Kitchen backsplash cost in San Jose, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $330 – $1,650
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $54.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #27
- 1 = most expensive
San Jose homeowners pay roughly $330 to $1,650 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $11 to $54.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, San Jose is 9% higher. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $30.09 an hour in the San Jose area, 12% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in San Jose, CA, standard level
$720 to $1,250
About $24 to $41.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $330 | $530 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $720 | $1,250 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in San Jose, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $950 | 56% |
| Labor | $170 | $430 | $690 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $330 | $980 | $1,650 | 100% |
Why San Jose prices look the way they do
Labor is 44% 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 San Jose the blended ratio comes out at 1.14.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the San Jose 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 (110.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Is San Jose cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. San Jose is the priciest of the group. Modesto is the cheapest at $910.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CAthis page | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | |
| Santa Cruz, CA35 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −2% |
| Merced, CA40 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −3% |
| Salinas, CA45 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −3% |
| Modesto, CA50 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −8% |
| Stockton, CA70 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −3% |
| California (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −8% |
Across 300 US metros, San Jose comes in at #27 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, San Jose is 2% above the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −2% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $340 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +3% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −7% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | −2% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | −4% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | −6% |
Cities with a workforce like San Jose's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Jose against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | −5% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −19% |
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | −1% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | −2% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in San Jose
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.
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 San Jose is 1.14 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $30.09 an hour, which is 12% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $24.10 and $37.90 an hour. BLS counts 430 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 $38.55 an hour, which is 32% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $30.23 and $49.38 an hour. BLS counts 4,460 of them working in the area, 39.3 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 ($37.90 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $100. At the 25th percentile ($24.10) it shrinks by about $75. The total moves by 10.0% or 7.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,134,970 jobs in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara area. That makes it the 27th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.73% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $24.10 | $30.09 | $37.90 | $26.77 | 1.12 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $30.23 | $38.55 | $49.38 | $29.12 | 1.32 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.14 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in San Jose
Because every project leans on different trades, San Jose's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +26% and tile flooring +10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $20,700 – $35,200 | +12% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,900 – $17,200 | +21% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,750 – $10,900 | +10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,750 – $28,500 | +22% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,250 – $3,450 | +26% |
San Jose: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for San Jose 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
$330 to $850
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$720 to $1,250
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,100 to $1,650
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $270 – $710 | $600 – $1,050 | $930 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $330 – $850 | $720 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,650 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $550 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,700 |
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Kitchen backsplash in San Jose: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in San Jose?
For 30 sq ft, expect $330 to $1,650 in the San Jose area. A standard-spec job lands at $720 to $1,250. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in San Jose?
About $11 to $54.50 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 San Jose or Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $960, which is 2% less than San Jose ($980). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Jose?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $430 out of $980. Materials are 56% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in San Jose?
$330 to $1,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in San Jose?
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 San Jose area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Jose expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of California?
San Jose is 2% above 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 San Jose?
The BLS median is $30.09 an hour in the San Jose area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.10 to $37.90.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in San Jose?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $330 to $850 and premium work $1,100 to $1,650. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near San Jose
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.