Kitchen backsplash cost in Albany, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $300 – $1,500
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $50.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #88
- 1 = most expensive
Albany homeowners pay roughly $300 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, Albany is almost level. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $27.73 an hour in the Albany area, 4% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Albany, NY, standard level
$670 to $1,150
About $22.50 to $38.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $290 | $480 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $670 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Albany, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $520 | $900 | 57% |
| Labor | $150 | $390 | $620 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $300 | $910 | $1,500 | 100% |
Why Albany prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Albany wages are 1.03 times the national level. Labor makes up about 43% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Albany metro is 99.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $520, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (99.6) and land at $0 to $0.
Specs and site conditions that change a Albany bid
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.
Albany: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Albany 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
$300 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) | $250 – $660 | $560 – $960 | $860 – $1,250 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $300 – $790 | $670 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,500 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $510 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,550 |
Albany against nearby metros and the rest of New York
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Albany. Utica comes closest at about $930.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, NYthis page | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | |
| Pittsfield, MA45 miles | $360 – $1,700 | $1,050 | +14% |
| Kingston, NY60 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +2% |
| Amherst, MA70 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +15% |
| Utica, NY75 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +2% |
| Springfield, MA80 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +6% |
| New York (statewide) | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +8% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Albany comes in at #88 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Albany is 7% below the New York figure.
Other New York metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $1,000 | +9% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $920 | +1% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +3% |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +2% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +8% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Albany's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Albany against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa, OK | 458,730 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −13% |
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $400 – $1,950 | $1,150 | +29% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +1% |
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −13% |
Planning more than one job in Albany?
Because every project leans on different trades, Albany's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +7% and kitchen remodel +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,700 – $31,800 | +1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,300 – $14,300 | +2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,100 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,300 | +4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,950 | +7% |
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 Albany is 1.03 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $27.73 an hour, which is 4% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $22.95 and $34.32 an hour. BLS counts 110 of them working in the area, 2.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is about average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.19 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.00 and $36.71 an hour. BLS counts 2,000 of them working in the area, 44.5 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 ($34.32 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $85. At the 25th percentile ($22.95) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 9.1% or 6.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 449,410 jobs in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy area. That makes it the 55th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.29% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $22.95 | $27.73 | $34.32 | $26.77 | 1.04 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $25.00 | $29.19 | $36.71 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
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Kitchen backsplash in Albany: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Albany?
For 30 sq ft, expect $300 to $1,500 in the Albany 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 Albany?
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 Albany or Pittsfield?
Pittsfield is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $1,050, which is 14% more than Albany ($910). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Albany?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $390 out of $910. Materials are 57% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Albany?
$300 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Albany?
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 Albany area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Albany expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of New York?
Albany is 7% below the New York statewide estimate ($980 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in New York; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Albany?
The BLS median is $27.73 an hour in the Albany area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.95 to $34.32.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Albany?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $300 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 Albany
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.