Short answer
The Tucson metro (Pima County) had 57 concrete establishments in 2023, employing 1,077 people (Census County Business Patterns): 46 poured concrete contractors and 11 ready-mix plants. That's 0.19% of US concrete establishments, against 346 in metro Phoenix. Arizona contractors need a Registrar of Contractors license, so check its type and complaint history in the ROC search, and ask which plant supplies the concrete. In 2025 the City of Tucson issued 128 new home permits and 101 commercial new building permits.
- 57 concrete establishments in Pima County employ 1,077 people on a $67.4 million payroll.
- Ready-mix plants pay $83,807 on average, about $25,400 more than contractors' $58,393.
- Contractor locations average 19.6 employees; 11 have 20 to 49.
- The City of Tucson issued 101 commercial new building permits worth $211.8 million in 2025.
- A 20 by 24 foot casita slab with thickened edges takes about 8.5 cubic yards.
On this page
This report is for Tucson homeowners, builders and property managers hiring a concrete contractor or choosing a ready-mix supplier, and for B2B sellers whose customers are concrete firms in southern Arizona.
How many concrete companies Tucson has
Figures for the Tucson, AZ Metro Area (CBSA 46060), which is Pima County, combining NAICS 238110 (Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors) and NAICS 327320 (Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing). Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
| Measure (2023) | Tucson metro |
|---|---|
| Establishments | 57 |
| Employees (week of March 12) | 1,077 |
| Annual payroll | $67,362,000 |
| Average employees per establishment | 18.9 |
| Average annual pay | $62,546 |
| Share of US establishments | 0.19% of 29,706 |
| Industry (2023) | Establishments | Employees | Annual payroll | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete contractors (238110) | 46 | 901 | $52,612,000 | $58,393 |
| Ready-mix plants (327320) | 11 | 176 | $14,750,000 | $83,807 |
| Employees per location | Contractors | Ready-mix |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | 15 | Not published |
| 5 to 9 | 11 | 3 |
| 10 to 19 | 6 | 4 |
| 20 to 49 | 11 | 3 |
| 50 or more | 3 (derived) | Not published |
The contractor figure for 50 or more is the 46 total less the published classes. One ready-mix establishment is in a class the Census Bureau doesn't publish. For both codes combined, it publishes only three classes: 14 establishments with five to nine employees, 10 with 10 to 19 and 14 with 20 to 49.
The gap in pay is wide. Plant employees average $83,807 and contractor employees $58,393, about $25,400 apart, a bigger gap than in Phoenix ($74,724 against $70,434).
The Census counts payroll locations, not firms. Owner-operators without payroll aren't included.
What's being built
The City of Tucson publishes a permit issuance summary. For calendar 2025, within city limits:
| Permit type, 2025 | Permits | Valuation |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial new building | 101 | $211,758,416 |
| Commercial addition or alteration | 879 | $201,563,278 |
| New dwelling (one or two family) | 128 | $26,650,475 |
| Residential model (standard plans) | 557 | $148,824,367 |
| Residential addition or alteration | 795 | $23,374,883 |
| Casitas (accessory dwellings) | 10 | $785,666 |
| Residential pool or spa | 133 | $4,706,784 |
Every new building and most additions need a foundation or slab, and every pool needs a deck. Permits issued by Pima County and the surrounding towns aren't included, so these figures show the city's share of the region, not all of it.
Checking a contractor
Arizona licenses contractors through the Registrar of Contractors, and state law (A.R.S. 32-1102) separates commercial, residential and dual licenses, with specialty classifications for single trades such as concrete. Before you hire:
- Search the ROC for the license, its type and any complaints. A residential license doesn't cover a commercial pad.
- Ask which plant supplies the mix. With 11 plants in the county, most crews have one regular supplier; ask the strength and whether the plant can deliver early on a hot day.
- Get dimensions, thickness and edge detail in writing, then check the yardage yourself.
- Get the insurance certificate and see one finished job at least a summer old.
Worked example: a casita slab
Illustrative example. The dimensions and bids are invented to show the arithmetic.
