the metro. That is 19.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 50% of the weighting: a median of $24.71 an hour, 8% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.80 and $33.48 an hour. About 80 work in the metro. That is 2.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $140 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 6.3% to 7.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton has 377,180 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 69th 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% | $24.41 | $31.22 | $39.61 | $30.67 | 1.02 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $23.80 | $24.71 | $33.48 | $26.77 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
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Detailed shower pan report for Allentown, PA, $9
The report lays out the shower pan numbers for Allentown, PA 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 Allentown: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Allentown?
For 1 pan, expect $910 to $2,750 in the Allentown area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,450 to $2,200. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Allentown?
About $879 to $2,266 per pan for materials and labor, plus $30 to $500 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Allentown or Reading?
Reading is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $2,000, which is 8% more than Allentown ($1,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Allentown?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $1,000 out of $1,850. Materials are 30% and permits 14%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Allentown?
$910 to $2,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Allentown?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $30 to $500 for fees in the Allentown area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Allentown expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Allentown is 9% below the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($2,050 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Allentown?
The BLS median is $31.22 an hour in the Allentown area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.41 to $39.61.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Allentown?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $910 to $1,650 and premium work $2,000 to $2,750. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Allentown
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.