Kitchen backsplash cost in Muskegon, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $270 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.95 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #218
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Muskegon, MI usually costs $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $8.95 to $45 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $85 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $23.05 an hour in the Muskegon area, 14% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Muskegon, MI, standard level
$600 to $1,050
About $20 to $34.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $240 | $400 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $600 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Muskegon, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $320 | $510 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Why Muskegon 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 $23.05 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Muskegon is 0.86 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Michigan statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Muskegon is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $490 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.5: $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 Muskegon. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Muskegon
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 Muskegon the blend is 0.86.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Muskegon metro, so we used the Michigan statewide median: $23.05 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.17 and $30.08 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.47 an hour, 19% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.00 and $29.72 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 22.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $90 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $35. That is a swing of roughly 4.5% to 10.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Muskegon-Norton Shores has 62,340 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 278th 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% | $20.17 | $23.05 | $30.08 | $26.77 | 0.86 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $21.00 | $23.47 | $29.72 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Why two Muskegon quotes can differ
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Muskegon
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Muskegon. 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
$270 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$600 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$920 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $590 | $500 – $860 | $770 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $600 – $1,050 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,150 | $990 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
How Muskegon compares
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Muskegon. Grand Rapids is the lowest at about $810 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muskegon, MIthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Grand Rapids, MI45 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Sheboygan, WI70 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | +12% |
| Milwaukee, WI80 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +13% |
| Racine, WI80 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | +12% |
| Kalamazoo, MI95 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +10% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Muskegon ranks #218 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Muskegon is 2% below the Michigan figure.
Elsewhere in Michigan
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | +4% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +10% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Muskegon against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terre Haute, IN | 65,120 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Vineland, NJ | 62,300 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $940 | +16% |
| Dalton, GA | 65,300 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Hattiesburg, MS | 62,230 jobs | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | −5% |
Related projects, priced for Muskegon
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Muskegon wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (−1%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,700 | −9% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,150 – $9,200 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,550 – $22,500 | −3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $940 – $2,750 | −1% |
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Muskegon, MI, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Muskegon, MI 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 Muskegon: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Muskegon?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Muskegon area. A standard-spec job lands at $600 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 Muskegon?
About $8.95 to $45 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 Muskegon or Grand Rapids?
Grand Rapids is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 0% less than Muskegon ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Muskegon?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $810. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Muskegon?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Muskegon?
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 Muskegon area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Muskegon expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Michigan?
Muskegon is 2% below the Michigan statewide estimate ($830 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Michigan; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Muskegon?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.05 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.17 to $30.08.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Muskegon?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $700 and premium work $920 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Muskegon
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.