A homeowner in midtown is building a 20 by 24 foot casita on a 4-inch slab with a thickened edge 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep around the perimeter.
| Piece | Calculation | Cubic yards |
|---|---|---|
| Slab | 20 × 24 × (4 ÷ 12) = 160 cu ft | 5.93 |
| Extra depth at the edge | 88 ft perimeter × 1 ft wide × (8 ÷ 12) ft extra = 58.7 cu ft | 2.17 |
| Total plus 5% waste | 8.5 |
A bid that prices 6 yards has left out the thickened edge, which is what carries the walls. Ask every bidder for yardage and the edge detail in writing.
Who supplies the concrete
No SEC-registered listed concrete company is headquartered in Tucson, and none of the large listed producers names Tucson plants in its latest annual report. Arizona does show up in their filings: Martin Marietta reported 9 Arizona ready-mix plants after its February 2026 sale of its Texas plants, and Vulcan Materials counted Arizona as its tenth-largest revenue state in 2025. The Census count of 11 ready-mix establishments is the best public measure of the local plant base.
Selling to Tucson concrete firms
Fifty-seven locations means one rep can call on every firm in a quarter. The 46 contractors are mostly owner-run (32 have fewer than 20 employees), so the owner buys. The 11 plants pay well, which makes drivers and mechanics expensive to replace; offers that save driver hours land. For small-business selling, see how to sell to small businesses. For larger lists across Arizona, Bebop can find concrete firms that match a description and research each one.
Illustrative example. A regional equipment finance desk (sonoranfinance.example) targets the 46 contractor locations. One owner each at a 12% reply rate is about 6 conversations; financing two skid steers and one screed at $85,000 total gives about $10,000 a year in interest income.
Subject: Financing for your next machine Hi [first name], Tucson issued more than 100 commercial new building permits last year, and most of them start with a slab. We finance skid steers, screeds and trucks for contractors in Pima County, with decisions in two days and no prepayment penalty. Want a quick quote on what you're looking at? [Your name]
Local sources
| Source | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| City of Tucson permit activity | Monthly and annual permit summaries |
| ROC contractor search | License type, status and complaints |
| Southern Arizona Home Builders Association | Homebuilders and residential trades |
| The Chamber of Southern Arizona | Local business directory |
Next step: for the larger Arizona market an hour and a half north, read the report on concrete companies in Phoenix.
Sources
- County Business Patterns (CBP), 2023, US Census Bureau, accessed 30 October 2026
- Permit issuance summary, 1 January to 31 December 2025, City of Tucson Planning and Development Services, accessed 30 October 2026
- A.R.S. 32-1102: Classification of contractors, Arizona State Legislature, accessed 30 October 2026
- Martin Marietta Materials Form 10-K for 2025, US Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR), filed 19 February 2026, accessed 30 October 2026
- Vulcan Materials Company Form 10-K for 2025, US Securities and Exchange Commission (EDGAR), filed 19 February 2026, accessed 30 October 2026
Written by the Bebop team at Blackpearl Group. Published .
Questions people ask
How many concrete companies are there in Tucson?
Census County Business Patterns counted 57 concrete establishments in the Tucson metro, which is Pima County, in 2023: 46 poured concrete contractors and 11 ready-mix plants, employing 1,077 people. The count includes only locations with paid employees, so owner-operators working alone aren't included. For comparison, metro Phoenix had 346 concrete establishments in the same year.
Do concrete contractors need a license in Tucson?
Yes. Arizona's Registrar of Contractors licenses contractors statewide, and state law separates commercial, residential and dual licenses, with specialty classifications for trades such as concrete. Search the contractor in the ROC's online search to confirm the license is active, that its type covers your job and whether it has complaints, and ask for a certificate of liability insurance.
How much concrete does a casita slab need?
For a 20 by 24 foot casita on a 4-inch slab, the slab itself is 160 cubic feet, or 5.9 cubic yards. A thickened edge 12 inches wide and 12 inches deep around the 88-foot perimeter adds about 2.2 yards. With 5% for waste, order about 8.5 yards. Ask bidders to state the yardage and edge detail so the quotes compare.
How many ready-mix plants are there in Tucson?
Census data counted 11 ready-mix establishments in Pima County in 2023, employing 176 people at an average of $83,807 a year. None of the large listed producers names Tucson plants in its latest annual report, so most are regional or private producers. Ask your contractor which plant will supply your job and what strength is on the delivery ticket.