Kitchen backsplash cost in Syracuse, 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 – $51.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #76
- 1 = most expensive
Syracuse homeowners pay roughly $310 to $1,550 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $10.50 to $51.50 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Syracuse is 3% higher. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $28.99 an hour in the Syracuse area, 8% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Syracuse, NY, standard level
$680 to $1,150
About $22.50 to $39 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $370 | $670 |
| Labor | $310 | $500 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $680 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Syracuse, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $520 | $900 | 56% |
| Labor | $160 | $400 | $650 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $310 | $930 | $1,550 | 100% |
Where the Syracuse price comes from
Labor is 44% of the midpoint bill here, against 42% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is tile and stone setters (90%), carpenters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Syracuse the blended ratio comes out at 1.08.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Syracuse 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 (95.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Related projects, priced for Syracuse
Because every project leans on different trades, Syracuse's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +3% and kitchen remodel +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,600 – $31,700 | +1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,300 – $14,300 | +2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,200 | +3% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,800 – $23,900 | +2% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $980 – $2,850 | +3% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Syracuse 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.
Cost by quality level and size in Syracuse
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Syracuse 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 $800
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$680 to $1,150
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 – $670 | $570 – $980 | $880 – $1,300 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $310 – $800 | $680 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,550 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $520 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,550 |
Syracuse against nearby metros and the rest of New York
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Syracuse. Albany is the lowest at about $910 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 115 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NYthis page | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | |
| Utica, NY55 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Binghamton, NY60 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +1% |
| Rochester, NY70 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +1% |
| Albany, NY115 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −2% |
| Scranton, PA115 miles | $340 – $1,650 | $990 | +7% |
| New York (statewide) | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +6% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, Syracuse comes in at #76 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Syracuse 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 | +8% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $920 | −1% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +1% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −2% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +6% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Syracuse's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Syracuse against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo, UT | 304,660 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $870 | −6% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −13% |
| Cape Coral, FL | 304,790 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −12% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −13% |
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 Syracuse is 1.08 times the national level.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 90%) the local median is $28.99 an hour, which is 8% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.56 and $36.67 an hour. BLS counts 100 of them working in the area, 3.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.93 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.13 and $36.26 an hour. BLS counts 1,490 of them working in the area, 49.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.67 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $95. At the 25th percentile ($23.56) it shrinks by about $70. The total moves by 10.4% or 7.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 300,130 jobs in the Syracuse area. That makes it the 85th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.19% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $23.56 | $28.99 | $36.67 | $26.77 | 1.08 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.13 | $29.93 | $36.26 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Syracuse, NY, $9
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Kitchen backsplash in Syracuse: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Syracuse?
For 30 sq ft, expect $310 to $1,550 in the Syracuse area. A standard-spec job lands at $680 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 Syracuse?
About $10.50 to $51.50 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 Syracuse or Utica?
Utica is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $930, which is 0% more than Syracuse ($930). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Syracuse?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $400 out of $930. Materials are 56% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Syracuse?
$310 to $1,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Syracuse?
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 Syracuse area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Syracuse expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of New York?
Syracuse 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 Syracuse?
The BLS median is $28.99 an hour in the Syracuse area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.56 to $36.67.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Syracuse?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $310 to $800 and premium work $1,050 to $1,550. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Syracuse
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.