FairangeConcrete · IA
Concrete costs in Iowa City, IA
Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only
How this market compares
Skip the generic national blog post — this page is the Iowa City Concrete slice of OEWS May 2025. Mean hourly pay here sits about 1% below the national OEWS mean.
Among 457 OEWS areas with published Concrete wages, Iowa City ranks #173 nationally on mean hourly pay ($28.46). Inside IA, that is rank 5 of 12 published areas. Hourly wages stretch from $21.39 (10th percentile) to $35.90 (90th). That $14.51 gap is why two bids on the same scope can still look honest.
Local employment for this SOC is roughly 80 workers (OEWS May 2025). Nationwide that occupation is about 206,170. Sample jobs: Concrete Patio Slab mid estimate $1,800 here vs $1,819 U.S. (1% below); Concrete Driveway (section) mid estimate $4,351 here vs $4,398 U.S. (1% below).
Same-state comparison: Cedar Rapids ($28.59, 0.13 higher); Dubuque ($28.26, 0.20 lower); Des Moines-West Des Moines ($29.03, 0.57 higher).
Sample project ranges
| Project | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete Patio Slab (default size) | $873 | $1,800 | $3,670 |
| Concrete Driveway (section) (default size) | $2,247 | $4,351 | $9,176 |
Rebates (verify; don’t trust a random Facebook ad)
Check IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE for any incentives that apply to this project. Start with IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE.
Local tip: Local code, permit fees, and how busy crews are this month move numbers as much as wage rates do.
What usually moves the number
- Scope surprises: duct repairs, panel upgrades, extra roof layers.
- How booked local crews are this season.
- Materials choices — we only nudge materials with a dampened regional factor. See methodology.
Getting quotes without the circus
- Screenshot our mid/low/high band.
- Ask three licensed, insured pros for written scopes.
- Compare exclusions — permits, haul-away, thermostats, flashing — before crowning a winner.
Check our math
BLS OEWS May 2025 · local hourly means the calculator uses
| Concrete (47-2051) | $28.46/hr mean |
Source: official BLS OEWS data for this area · area index: oessrcma.htm.
Contractor markup (2.0× / 2.25× / 2.5×) and the regional materials factor are ours — see methodology.
Paid listing for Iowa City, IA Concrete. Partner.
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Gear people often ask about
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A decent thermostat won’t fix a bad install, but it can stop the short-cycling arguments.
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