What concrete contractors should charge in Illinois.
Fair billed labor here runs about $56–$119/hour, about 34% above the median US state. Every number below comes from what cement masons and concrete finishers actually earn in Illinois; the math is on this page, in the open.
How much should concrete contractors charge in Illinois?
In Illinois, cement masons and concrete finishers earn $27.82–$47.56 per hour (median $37.58, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), about 34% above the median US state for this trade. A legitimate business bills 2–2.5× wages to cover payroll taxes, insurance, equipment, overhead and profit, so fair billed labor in Illinois runs about $56–$119 per hour. For example, pour a driveway (~400 sq ft) is about $1,350–$4,750 in fair labor, before materials.
Fair price by job
Pour a driveway (~400 sq ft)
That assumes demo of the old slab excluded; forming, pour and finish for a standard 4-inch slab.
Plus materials: concrete is priced by the yard delivered, roughly 5 yards for this job. Ask the bid to show it.
Typical labor: 24–40 hours at $56–$119/hr billed.
Patio or walkway slab (~150 sq ft)
That assumes accessible site, standard broom finish; stamping or color adds labor and material.
Typical labor: 10–20 hours at $56–$119/hr billed.
Before you hire in Illinois
No statewide general contractor license — cities license GCs (Chicago has its own system). Roofing contractors are state-licensed, and that one is worth checking every time.
How to verify a Illinois license · how to get comparable bids · track your quotes side by side (free, no account).
Find concrete contractors near you in Illinois
Other fair price checks in Illinois
Compare concrete contractors rates across all states · all fair price checks