Sod installation cost in Scranton, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,500 sq ft)
- $1,500 – $3,250
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $1.95
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $2,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #117
- 1 = most expensive
Scranton homeowners pay roughly $1,500 to $3,250 to lay sod at 1,500 sq ft, or $1 to $1.95 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Scranton is almost level. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn a median of $17.95 an hour in the Scranton area, 5% below the US median of $18.82.
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Estimated cost for 1,500 sq ft in Scranton, PA, standard level
$2,000 to $2,700
About $1.30 to $1.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $980 | $1,300 |
| Labor | $940 | $1,250 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $200 |
| Total | $2,000 | $2,700 |
Cost breakdown for 1,500 sq ft in Scranton, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $760 | $1,150 | $1,500 | 48% |
| Labor | $730 | $1,100 | $1,450 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $140 | $280 | 6% |
| Total | $1,500 | $2,350 | $3,250 | 100% |
What is behind the Scranton number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: landscaping and groundskeeping workers at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Scranton wages are 0.97 times the national level. Labor makes up about 46% of the midpoint estimate (47% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Scranton metro is 100.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,500 sq ft comes to $1,150, compared with $1,150 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.6) and land at $0 to $280.
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 Scranton is 0.97 times the national level.
For landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011, weighted 80%) the local median is $17.95 an hour, which is 5% below the national $18.82. The middle half of them earn between $16.42 and $21.72 an hour. BLS counts 1,330 of them working in the area, 52.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 61.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.22 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.53 and $28.89 an hour. About 1,450 work in the metro. That is 56.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the landscaping and groundskeeping workers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($21.72 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $180. At the 25th percentile ($16.42) it shrinks by about $75. The total moves by 7.6% or 3.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 255,620 jobs in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre area. That makes it the 102nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.16% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Landscaping and groundskeeping workers (37-3011) | 80% | $16.42 | $17.95 | $21.72 | $18.82 | 0.95 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $19.53 | $23.22 | $28.89 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Scranton: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Scranton 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 3 common sizes.
Basic
$1,500 to $2,200
Basic grass on cleared, level ground
Standard
$2,000 to $2,700
Better grass type with some grading
Premium
$2,550 to $3,250
Premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small yard (1,000 sq ft) | $990 – $1,500 | $1,350 – $1,900 | $1,750 – $2,250 |
| average yard (1,500 sq ft) | $1,500 – $2,200 | $2,000 – $2,700 | $2,550 – $3,250 |
| large yard (4,000 sq ft) | $3,950 – $5,650 | $5,200 – $6,900 | $6,500 – $8,200 |
Why two Scranton quotes can differ
Sod type
Sod alone costs $0.30-$0.80 per sq ft, or $130-$360 per pallet; delivery is $50-$250 per load.
Site prep
The cost listed here assumes leveled, cleared ground. Grading and soil amendments are extra.
Permit
Sodding permits cost $40-$300 where required, mostly for large lawns or those next to a public road.
When to schedule sod lawn in Scranton
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Wilkes-Barre Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Scranton (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 122 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Scranton gets about 39 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 45 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 3.3 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 12 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36 | 20 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 22 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 29 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 61 | 39 | 3.3 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 50 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 80 | 58 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 63 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 54 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 43 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 34 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 40 | 26 | 2.8 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Scranton
Because every project leans on different trades, Scranton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs +3% and French drain −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | −1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,000 – $10,000 | level |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,350 – $13,800 | +3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,300 | +1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,700 – $114,500 | +2% |
Is Scranton cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (1,500 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Allentown is the priciest of the group at $2,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton, PAthis page | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,350 | |
| Allentown, PA45 miles | $1,500 – $3,350 | $2,400 | +3% |
| Binghamton, NY60 miles | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | +1% |
| Reading, PA65 miles | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Lancaster, PA90 miles | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Harrisburg, PA90 miles | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +2% |
| United States | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +2% |
Across 300 US metros, Scranton comes in at #117 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $2,900; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $2,000 (midpoints, 1,500 sq ft). Statewide, Scranton is 2% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,500 | +5% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $1,500 – $3,250 | $2,400 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $1,500 – $3,350 | $2,400 | +3% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +2% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Scranton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Scranton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $1,650 – $3,550 | $2,600 | +10% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $1,400 – $3,050 | $2,250 | −5% |
| Palm Bay, FL | 245,170 jobs | $1,400 – $3,150 | $2,300 | −3% |
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Detailed sod installation report for Scranton, PA, $9
Multi-page report for Scranton, PA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Sod installation in Scranton: your questions
+How much does it cost to lay sod in Scranton?
For 1,500 sq ft, expect $1,500 to $3,250 in the Scranton area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,000 to $2,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for sod lawn in Scranton?
About $1 to $1.95 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $280 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $2.
+Is sod lawn cheaper in Scranton or Allentown?
Allentown is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 1,500 sq ft there is $2,400, which is 3% more than Scranton ($2,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Scranton?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $1,100 out of $2,350. Materials are 48% and permits 6%. Nationally, labor is 47%.
+What would average yard (1,500 sq ft) cost in Scranton?
$1,500 to $3,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does sod lawn need a permit in Scranton?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $280 for fees in the Scranton area (our national range of $0 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Scranton expensive for sod lawn compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Scranton is 2% below the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($2,400 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do landscaping and groundskeeping workers earn in Scranton?
The BLS median is $17.95 an hour in the Scranton area, compared with $18.82 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.42 to $21.72.
+What do basic and premium sod lawn work cost in Scranton?
For 1,500 sq ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $2,200 and premium work $2,550 to $3,250. Basic means: basic grass on cleared, level ground. Premium means: premium sod, soil work, difficult slopes.
+When is the best time to lay sod in Scranton?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. April and November are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Sod installation near Scranton
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.