Shower pan cost in Altoona, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $1,000 – $2,900
- Per pan
- $985 – $2,458
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #84
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a shower pan in the Altoona area: $1,000 to $2,900 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 runs 5% higher than the US figure. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $29.53 an hour in the Altoona area, 4% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Altoona, PA, standard level
$1,600 to $2,350
About $1,427 to $2,016 per pan before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $1,050 | $1,300 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $320 |
| Total | $1,600 | $2,350 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Altoona, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $550 | $960 | 28% |
| Labor | $830 | $1,150 | $1,500 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $25 | $240 | $450 | 12% |
| Total | $1,000 | $1,950 | $2,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Altoona number
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, Altoona wages are 1.11 times the national level. Labor makes up about 60% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Altoona is at 100.7 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 89.5: $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 Altoona. The wage table below marks each row.
How Altoona compares
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 $1,650 to $2,100 across Altoona and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PAthis page | $1,000 – $2,900 | $1,950 | |
| State College, PA35 miles | $990 – $2,900 | $1,950 | −1% |
| Chambersburg, PA50 miles | $1,000 – $2,900 | $1,950 | level |
| Harrisburg, PA65 miles | $1,100 – $3,100 | $2,100 | +6% |
| Hagerstown, MD65 miles | $800 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −15% |
| Pittsburgh, PA80 miles | $1,050 – $2,950 | $2,000 | +2% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | +4% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Altoona ranks #84 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Altoona is 3% 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 | +7% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $1,050 – $2,950 | $2,000 | +2% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $910 – $2,750 | $1,850 | −6% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $1,100 – $3,100 | $2,100 | +6% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $1,000 – $2,900 | $1,950 | level |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $990 – $2,900 | $1,950 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Altoona against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $1,000 – $2,950 | $1,950 | +1% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $890 – $2,650 | $1,750 | −10% |
| Niles, MI | 59,970 jobs | $840 – $2,550 | $1,700 | −13% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $770 – $2,450 | $1,600 | −18% |
Who does the work: Altoona 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 Altoona the blend is 1.11.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 50% of the weighting: a median of $29.53 an hour, 4% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.81 and $36.41 an hour. About 80 work in the metro. That is 13.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Altoona metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median: $33.77 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $24.16 and $37.82 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $120 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $100. That is a swing of roughly 5.0% to 6.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Altoona has 58,650 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 291st 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% | $23.81 | $29.53 | $36.41 | $30.67 | 0.96 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $24.16 | $33.77 | $37.82 | $26.77 | 1.26 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Altoona?
Jobs that often go together with shower pan are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Altoona wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen backsplash comes out highest (+10%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,800 – $23,700 | +2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $13,500 | −3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,500 – $15,000 | level |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,500 – $31,400 | level |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $340 – $1,650 | +10% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: shower pan pricing in Altoona
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Altoona. 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
$1,000 to $1,750
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,600 to $2,350
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$2,150 to $2,900
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,350 | $2,150 – $2,900 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Altoona 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 $1,600 to $2,350 for Altoona, PA is attached.
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The report lays out the shower pan numbers for Altoona, 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 Altoona: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Altoona?
For 1 pan, expect $1,000 to $2,900 in the Altoona area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,600 to $2,350. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Altoona?
About $985 to $2,458 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 Altoona or State College?
State College is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $1,950, which is 1% less than Altoona ($1,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Altoona?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $1,150 out of $1,950. Materials are 28% and permits 12%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Altoona?
$1,000 to $2,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Altoona?
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 Altoona area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Altoona expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Altoona is 3% 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 Altoona?
The BLS median is $29.53 an hour in the Altoona area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.81 to $36.41.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Altoona?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $1,000 to $1,750 and premium work $2,150 to $2,900. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Altoona
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.