Kitchen backsplash cost in Rochester, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $310 – $1,550
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $52
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #67
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in Rochester, plan on $310 to $1,550 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $10.50 to $52 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% higher than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $29.67 an hour in the Rochester area, 11% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Rochester, NY, standard level
$690 to $1,200
About $23 to $39.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $310 | $510 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $690 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Rochester, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $520 | $900 | 56% |
| Labor | $160 | $410 | $660 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $310 | $930 | $1,550 | 100% |
Why Rochester 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 $29.67 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Rochester is 1.10 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 44% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Rochester 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 (97.0) and land at $0 to $0.
Rochester against nearby metros and the rest of New York
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 30 sq ft range from $920 to $990 across Rochester and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NYthis page | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | |
| Buffalo, NY60 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $920 | −2% |
| Syracuse, NY70 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | −1% |
| Binghamton, NY105 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Utica, NY120 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Erie, PA150 miles | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +6% |
| New York (statewide) | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +5% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −4% |
Across 300 US metros, Rochester comes in at #67 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 5% 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 | +7% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $920 | −2% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −3% |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | −1% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +5% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −4% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | −1% |
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −13% |
| Tulsa, OK | 458,730 jobs | $260 – $1,300 | $790 | −16% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing 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
$310 to $810
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$690 to $1,200
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,050 to $1,550
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $260 – $680 | $570 – $990 | $880 – $1,300 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $310 – $810 | $690 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,550 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $520 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,600 |
Rochester labor market for kitchen backsplash
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 1.10 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $29.67 an hour, which is 11% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.96 and $34.63 an hour. BLS counts 110 of them working in the area, 2.2 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 $28.60 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.10 and $35.00 an hour. BLS counts 2,350 of them working in the area, 47.5 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 ($34.63 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $65. At the 25th percentile ($23.96) it shrinks by about $70. The total moves by 6.7% or 7.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 494,280 jobs in the Rochester area. That makes it the 52nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.32% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.96 | $29.67 | $34.63 | $26.77 | 1.11 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.10 | $28.60 | $35.00 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.10 | |||||
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 +7% and kitchen cabinets +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,700 – $31,700 | +1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,100 | +1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,300 | +4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,900 – $24,300 | +4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $2,950 | +7% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Rochester bid
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 $690 to $1,200 for Rochester, NY is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Rochester, NY 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 $310 to $1,550 in the Rochester area. A standard-spec job lands at $690 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 $10.50 to $52 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 Buffalo?
Buffalo is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $920, which is 2% less than Rochester ($930). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rochester?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $410 out of $930. Materials are 56% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Rochester?
$310 to $1,550. 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 New York?
Rochester is 5% 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 Rochester?
The BLS median is $29.67 an hour in the Rochester area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.96 to $34.63.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Rochester?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $310 to $810 and premium work $1,050 to $1,550. 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.