Kitchen backsplash cost in Merced, 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
- #46
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Merced, plan on $320 to $1,600 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $10.50 to $53 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% higher than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $28.31 an hour in the Merced area, 6% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Merced, 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 Merced, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $950 | 58% |
| Labor | $160 | $400 | $650 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $320 | $960 | $1,600 | 100% |
Where the Merced 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, Merced wages are 1.08 times the national level. Labor makes up about 42% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the California statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Merced 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 (98.3) 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 Merced. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in Merced
Because every project leans on different trades, Merced's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs +12% and shower pan +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,800 – $33,600 | +7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,600 – $15,700 | +12% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,600 | +6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,050 – $25,000 | +7% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $940 – $2,850 | +1% |
Cost by quality level and size in Merced
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Merced 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
$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 |
Is Merced cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Merced. Modesto is the lowest at about $910 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 30 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | |
| Modesto, CA30 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −5% |
| San Jose, CA40 miles | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +3% |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | level |
| Fresno, CA60 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | −4% |
| Santa Cruz, CA70 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +1% |
| California (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −6% |
Across 300 US metros, Merced comes in at #46 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Merced is 1% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| 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% |
Cities with a workforce like Merced's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Merced against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −14% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | −7% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $240 – $1,250 | $750 | −21% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | level |
Specs and site conditions that change a Merced bid
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.
Merced 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 Merced is 1.08 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Merced 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.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $35.94 an hour, which is 23% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.11 and $39.05 an hour. BLS counts 350 of them working in the area, 44.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($35.61 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $90. At the 25th percentile ($22.86) it shrinks by about $70. The total moves by 9.6% or 7.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 79,510 jobs in the Merced area. That makes it the 240th 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% | $22.86 | $28.31 | $35.61 | $26.77 | 1.06 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $27.11 | $35.94 | $39.05 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
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Kitchen backsplash in Merced: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Merced?
For 30 sq ft, expect $320 to $1,600 in the Merced 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 Merced?
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 Merced or Modesto?
Modesto is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $910, which is 5% less than Merced ($960). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Merced?
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 Merced?
$320 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Merced?
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 Merced area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Merced expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of California?
Merced 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 Merced?
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 Merced?
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 Merced
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.