Stamped concrete cost in El Centro, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (400 sq ft)
- $3,350 – $8,200
- Per sq ft
- $8.30 – $19.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $5,600
- Rank of 300 metros
- #92
- 1 = most expensive
Stamped concrete in El Centro, CA usually costs $3,350 to $8,200 for 400 sq ft. That works out to about $8.30 to $19.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $170 more. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 105.2).
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Estimated cost for 400 sq ft in El Centro, CA, standard level
$4,800 to $6,750
About $11.50 to $16 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,450 | $3,200 |
| Labor | $2,200 | $3,250 |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $250 |
| Total | $4,800 | $6,750 |
Cost breakdown for 400 sq ft in El Centro, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $2,850 | $3,800 | 49% |
| Labor | $1,400 | $2,750 | $4,050 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $190 | $330 | 3% |
| Total | $3,350 | $5,750 | $8,200 | 100% |
Where the El Centro price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on cement masons and concrete finishers, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $25.37 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for El Centro is 1.01 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 47% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. El Centro is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $2,700 nationally becomes $2,850 here (midpoint, 400 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 95.2: $50 to $330.
Optional extras in El Centro
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.03 for El Centro, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.01) and goods price index (1.05). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add a vapor barrier | $210 – $410 |
Planning more than one job in El Centro?
Jobs that often go together with stamped concrete are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same El Centro wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, asphalt driveway comes out highest (+16%) and concrete patio lowest (+4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | +4% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,800 – $9,600 | +4% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,300 – $5,950 | +9% |
| Concrete slab | 400 sq ft | $2,550 – $5,400 | +4% |
| Asphalt driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,500 – $8,650 | +16% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,750 – $11,200 | +10% |
How El Centro compares
Same job, same size (400 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. San Diego is the priciest of the group at $6,400. Yuma is the cheapest at $5,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CAthis page | $3,350 – $8,200 | $5,750 | |
| San Diego, CA80 miles | $3,700 – $9,100 | $6,400 | +11% |
| Yuma, AZ85 miles | $3,000 – $7,300 | $5,150 | −11% |
| Riverside, CA115 miles | $3,450 – $8,550 | $6,000 | +4% |
| Los Angeles, CA180 miles | $3,650 – $9,050 | $6,350 | +10% |
| Phoenix, AZ190 miles | $3,200 – $7,900 | $5,550 | −4% |
| California (statewide) | $3,650 – $8,950 | $6,300 | +9% |
| United States | $3,250 – $7,950 | $5,600 | −3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, El Centro ranks #92 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, El Centro is 8% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $3,650 – $9,050 | $6,350 | +10% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $4,050 – $10,200 | $7,150 | +24% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $3,450 – $8,550 | $6,000 | +4% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $3,700 – $9,100 | $6,400 | +11% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $3,950 – $9,950 | $6,950 | +20% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $3,600 – $8,850 | $6,200 | +8% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is El Centro against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $3,000 – $7,250 | $5,150 | −11% |
| Dalton, GA | 65,300 jobs | $2,850 – $6,900 | $4,900 | −15% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $3,400 – $8,450 | $5,950 | +3% |
| Terre Haute, IN | 65,120 jobs | $3,150 – $7,800 | $5,500 | −5% |
What local crews earn in El Centro
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 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 El Centro the blend is 1.01.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 60% of the weighting: a median of $25.37 an hour, 7% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $24.00 and $28.47 an hour. About 60 work in the metro. That is 9.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $25.75 an hour, which is 14% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.21 and $32.82 an hour. BLS counts 270 of them working in the area, 41.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 10% of the weighting: a median of $34.05 an hour, 18% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $26.88 and $38.63 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 36.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (cement masons and concrete finishers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $180 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $80. That is a swing of roughly 1.4% to 3.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
El Centro has 65,430 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 275th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 60% | $24.00 | $25.37 | $28.47 | $27.41 | 0.93 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.21 | $25.75 | $32.82 | $22.66 | 1.14 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10% | $26.88 | $34.05 | $38.63 | $28.78 | 1.18 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in El Centro
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to El Centro. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 10x20 patio (200 sq ft) to 2-car driveway (600 sq ft).
