Wood deck cost in Atlantic City, NJ
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (300 sq ft)
- $7,650 – $15,400
- Per sq ft
- $25.50 – $51
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $11,400
- Rank of 300 metros
- #69
- 1 = most expensive
A wood deck in Atlantic City, NJ usually costs $7,650 to $15,400 for 300 sq ft. That works out to about $25.50 to $51 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Carpenters earn a median of $29.25 an hour in the Atlantic City area, 0% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Atlantic City, NJ, standard level
$10,000 to $13,100
About $33 to $43 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,450 | $7,150 |
| Labor | $4,450 | $5,800 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $120 |
| Total | $10,000 | $13,100 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Atlantic City, NJ
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $6,300 | $8,400 | 55% |
| Labor | $3,400 | $5,150 | $6,850 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $100 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $7,650 | $11,500 | $15,400 | 100% |
What is behind the Atlantic City number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.25 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Atlantic City is 1.04 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 45% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Atlantic City is at 99.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,300 nationally becomes $6,300 here (midpoint, 300 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.9: $50 to $150.
Optional extras in Atlantic City
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.02 for Atlantic City, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.04) and goods price index (1.00). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add stairs (flat) | $1,400 – $2,650 |
Planning more than one job in Atlantic City?
Jobs that often go together with wood deck are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Atlantic City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+9%) and composite deck lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Composite deck | 300 sq ft | $12,300 – $24,700 | +2% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,300 | +7% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,250 – $5,950 | +9% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $30,300 – $60,900 | +5% |
How Atlantic City compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Atlantic City. Dover is the lowest at about $10,500 (midpoint, 300 sq ft), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City, NJthis page | $7,650 – $15,400 | $11,500 | |
| Vineland, NJ20 miles | $8,200 – $16,400 | $12,300 | +7% |
| Dover, DE45 miles | $7,000 – $14,100 | $10,500 | −9% |
| Philadelphia, PA50 miles | $7,600 – $15,200 | $11,400 | −1% |
| Trenton, NJ70 miles | $8,100 – $16,300 | $12,200 | +6% |
| Lancaster, PA95 miles | $7,400 – $14,800 | $11,100 | −4% |
| New Jersey (statewide) | $8,250 – $16,500 | $12,400 | +7% |
| United States | $7,550 – $15,200 | $11,400 | −1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Atlantic City ranks #69 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Atlantic City is 7% below the New Jersey figure.
Elsewhere in New Jersey
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton, NJ | 240,190 jobs | $8,100 – $16,300 | $12,200 | +6% |
| Vineland, NJ | 62,300 jobs | $8,200 – $16,400 | $12,300 | +7% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Atlantic City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $7,300 – $14,600 | $11,000 | −5% |
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $6,400 – $12,800 | $9,600 | −17% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 170,820 jobs | $6,800 – $13,700 | $10,200 | −11% |
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $8,150 – $16,300 | $12,200 | +6% |
Wood deck: what moves the price in Atlantic City
Wood species
Pressure-treated pine is the cheapest at $25-$50 per sq ft installed. Ipe runs $50-$70 and bamboo $27-$52 (HomeGuide).
Height and stairs
A second-story deck needs more structure. New stairs run $1,400-$2,600 installed.
Railing
A wood or vinyl railing adds $20-$60 per linear foot.
Cost by quality level and size in Atlantic City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Atlantic City. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from 10x12 (120 sq ft) to 20x20 (400 sq ft).
Basic
$7,650 to $10,700
Pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle
Standard
$10,000 to $13,100
Cedar or upgraded pine, stairs and a railing
Premium
$12,300 to $15,400
Hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10x12 (120 sq ft) | $3,100 – $4,350 | $4,050 – $5,300 | $5,000 – $6,250 |
| 12x12 (144 sq ft) | $3,700 – $5,200 | $4,850 – $6,350 | $5,950 – $7,450 |
| 16x20 (320 sq ft) | $8,150 – $11,500 | $10,600 – $13,900 | $13,100 – $16,400 |
| 20x20 (400 sq ft) | $10,200 – $14,300 | $13,300 – $17,400 | $16,400 – $20,500 |
What local crews earn in Atlantic City
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 Atlantic City the blend is 1.04.
Carpenters (47-2031), 80% of the weighting: a median of $29.25 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.62 and $35.44 an hour. About 970 work in the metro. That is 57.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $26.50 an hour, which is 17% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.00 and $35.67 an hour. BLS counts 1,140 of them working in the area, 67.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $840 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $770. That is a swing of roughly 6.6% to 7.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Atlantic City-Hammonton has 168,700 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 139th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 80% | $23.62 | $29.25 | $35.44 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $20.00 | $26.50 | $35.67 | $22.66 | 1.17 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Atlantic City weather and the wood deck calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Atlantic City (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Atlantic City are March through December: 10 of 12. Outside them, January and February have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January and February the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Atlantic City gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, October and December (4.3 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and June are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 42 | 30 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 43 | 31 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 37 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 57 | 46 | 3.4 | Workable |
| May | 66 | 55 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 65 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 71 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 70 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 65 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 65 | 54 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 43 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 35 | 4.2 | Workable |
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Wood deck in Atlantic City: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a wood deck in Atlantic City?
For 300 sq ft, expect $7,650 to $15,400 in the Atlantic City area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,000 to $13,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for wood deck in Atlantic City?
About $25.50 to $51 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $50 to $150 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $50.
+Is wood deck cheaper in Atlantic City or Vineland?
Vineland is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 300 sq ft there is $12,300, which is 7% more than Atlantic City ($11,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Atlantic City?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $5,150 out of $11,500. Materials are 55% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 44%.
+What would 16x20 (320 sq ft) cost in Atlantic City?
$8,150 to $16,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does wood deck need a permit in Atlantic City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $150 for fees in the Atlantic City area (our national range of $50 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Atlantic City expensive for wood deck compared with the rest of New Jersey?
Atlantic City is 7% below the New Jersey statewide estimate ($12,400 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in New Jersey; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Atlantic City?
The BLS median is $29.25 an hour in the Atlantic City area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.62 to $35.44.
+What do basic and premium wood deck work cost in Atlantic City?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $7,650 to $10,700 and premium work $12,300 to $15,400. Basic means: pressure-treated pine, low to the ground, simple rectangle. Premium means: hardwood decking, multi-level, built-in features.
+When is the best time to build a wood deck in Atlantic City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through December. May and June 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 stairs" add in Atlantic City?
$1,400 to $2,650, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Wood deck near Atlantic City
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 It Cost to Build a Deck? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Composite Decking Cost? (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