Kitchen backsplash cost in Albuquerque, NM
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
- $9 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #196
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Albuquerque area: $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 9% lower than the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.13 an hour in the Albuquerque area, 17% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Albuquerque, NM, 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 | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $240 | $390 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $600 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Albuquerque, NM
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $500 | $870 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $320 | $510 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $820 | $1,350 | 100% |
Where the Albuquerque price comes from
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 $22.13 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Albuquerque is 0.84 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Albuquerque is at 96.1 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $500 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 95.5: $0 to $0.
Planning more than one job in Albuquerque?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Albuquerque wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (−3%) and tile flooring lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,800 – $30,300 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,600 | −3% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,200 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,450 – $22,100 | −5% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,650 | −7% |
Albuquerque: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Albuquerque. 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 $710
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$600 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$930 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $590 | $500 – $870 | $780 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $710 | $600 – $1,050 | $930 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $450 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,300 |
Who does the work: Albuquerque trade wages
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 Albuquerque the blend is 0.84.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $22.13 an hour, 17% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $16.86 and $23.29 an hour. About 160 work in the metro. That is 4.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.89 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.21 and $31.48 an hour. About 1,940 work in the metro. That is 47.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $15 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 8.1% to 1.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Albuquerque has 404,700 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 62nd 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% | $16.86 | $22.13 | $23.29 | $26.77 | 0.83 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.21 | $28.89 | $31.48 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Why two Albuquerque quotes can differ
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.
Is Albuquerque cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Albuquerque. Las Cruces is the lowest at about $750 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 195 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NMthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | |
| Santa Fe, NM40 miles | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | −7% |
| Las Cruces, NM195 miles | $240 – $1,250 | $750 | −8% |
| Pueblo, CO235 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | +8% |
| El Paso, TX255 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | −2% |
| Amarillo, TX255 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −2% |
| New Mexico (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −1% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Albuquerque ranks #196 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Albuquerque is 1% above the New Mexico figure.
Elsewhere in New Mexico
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $240 – $1,250 | $750 | −8% |
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $250 – $1,300 | $770 | −7% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Albuquerque against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +13% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $320 – $1,550 | $950 | +15% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −3% |
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | +5% |
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Kitchen backsplash in Albuquerque: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Albuquerque?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Albuquerque 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 Albuquerque?
About $9 to $45.50 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 Albuquerque or Santa Fe?
Santa Fe is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $770, which is 7% less than Albuquerque ($820). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Albuquerque?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $320 out of $820. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Albuquerque?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Albuquerque?
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 Albuquerque area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Albuquerque expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of New Mexico?
Albuquerque is 1% above the New Mexico statewide estimate ($810 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in New Mexico; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Albuquerque?
The BLS median is $22.13 an hour in the Albuquerque area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.86 to $23.29.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Albuquerque?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $710 and premium work $930 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Albuquerque
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.