What concrete contractors should charge in North Carolina.
Fair billed labor here runs about $38–$62/hour, about 20% below the median US state. Every number below comes from what cement masons and concrete finishers actually earn in North Carolina; the math is on this page, in the open.
How much should concrete contractors charge in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, cement masons and concrete finishers earn $18.96–$24.81 per hour (median $22.49, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), about 20% below 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 North Carolina runs about $38–$62 per hour. For example, pour a driveway (~400 sq ft) is about $900–$2,500 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 $38–$62/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 $38–$62/hr billed.
Before you hire in North Carolina
Projects of $40,000+ require a state GC license; electrical, plumbing and HVAC have their own boards.
How to verify a North Carolina license · how to get comparable bids · track your quotes side by side (free, no account).
Find concrete contractors near you in North Carolina
Other fair price checks in North Carolina
Compare concrete contractors rates across all states · all fair price checks