Kitchen backsplash cost in Worcester, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $310 – $1,500
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $50.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #85
- 1 = most expensive
Worcester homeowners pay roughly $310 to $1,500 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $10 to $50.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Worcester is almost level. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $28.33 an hour in the Worcester area, 6% 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 Worcester, MA, standard level
$670 to $1,150
About $22.50 to $38.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $310 | $500 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $670 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Worcester, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $510 | $870 | 56% |
| Labor | $160 | $400 | $640 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $310 | $910 | $1,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Worcester number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Worcester wages are 1.07 times the national level. Labor makes up about 44% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Worcester 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 (102.5) and land at $0 to $0.
Worcester: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Worcester 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
$310 to $790
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$670 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) | $260 – $660 | $560 – $960 | $860 – $1,250 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $310 – $790 | $670 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,500 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $510 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,550 |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Worcester
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.
Planning more than one job in Worcester?
Because every project leans on different trades, Worcester's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +9% and tile flooring +2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,900 – $32,100 | +2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,450 – $15,500 | +9% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,100 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,400 | +9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $3,000 | +9% |
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 Worcester is 1.07 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $28.33 an hour, which is 6% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.74 and $37.24 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 1.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $35.10 an hour, which is 21% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.63 and $43.40 an hour. BLS counts 1,590 of them working in the area, 45.4 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 ($37.24 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($23.74) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 12.3% or 6.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 349,880 jobs in the Worcester area. That makes it the 73rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.23% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.74 | $28.33 | $37.24 | $26.77 | 1.06 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $28.63 | $35.10 | $43.40 | $29.12 | 1.21 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
Worcester against nearby metros and the rest of Massachusetts
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Boston is the priciest of the group at $1,050. Manchester is the cheapest at $850.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MAthis page | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | |
| Amherst, MA35 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +14% |
| Springfield, MA40 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +6% |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | −6% |
| Boston, MA50 miles | $370 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +17% |
| Hartford, CT55 miles | $320 – $1,550 | $930 | +2% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +16% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Worcester comes in at #85 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Worcester is 14% below the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $370 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +17% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +6% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +15% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +14% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $360 – $1,700 | $1,050 | +14% |
Cities with a workforce like Worcester's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Worcester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $240 – $1,250 | $750 | −18% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −11% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −8% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −11% |
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 $670 to $1,150 for Worcester, MA is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Worcester, MA, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Worcester, 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 Worcester: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Worcester?
For 30 sq ft, expect $310 to $1,500 in the Worcester area. A standard-spec job lands at $670 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 Worcester?
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 Worcester or Amherst?
Amherst is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $1,050, which is 14% more than Worcester ($910). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Worcester?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $400 out of $910. Materials are 56% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Worcester?
$310 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Worcester?
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 Worcester area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Worcester expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Worcester is 14% 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 Worcester?
The BLS median is $28.33 an hour in the Worcester area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.74 to $37.24.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Worcester?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $310 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 Worcester
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.