Kitchen backsplash cost in Visalia, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $350 – $1,700
- Per sq ft
- $11.50 – $56.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #14
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Visalia area: $350 to $1,700 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 14% higher than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $34.27 an hour in the Visalia area, 28% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Visalia, CA, standard level
$750 to $1,300
About $25 to $43 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $360 | $590 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $750 | $1,300 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Visalia, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $950 | 54% |
| Labor | $190 | $470 | $760 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $350 | $1,000 | $1,700 | 100% |
Why Visalia prices look the way they do
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 $34.27 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Visalia is 1.26 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 46% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Visalia 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 99.8: $0 to $0.
What nearby projects cost in Visalia
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Visalia wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, tile flooring comes out highest (+13%) and bathroom remodel lowest (+4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,300 – $32,900 | +4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,450 – $14,600 | +4% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,900 – $11,100 | +13% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,300 | +4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $3,000 | +8% |
Visalia against nearby metros and the rest of California
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Visalia is the priciest of the group. San Luis Obispo is the cheapest at $920.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visalia, CAthis page | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | |
| Bakersfield, CA60 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | −7% |
| Fresno, CA65 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | −10% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA110 miles | $300 – $1,550 | $920 | −10% |
| Merced, CA125 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −7% |
| Oxnard, CA130 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | −9% |
| California (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −6% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Visalia ranks #14 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Visalia is 7% above 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 | −1% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −11% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $970 | −6% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | −4% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $940 | −8% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Visalia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −21% |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 170,820 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −19% |
| Naples, FL | 173,880 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −16% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −13% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Visalia
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.
Visalia: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Visalia. 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
$350 to $890
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$750 to $1,300
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,150 to $1,700
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $290 – $740 | $630 – $1,100 | $970 – $1,400 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $350 – $890 | $750 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,700 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $580 – $1,500 | $1,250 – $2,150 | $1,950 – $2,850 |
Who does the work: Visalia 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 Visalia the blend is 1.26.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $34.27 an hour, 28% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.59 and $49.04 an hour. About 110 work in the metro. That is 6.4 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 $30.96 an hour, 6% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.41 and $38.02 an hour. About 650 work in the metro. That is 38.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $190 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $130. That is a swing of roughly 13.1% to 18.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Visalia has 171,140 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 136th 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% | $23.59 | $34.27 | $49.04 | $26.77 | 1.28 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.41 | $30.96 | $38.02 | $29.12 | 1.06 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.26 | |||||
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Kitchen backsplash in Visalia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Visalia?
For 30 sq ft, expect $350 to $1,700 in the Visalia area. A standard-spec job lands at $750 to $1,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Visalia?
About $11.50 to $56.50 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 Visalia or Bakersfield?
Bakersfield is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $950, which is 7% less than Visalia ($1,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Visalia?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $470 out of $1,000. Materials are 54% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Visalia?
$350 to $1,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Visalia?
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 Visalia area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Visalia expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of California?
Visalia is 7% 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 Visalia?
The BLS median is $34.27 an hour in the Visalia area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.59 to $49.04.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Visalia?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $350 to $890 and premium work $1,150 to $1,700. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Visalia
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.