Kitchen backsplash cost in Rochester, MN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $330 – $1,600
- Per sq ft
- $11 – $53.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #34
- 1 = most expensive
Rochester homeowners pay roughly $330 to $1,600 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $11 to $53.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Rochester is 8% higher. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $33.92 an hour in the Rochester area, 27% 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 Rochester, MN, standard level
$710 to $1,200
About $24 to $41 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $640 |
| Labor | $350 | $580 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $710 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Rochester, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $860 | 52% |
| Labor | $190 | $470 | $750 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $330 | $970 | $1,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Rochester number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Rochester wages are 1.25 times the national level. Labor makes up about 48% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Rochester metro is 95.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $500, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (90.8) 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 Rochester. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Rochester?
Because every project leans on different trades, Rochester's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +14% and kitchen remodel −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,400 – $31,200 | −1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,200 – $14,400 | +2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,900 – $10,500 | +8% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,400 | +9% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,150 – $3,100 | +14% |
Cost by quality level and size in Rochester
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Rochester 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
$330 to $840
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$710 to $1,200
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,100 to $1,600
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,000 | $910 – $1,350 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $330 – $840 | $710 – $1,200 | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $550 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,700 |
How Rochester compares
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Rochester. Waterloo is the lowest at about $860 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 100 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MNthis page | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | |
| La Crosse, WI65 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −6% |
| Eau Claire, WI85 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −6% |
| Minneapolis, MN90 miles | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +6% |
| Waterloo, IA100 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −12% |
| Dubuque, IA125 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −11% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $340 – $1,650 | $1,000 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −7% |
Across 300 US metros, Rochester comes in at #34 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Rochester is 3% below the Minnesota figure.
Other Minnesota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $350 – $1,700 | $1,000 | +6% |
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Rochester's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Rochester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −17% |
| Midland, TX | 122,180 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −16% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | −6% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 122,020 jobs | $300 – $1,550 | $920 | −5% |
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 Rochester is 1.25 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Rochester metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median: $33.92 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.69 and $34.50 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.58 an hour, which is 5% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.59 and $38.84 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the area, 37.4 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 ($34.50 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $5. At the 25th percentile ($29.69) it shrinks by about $55. The total moves by 0.8% or 5.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 122,980 jobs in the Rochester area. That makes it the 176th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $29.69 | $33.92 | $34.50 | $26.77 | 1.27 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.59 | $30.58 | $38.84 | $29.12 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.25 | |||||
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Rochester
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.
Part of a remodel
A backsplash often gets bundled into a kitchen remodel and priced with it.
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 $710 to $1,200 for Rochester, MN is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Rochester, MN, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Rochester, MN 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 Rochester: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Rochester?
For 30 sq ft, expect $330 to $1,600 in the Rochester area. A standard-spec job lands at $710 to $1,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Rochester?
About $11 to $53.50 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 Rochester or La Crosse?
La Crosse is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $910, which is 6% less than Rochester ($970). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rochester?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $470 out of $970. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Rochester?
$330 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Rochester?
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 Rochester area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Rochester expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Rochester is 3% below the Minnesota statewide estimate ($1,000 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Minnesota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Rochester?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $33.92 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.69 to $34.50.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Rochester?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $330 to $840 and premium work $1,100 to $1,600. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Rochester
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.