Basic
$3,350 to $5,300
Basic pattern, one integral color
Standard
$4,800 to $6,750
Two-tone color release and a border
Premium
$6,250 to $8,200
Multi-color, hand-detailed, sealed to a high finish
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x20 patio (200 sq ft) | $1,700 – $2,700 | $2,450 – $3,500 | $3,250 – $4,250 |
| 20x20 patio (400 sq ft) | $3,350 – $5,300 | $4,800 – $6,750 | $6,250 – $8,200 |
| 2-car driveway (600 sq ft) | $5,000 – $7,850 | $7,150 – $10,000 | $9,250 – $12,100 |
Stamped concrete: what moves the price in El Centro
Specialist labor
Stamping has to be done before the concrete sets, so crews arrive in larger teams and charge for it.
Sealing and vapor barrier
Sealer is usually quoted separately; vapor barrier material is $0.20-$1.50 per sq ft depending on thickness (HomeGuide).
Not included
These prices don't include site prep that depends on the project: demolition, grading, or a thicker base.
El Centro weather and the stamped concrete calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, El Centro 2 Ssw (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in El Centro are November through April: 6 of 12. Outside them, May, June, July, August, September and October have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in May, June, July, August, September and October, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
El Centro gets about 3 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (0.4 inches in February). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 0.1 and 0.2 inches. The station averages about 180 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71 | 43 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 74 | 47 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 80 | 52 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 86 | 57 | 0.1 | Workable |
| May | 94 | 63 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Jun | 103 | 71 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 107 | 78 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 107 | 79 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 102 | 73 | 0.3 | Hot |
| Oct | 92 | 62 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Nov | 79 | 51 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 70 | 43 | 0.4 | Workable |
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 $4,800 to $6,750 for El Centro, CA is attached.
Detailed stamped concrete report for El Centro, CA, $9
Multi-page report for El Centro, CA: 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.
Stamped concrete in El Centro: your questions
+How much does it cost to pour stamped concrete in El Centro?
For 400 sq ft, expect $3,350 to $8,200 in the El Centro area. A standard-spec job lands at $4,800 to $6,750. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for stamped concrete in El Centro?
About $8.30 to $19.50 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $330 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $8 to $19.
+Is stamped concrete cheaper in El Centro or San Diego?
San Diego is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 400 sq ft there is $6,400, which is 11% more than El Centro ($5,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in El Centro?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $2,750 out of $5,750. Materials are 49% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 48%.
+What would 20x20 patio (400 sq ft) cost in El Centro?
$3,350 to $8,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does stamped concrete need a permit in El Centro?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $330 for fees in the El Centro area (our national range of $50 to $350 scaled by the local price level).
+Is El Centro expensive for stamped concrete compared with the rest of California?
El Centro is 8% below the California statewide estimate ($6,300 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do cement masons and concrete finishers earn in El Centro?
The BLS median is $25.37 an hour in the El Centro area, compared with $27.41 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.00 to $28.47.
+What do basic and premium stamped concrete work cost in El Centro?
For 400 sq ft, basic work runs $3,350 to $5,300 and premium work $6,250 to $8,200. Basic means: basic pattern, one integral color. Premium means: multi-color, hand-detailed, sealed to a high finish.
+When is the best time to pour stamped concrete in El Centro?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are November through April. 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.
+What does "add a vapor barrier" add in El Centro?
$210 to $410 for 400 sq ft, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Stamped concrete near El Centro
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.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Stamped Concrete Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- SimplyWise: Concrete Estimate Template: Free PDF + Excel (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = SimplyWise's 200 sq ft stamped-patio line ($900-$1,800), divided by 200 sq ft.