Shower pan cost in Providence, RI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $1,050 – $2,950
- Per pan
- $1,001 – $2,461
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #68
- 1 = most expensive
Providence homeowners pay roughly $1,050 to $2,950 to install a shower pan at 1 pan, or $1,001 to $2,461 per pan (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Providence is 7% higher. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $38.37 an hour in the Providence area, 25% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Providence, RI, standard level
$1,600 to $2,400
About $1,439 to $2,023 per pan before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $380 | $690 |
| Labor | $1,050 | $1,350 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $370 |
| Total | $1,600 | $2,400 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Providence, RI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $530 | $920 | 27% |
| Labor | $850 | $1,200 | $1,550 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $30 | $270 | $510 | 13% |
| Total | $1,050 | $2,000 | $2,950 | 100% |
Why Providence prices look the way they do
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 $38.37 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Providence is 1.14 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 60% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Providence metro is 97.1 (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 (101.8) and land at $30 to $510.
Why two Providence quotes can differ
Permit
Plumbing permits are $30-$500, and many cities require one to replace a shower pan.
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.
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 Providence is 1.14 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 50%) the local median is $38.37 an hour, which is 25% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $27.76 and $51.30 an hour. BLS counts 3,000 of them working in the area, 42.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 50%) the local median is $27.54 an hour, which is in line with the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.62 and $32.09 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 0.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($51.30 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $220. At the 25th percentile ($27.76) it shrinks by about $180. The total moves by 11.1% or 9.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 714,120 jobs in the Providence-Warwick area. That makes it the 42nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.46% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 50% | $27.76 | $38.37 | $51.30 | $30.67 | 1.25 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $21.62 | $27.54 | $32.09 | $26.77 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.14 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: shower pan pricing in Providence
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Providence 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
$1,050 to $1,800
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,600 to $2,400
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$2,200 to $2,950
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,400 | $2,200 – $2,950 |
Is Providence cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Providence. Norwich comes closest at about $2,050.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RIthis page | $1,050 – $2,950 | $2,000 | |
| Norwich, CT45 miles | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | +1% |
| Worcester, MA55 miles | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | +2% |
| Boston, MA60 miles | $1,300 – $3,500 | $2,400 | +20% |
| Barnstable, MA60 miles | $1,150 – $3,200 | $2,200 | +9% |
| Hartford, CT65 miles | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | +2% |
| Rhode Island (statewide) | $960 – $2,850 | $1,900 | −5% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −7% |
Across 300 US metros, Providence comes in at #68 from the top. The priciest is Bellingham, WA at $2,450; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $1,500 (midpoints, 1 pan). Statewide, Providence is 5% above the Rhode Island figure.
Providence is the only Rhode Island metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Providence's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Providence against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $830 – $2,600 | $1,700 | −14% |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $930 – $2,750 | $1,850 | −8% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $840 – $2,600 | $1,750 | −14% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $820 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −17% |
Planning more than one job in Providence?
Because every project leans on different trades, Providence's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, bathroom remodel runs +3% and kitchen remodel −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,800 – $23,900 | +3% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,300 | +2% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,500 – $14,900 | −1% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,300 – $31,200 | −1% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $300 – $1,500 | −1% |
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 $2,400 for Providence, RI is attached.
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Shower pan in Providence: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Providence?
For 1 pan, expect $1,050 to $2,950 in the Providence area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,600 to $2,400. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Providence?
About $1,001 to $2,461 per pan for materials and labor, plus $30 to $510 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Providence or Norwich?
Norwich is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $2,050, which is 1% more than Providence ($2,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Providence?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $1,200 out of $2,000. Materials are 27% and permits 13%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Providence?
$1,050 to $2,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Providence?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $30 to $510 for fees in the Providence area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Providence expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Rhode Island?
Providence is 5% above the Rhode Island statewide estimate ($1,900 at the midpoint).
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Providence?
The BLS median is $38.37 an hour in the Providence area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.76 to $51.30.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Providence?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $1,050 to $1,800 and premium work $2,200 to $2,950. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Providence
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.