Kitchen backsplash cost in Auburn, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.85 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #240
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Auburn, plan on $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $8.85 to $45 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.54 an hour in the Auburn area, 20% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Auburn, AL, standard level
$590 to $1,000
About $19.50 to $34 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $230 | $370 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Auburn, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 63% |
| Labor | $120 | $300 | $480 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Where the Auburn price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on tile and stone setters, who do 90% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $21.54 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Auburn is 0.80 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Auburn metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $510, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (87.9) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 90% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Auburn. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Auburn?
Because every project leans on different trades, Auburn's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −7% and shower pan −14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,200 – $29,200 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,100 | −13% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,000 – $9,150 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,100 – $20,400 | −12% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $780 – $2,450 | −14% |
How Auburn compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 30 sq ft range from $800 to $820 across Auburn and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, ALthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Columbus, GA40 miles | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | +2% |
| Montgomery, AL50 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Dothan, AL85 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Birmingham, AL100 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Albany, GA100 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Auburn comes in at #240 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Auburn is 0% below the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +2% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Auburn's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Auburn against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IN | 73,240 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +6% |
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,050 | +27% |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 72,280 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
Auburn labor market for kitchen backsplash
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Auburn is 0.80 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Auburn metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median: $21.54 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.91 and $22.86 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.89 an hour, which is 21% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.02 and $26.50 an hour. BLS counts 200 of them working in the area, 27.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.86 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $15. At the 25th percentile ($17.91) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 2.1% or 5.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 72,710 jobs in the Auburn-Opelika area. That makes it the 252nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $17.91 | $21.54 | $22.86 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.02 | $22.89 | $26.50 | $29.12 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Auburn
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Auburn wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$270 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$590 to $1,000
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$920 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $580 | $490 – $850 | $760 – $1,100 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,000 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $440 – $1,150 | $980 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Auburn
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
Old backsplash removal
Removing the old one adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $590 to $1,000 for Auburn, AL is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Auburn, AL, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Auburn, AL line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Kitchen backsplash in Auburn: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Auburn?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Auburn area. A standard-spec job lands at $590 to $1,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Auburn?
About $8.85 to $45 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $50.
+Is kitchen backsplash cheaper in Auburn or Columbus?
Columbus is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $820, which is 2% more than Auburn ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Auburn?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $300 out of $810. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Auburn?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Auburn?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Auburn area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Auburn expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Alabama?
Auburn is 0% below the Alabama statewide estimate ($810 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Auburn?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $21.54 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.91 to $22.86.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Auburn?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $700 and premium work $920 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Auburn
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: 2026 Backsplash Installation Cost (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $5-$20 per sq ft labor figure, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.