Shower pan cost in Appleton, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1 pan)
- $1,150 – $3,100
- Per pan
- $1,102 – $2,622
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $1,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #29
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a shower pan in the Appleton area: $1,150 to $3,100 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 13% higher than the US figure. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $44.11 an hour in the Appleton area, 44% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 1 pan in Appleton, WI, standard level
$1,700 to $2,500
About $1,558 to $2,166 per pan before permits. Labor is about 64% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $1,200 | $1,500 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $330 |
| Total | $1,700 | $2,500 |
Cost breakdown for 1 pan in Appleton, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $520 | $890 | 24% |
| Labor | $960 | $1,350 | $1,750 | 64% |
| Permits and fees | $30 | $240 | $460 | 12% |
| Total | $1,150 | $2,100 | $3,100 | 100% |
Why Appleton 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 $44.11 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Appleton is 1.28 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 64% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Appleton is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $550 nationally becomes $520 here (midpoint, 1 pan). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.4: $30 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 Appleton. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Appleton bid
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.
Who does the work: Appleton 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 Appleton the blend is 1.28.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 50% of the weighting: a median of $44.11 an hour, 44% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.35 and $50.33 an hour. About 890 work in the metro. That is 71.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Appleton metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $30.14 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.44 and $36.42 an hour.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $110 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $250. That is a swing of roughly 12.0% to 5.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Appleton has 124,230 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 174th 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% | $29.35 | $44.11 | $50.33 | $30.67 | 1.44 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 50% | $27.44 | $30.14 | $36.42 | $26.77 | 1.13 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.28 | |||||
Is Appleton cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $2,050 to $2,100 across Appleton and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WIthis page | $1,150 – $3,100 | $2,100 | |
| Oshkosh, WI20 miles | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,050 | −2% |
| Green Bay, WI20 miles | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,100 | −1% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $1,150 – $3,100 | $2,100 | level |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,050 | −2% |
| Milwaukee, WI100 miles | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,050 | −2% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $1,050 – $3,000 | $2,050 | −4% |
| United States | $930 – $2,800 | $1,850 | −11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Appleton ranks #29 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Appleton is 4% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,050 | −2% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,100 | −1% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,100 | −1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $1,100 – $3,050 | $2,050 | −2% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $1,150 – $3,100 | $2,100 | level |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,100 – $3,000 | $2,050 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Appleton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $1,150 – $3,100 | $2,100 | +1% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $810 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −21% |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $800 – $2,500 | $1,650 | −21% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $1,150 – $3,100 | $2,150 | +1% |
Related projects, priced for Appleton
Jobs that often go together with shower pan are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Appleton wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, bathroom remodel comes out highest (+5%) and kitchen remodel lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,600 | +5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $14,100 | level |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,450 – $14,600 | −2% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,000 – $30,600 | −3% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,500 | +1% |
Cost by quality level and size in Appleton
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Appleton. 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
$1,150 to $1,900
Pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan
Standard
$1,700 to $2,500
Tile-ready pan with tile finish
Premium
$2,300 to $3,100
Custom mud or stone pan
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| one shower pan | $1,150 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,500 | $2,300 – $3,100 |
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Detailed shower pan report for Appleton, WI, $9
The report lays out the shower pan numbers for Appleton, WI 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 Appleton: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a shower pan in Appleton?
For 1 pan, expect $1,150 to $3,100 in the Appleton area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,700 to $2,500. Small jobs usually cost more per pan and large ones less.
+What is the price per pan for shower pan in Appleton?
About $1,102 to $2,622 per pan for materials and labor, plus $30 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $900 to $2,300.
+Is shower pan cheaper in Appleton or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 1 pan there is $2,050, which is 2% less than Appleton ($2,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Appleton?
About 64% at the midpoint, or $1,350 out of $2,100. Materials are 24% and permits 12%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would one shower pan cost in Appleton?
$1,150 to $3,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does shower pan need a permit in Appleton?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $30 to $460 for fees in the Appleton area (our national range of $30 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Appleton expensive for shower pan compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Appleton is 4% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($2,050 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Appleton?
The BLS median is $44.11 an hour in the Appleton area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.35 to $50.33.
+What do basic and premium shower pan work cost in Appleton?
For 1 pan, basic work runs $1,150 to $1,900 and premium work $2,300 to $3,100. Basic means: pre-made acrylic or fiberglass pan. Premium means: custom mud or stone pan.
Shower pan near Appleton
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.