Kitchen backsplash cost in Augusta, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.15 – $46.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #167
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Augusta, plan on $280 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $9.15 to $46.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.00 an hour in the Augusta area, 14% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Augusta, GA, standard level
$610 to $1,050
About $20.50 to $35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $250 | $400 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $610 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Augusta, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $330 | $520 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $830 | $1,400 | 100% |
Where the Augusta 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, Augusta wages are 0.87 times the national level. Labor makes up about 39% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Augusta metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $510, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.9) 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 Augusta. The wage table below marks each row.
Augusta 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 Augusta is 0.87 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Augusta metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median: $23.00 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.94 and $27.57 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.33 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.66 and $32.50 an hour. BLS counts 830 of them working in the area, 35.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.57 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $60. At the 25th percentile ($20.94) it shrinks by about $25. The total moves by 6.9% or 3.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 231,930 jobs in the Augusta-Richmond County area. That makes it the 106th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.15% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $20.94 | $23.00 | $27.57 | $26.77 | 0.86 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $22.66 | $28.33 | $32.50 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Augusta 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.
How Augusta compares
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 $800 to $830 across Augusta and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta, GAthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | |
| Columbia, SC70 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −4% |
| Athens, GA80 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −1% |
| Greenville, SC90 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −4% |
| Spartanburg, SC95 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −4% |
| Hilton Head, SC100 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −4% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Augusta comes in at #167 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Augusta is 1% below the Georgia figure.
Other Georgia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +2% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −1% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | −1% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | −1% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −1% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Augusta's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Augusta against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton, NJ | 240,190 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | +13% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | −1% |
| Palm Bay, FL | 245,170 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −1% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $780 | −6% |
Planning more than one job in Augusta?
Because every project leans on different trades, Augusta's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen cabinets runs −4% and shower pan −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,700 – $30,100 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,050 – $13,400 | −4% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,100 – $9,300 | −8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,350 – $21,600 | −7% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $820 – $2,550 | −10% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Augusta
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Augusta 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
$280 to $720
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$610 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$940 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $600 | $510 – $880 | $790 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $720 | $610 – $1,050 | $940 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $460 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 |
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Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $610 to $1,050 for Augusta, GA is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Augusta: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Augusta?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Augusta area. A standard-spec job lands at $610 to $1,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Augusta?
About $9.15 to $46.50 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 Augusta or Columbia?
Columbia is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $800, which is 4% less than Augusta ($830). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Augusta?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $330 out of $830. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Augusta?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Augusta?
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 Augusta area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Augusta expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Georgia?
Augusta is 1% below the Georgia statewide estimate ($840 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Georgia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Augusta?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.00 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.94 to $27.57.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Augusta?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $720 and premium work $940 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Augusta
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.