What does concreting & paving cost in Australia?

Concreting & Paving work typically costs between $30 and $200 in Australia in 2026, across 8 common kinds of job. Below: the price of each, how it changes by state, and the licence, wage and compliance rules that set the floor.

Reviewed September 2026 by the Blue Collar News Services editorial team. 7 sources are linked on this page, all government, standards or industry bodies. Indicative prices, not quotes, and not legal advice. How we research prices

Concreting & Paving prices by job

Typical GST-inclusive ranges for a standard residential job. Each link opens the full guide for that job.

What sets concreting & paving prices in Australia

The rules and figures behind the numbers, each with its source. Checked September 2026; rules and award rates change, so confirm with the authority before relying on one.

• In NSW general concreting work worth more than $5,000 in labour and materials including GST needs a contractor licence. The class covers formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, stencilled, stamped and exposed aggregate finishes, resurfacing and concrete retaining walls not needing council approval.

  Source: nsw.gov.au

• In Queensland the QBCC Concreting licence class covers 'concreting including install formwork, reinforcement and concrete'. A licensee may do incidental work of another class only if it is valued at less than $3,300.

  Source: qbcc.qld.gov.au

• In NSW a driveway crossing over the council footpath needs approval under section 138 of the Roads Act 1993 before work starts. Northern Beaches Council, for example, requires full-width plain concrete, a standard 3.0 m width and a non-refundable road damage inspection fee.

  Source: northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au

• In Queensland a driveway or path built on its own does not need Queensland Home Warranty Scheme cover, but when it is part of a bigger residential project over $3,300 it is insured for non-completion only, not for defective work.

  Source: qbcc.qld.gov.au

• Under the Building and Construction General On-site Award (MA000020), from 1 July 2026 the minimum daily hire rate on residential work starts at $28.98 an hour for Level 1 (CW/ECW 1 level a) and $30.99 for Level 2 (CW/ECW 2), including industry allowance and follow-the-job loading.

  Source: calculate.fairwork.gov.au

• The ABS Producer Price Indexes for the June quarter 2026 (released 31 July 2026) show input prices to house construction rose 2.1 per cent in the quarter and 3.8 per cent over the year, with 'other metal products' up 2.6 per cent and 'other materials' up 2.5 per cent in the quarter.

  Source: abs.gov.au

• The National Construction Code classifies house sites under AS 2870 from Class A (sand and rock, little ground movement) through S, M, H and E (slightly to extremely reactive clay) to Class P (soft soils, landslip, fill). The class sets slab and footing design, so a soil report drives slab cost.

  Source: ncc.abcb.gov.au

Concreting & Paving cost by state

The trade’s cheapest and dearest job, adjusted for each capital city. Regional prices can sit outside these.

How we work these prices out

The ranges are indicative, not quotes. They reflect the spread of prices Australian businesses typically quote for each job in capital cities, reviewed September 2026, GST-inclusive, for a standard residential job with reasonable access. The state table applies a cost index for each capital to the national range. Where a rule or rate is stated above, it comes from the source shown; we do not copy figures from other quote websites.

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