Kitchen backsplash cost in Modesto, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $300 – $1,500
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $50.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #93
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Modesto area: $300 to $1,500 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 lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 105.2).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Modesto, CA, standard level
$660 to $1,150
About $22 to $38.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $270 | $440 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $660 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Modesto, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $950 | 61% |
| Labor | $140 | $350 | $570 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $300 | $910 | $1,500 | 100% |
Where the Modesto price comes from
Labor is 39% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is tile and stone setters (90%), carpenters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Modesto the blended ratio comes out at 0.95.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Modesto 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 104.1: $0 to $0.
Who does the work: Modesto 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 Modesto the blend is 0.95.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $24.50 an hour, 8% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.71 and $33.09 an hour. About 120 work in the metro. That is 6.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $35.45 an hour, 22% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.52 and $40.15 an hour. About 1,430 work in the metro. That is 73.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $110 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $35. That is a swing of roughly 3.9% to 11.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Modesto has 195,230 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 117th 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% | $21.71 | $24.50 | $33.09 | $26.77 | 0.92 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.52 | $35.45 | $40.15 | $29.12 | 1.22 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.95 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Modesto
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Modesto. 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
$300 to $790
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$660 to $1,150
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,050 to $1,500
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $250 – $650 | $550 – $960 | $860 – $1,250 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $300 – $790 | $660 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,500 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $500 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,500 |
Modesto against nearby metros and the rest of California
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Modesto. Stockton comes closest at about $950.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CAthis page | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | |
| Stockton, CA30 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +5% |
| Merced, CA30 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +5% |
| San Jose, CA50 miles | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +8% |
| Santa Cruz, CA65 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +6% |
| Vallejo, CA70 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +5% |
| California (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +6% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Modesto ranks #93 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Modesto is 6% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +6% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +12% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | level |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | +6% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +8% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | +4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Modesto against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −9% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −11% |
| Manchester, NH | 199,560 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −6% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −2% |
Planning more than one job in Modesto?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Modesto wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+12%) and shower pan lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,700 – $33,600 | +7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,650 – $15,800 | +12% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,350 – $10,300 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,500 | +5% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $900 – $2,800 | −1% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Modesto
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.
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Kitchen backsplash in Modesto: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Modesto?
For 30 sq ft, expect $300 to $1,500 in the Modesto area. A standard-spec job lands at $660 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 Modesto?
About $10 to $50.50 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 Modesto or Stockton?
Stockton is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $950, which is 5% more than Modesto ($910). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Modesto?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $350 out of $910. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Modesto?
$300 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Modesto?
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 Modesto area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Modesto expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of California?
Modesto is 6% 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 Modesto?
The BLS median is $24.50 an hour in the Modesto area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.71 to $33.09.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Modesto?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $300 to $790 and premium work $1,050 to $1,500. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Modesto
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.