Kitchen backsplash cost in El Centro, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $320 – $1,600
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $53
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #47
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the El Centro area: $320 to $1,600 for 30 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 6% higher than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $28.31 an hour in the El Centro area, 6% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in El Centro, CA, standard level
$700 to $1,200
About $23.50 to $40.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $310 | $500 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $700 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in El Centro, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $950 | 58% |
| Labor | $160 | $400 | $640 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $320 | $960 | $1,600 | 100% |
Where the El Centro 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 $28.31 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for El Centro is 1.07 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the California statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. El Centro is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $550 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 95.2: $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 El Centro. The wage table below marks each row.
El Centro: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to El Centro. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (25 sq ft) to full-height (50 sq ft).
Basic
$320 to $830
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$700 to $1,200
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,100 to $1,600
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $270 – $690 | $580 – $1,000 | $900 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $320 – $830 | $700 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $530 – $1,400 | $1,150 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $2,650 |
Who does the work: El Centro trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For El Centro the blend is 1.07.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the El Centro metro, so we used the California statewide median: $28.31 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.86 and $35.61 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $35.74 an hour, 23% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.37 and $39.04 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 21.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $90 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $70. That is a swing of roughly 7.2% to 9.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
El Centro has 65,430 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 275th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $22.86 | $28.31 | $35.61 | $26.77 | 1.06 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $25.37 | $35.74 | $39.04 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
Why two El Centro quotes can differ
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
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.
El Centro against nearby metros and the rest of California
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 $850 to $970 across El Centro and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CAthis page | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | |
| San Diego, CA80 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | +1% |
| Yuma, AZ85 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −11% |
| Riverside, CA115 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −5% |
| Los Angeles, CA180 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +1% |
| Phoenix, AZ190 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −10% |
| California (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, El Centro ranks #47 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, El Centro is 1% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +1% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +6% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −5% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +3% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is El Centro against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −13% |
| Dalton, GA | 65,300 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −14% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +9% |
| Terre Haute, IN | 65,120 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −13% |
What nearby projects cost in El Centro
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same El Centro wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+11%) and shower pan lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,900 – $33,700 | +7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,600 – $15,700 | +11% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,600 | +6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,300 | +8% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $950 – $2,850 | +2% |
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for El Centro, CA, $9
Multi-page report for El Centro, CA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 El Centro: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in El Centro?
For 30 sq ft, expect $320 to $1,600 in the El Centro area. A standard-spec job lands at $700 to $1,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in El Centro?
About $10.50 to $53 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 El Centro or San Diego?
San Diego is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $970, which is 1% more than El Centro ($960). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in El Centro?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $400 out of $960. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in El Centro?
$320 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in El Centro?
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 El Centro area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is El Centro expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of California?
El Centro is 1% 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 El Centro?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $28.31 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.86 to $35.61.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in El Centro?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $320 to $830 and premium work $1,100 to $1,600. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near El Centro
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.