Kitchen backsplash cost in Amherst, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $360 – $1,750
- Per sq ft
- $12 – $57.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +16%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #11
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Amherst, plan on $360 to $1,750 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $12 to $57.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 16% higher than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $39.02 an hour in the Amherst area, 46% above the US median of $26.77.
Estimate your kitchen backsplash cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Amherst, MA, standard level
$770 to $1,300
About $25.50 to $44 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $410 | $660 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $770 | $1,300 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Amherst, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $510 | $870 | 49% |
| Labor | $210 | $530 | $850 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $360 | $1,050 | $1,750 | 100% |
What is behind the Amherst number
Labor is 51% 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 Amherst the blended ratio comes out at 1.42. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Amherst metro is 97.0 (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 (100.2) 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 Amherst. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Amherst
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Amherst 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
$360 to $910
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$770 to $1,300
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,200 to $1,750
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $300 – $750 | $640 – $1,100 | $980 – $1,450 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $360 – $910 | $770 – $1,300 | $1,200 – $1,750 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $600 – $1,500 | $1,300 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $2,900 |
What nearby projects cost in Amherst
Because every project leans on different trades, Amherst's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +19% and kitchen remodel +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,800 – $31,900 | +1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,350 – $14,800 | +5% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $3,250 – $11,100 | +15% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,250 – $26,000 | +12% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,200 – $3,250 | +19% |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Amherst
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.
Amherst against nearby metros and the rest of Massachusetts
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 $910 to $1,050 across Amherst and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, MAthis page | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | |
| Springfield, MA15 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | −8% |
| Pittsfield, MA30 miles | $360 – $1,700 | $1,050 | level |
| Worcester, MA35 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −13% |
| Hartford, CT45 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $930 | −10% |
| Waterbury, CT60 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | −11% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −14% |
Across 300 US metros, Amherst comes in at #11 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Amherst is 1% below the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $370 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +2% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −13% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | −8% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | level |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $360 – $1,700 | $1,050 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Amherst's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Amherst against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | −18% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −20% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −20% |
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | −8% |
Amherst 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 Amherst is 1.42 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Amherst metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median: $39.02 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $28.46 and $46.13 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $32.13 an hour, which is 10% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.62 and $41.93 an hour. BLS counts 350 of them working in the area, 53.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($46.13 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $90. At the 25th percentile ($28.46) it shrinks by about $130. The total moves by 8.6% or 12.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 65,670 jobs in the Amherst Town-Northampton area. That makes it the 273rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $28.46 | $39.02 | $46.13 | $26.77 | 1.46 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.62 | $32.13 | $41.93 | $29.12 | 1.10 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.42 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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 $770 to $1,300 for Amherst, MA is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Amherst, MA, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Amherst, MA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Kitchen backsplash in Amherst: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Amherst?
For 30 sq ft, expect $360 to $1,750 in the Amherst area. A standard-spec job lands at $770 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 Amherst?
About $12 to $57.50 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 Amherst or Springfield?
Springfield is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $960, which is 8% less than Amherst ($1,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Amherst?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $530 out of $1,050. Materials are 49% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Amherst?
$360 to $1,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Amherst?
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 Amherst area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Amherst expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Amherst is 1% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($1,050 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Amherst?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $39.02 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.46 to $46.13.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Amherst?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $360 to $910 and premium work $1,200 to $1,750. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Amherst
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.