Kitchen backsplash cost in Chico, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $290 – $1,500
- Per sq ft
- $9.75 – $49.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #116
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Chico, plan on $290 to $1,500 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.75 to $49.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.05 an hour in the Chico area, 14% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Chico, CA, standard level
$650 to $1,150
About $21.50 to $37.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $250 | $420 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $650 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Chico, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $950 | 62% |
| Labor | $130 | $340 | $540 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $290 | $890 | $1,500 | 100% |
Where the Chico price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Chico wages are 0.89 times the national level. Labor makes up about 38% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Chico metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $550, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (101.2) and land at $0 to $0.
Planning more than one job in Chico?
Because every project leans on different trades, Chico's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs +10% and shower pan −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,500 – $33,200 | +5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,600 – $15,400 | +10% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,250 – $10,100 | −1% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,800 – $23,800 | +2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,750 | −4% |
Cost by quality level and size in Chico
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Chico 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
$290 to $770
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$650 to $1,150
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,000 to $1,500
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $240 – $640 | $540 – $940 | $840 – $1,250 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $290 – $770 | $650 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $490 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,450 |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Chico
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
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.
How Chico 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 $890 to $960 across Chico and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CAthis page | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | |
| Sacramento, CA70 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | +6% |
| Redding, CA80 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +1% |
| Napa, CA90 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +8% |
| Vallejo, CA100 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +8% |
| Santa Rosa, CA105 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +7% |
| California (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +8% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Chico comes in at #116 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Chico is 8% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +8% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +14% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | +2% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | +9% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +11% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | +6% |
Cities with a workforce like Chico's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chico against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | 79,510 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +8% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +8% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −7% |
| Racine, WI | 76,280 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | +3% |
Chico 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 Chico is 0.89 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $23.05 an hour, which is 14% below the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.24 and $29.70 an hour. BLS counts 30 of them working in the area, 3.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $34.75 an hour, which is 19% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.79 and $38.46 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 49.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.70 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $85. At the 25th percentile ($21.24) it shrinks by about $25. The total moves by 9.4% or 2.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 78,220 jobs in the Chico area. That makes it the 241st 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% | $21.24 | $23.05 | $29.70 | $26.77 | 0.86 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.79 | $34.75 | $38.46 | $29.12 | 1.19 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Chico, CA, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Chico, CA 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 Chico: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Chico?
For 30 sq ft, expect $290 to $1,500 in the Chico area. A standard-spec job lands at $650 to $1,150. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Chico?
About $9.75 to $49.50 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 Chico or Sacramento?
Sacramento is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $940, which is 6% more than Chico ($890). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chico?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $340 out of $890. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Chico?
$290 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Chico?
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 Chico area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chico expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of California?
Chico is 8% below the California statewide estimate ($960 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Chico?
The BLS median is $23.05 an hour in the Chico area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.24 to $29.70.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Chico?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $290 to $770 and premium work $1,000 to $1,500. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Chico
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.