What concrete contractors should charge in Iowa.
Fair billed labor here runs about $45–$78/hour, right at the median US state. Every number below comes from what cement masons and concrete finishers actually earn in Iowa; the math is on this page, in the open.
How much should concrete contractors charge in Iowa?
In Iowa, cement masons and concrete finishers earn $22.74–$31.25 per hour (median $27.99, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), right at 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 Iowa runs about $45–$78 per hour. For example, pour a driveway (~400 sq ft) is about $1,100–$3,150 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 $45–$78/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 $45–$78/hr billed.
Before you hire in Iowa
Contractors must register with the state; plumbing/mechanical trades are licensed through the Plumbing & Mechanical Systems Board.
How to verify a Iowa license · how to get comparable bids · track your quotes side by side (free, no account).
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Other fair price checks in Iowa
Compare concrete contractors rates across all states · all fair price checks