Kitchen backsplash cost in Utica, 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
- +4%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #74
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Utica, NY usually costs $310 to $1,550 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $10.50 to $51.50 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $30 more. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $29.45 an hour in the Utica area, 10% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Utica, NY, standard level
$680 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 | $680 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Utica, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $150 | $520 | $900 | 56% |
| Labor | $160 | $410 | $650 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $310 | $930 | $1,550 | 100% |
Why Utica prices look the way they do
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 Utica the blended ratio comes out at 1.09. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the New York statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Utica is at 99.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $520 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.7: $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 Utica. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Utica
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 Utica the blend is 1.09.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Utica metro, so we used the New York statewide median: $29.45 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $24.10 and $35.91 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.62 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.07 and $34.34 an hour. About 380 work in the metro. That is 32.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (tile and stone setters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $80 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $65. That is a swing of roughly 7.2% to 8.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Utica-Rome has 118,390 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 185th 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% | $24.10 | $29.45 | $35.91 | $26.77 | 1.10 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $24.07 | $28.62 | $34.34 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Utica
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Utica. 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
$310 to $810
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$680 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 – $670 | $570 – $980 | $880 – $1,300 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $310 – $810 | $680 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,550 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $520 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,600 |
How Utica compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Utica. Albany is the lowest at about $910 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utica, NYthis page | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | |
| Syracuse, NY55 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Albany, NY75 miles | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −2% |
| Binghamton, NY90 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Kingston, NY105 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Pittsfield, MA120 miles | $360 – $1,700 | $1,050 | +12% |
| New York (statewide) | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +5% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Utica ranks #74 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Utica is 5% below the New York figure.
Elsewhere in New York
| 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% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $910 | −2% |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | level |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $330 – $1,650 | $980 | +5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Utica against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $890 | −4% |
| Longview, TX | 118,060 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −13% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −14% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $820 | −12% |
Why two Utica quotes can differ
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.
Old backsplash removal
Removing the old one adds $2-$5 per sq ft.
Planning more than one job in Utica?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Utica wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+6%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,500 – $31,500 | level |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,200 – $13,900 | −1% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,300 | +4% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,000 | +3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,900 | +6% |
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 $680 to $1,200 for Utica, NY is attached.
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The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Utica, 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 Utica: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Utica?
For 30 sq ft, expect $310 to $1,550 in the Utica area. A standard-spec job lands at $680 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 Utica?
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 Utica or Syracuse?
Syracuse is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $930, which is 0% less than Utica ($930). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Utica?
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 Utica?
$310 to $1,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Utica?
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 Utica area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Utica expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of New York?
Utica 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 Utica?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $29.45 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.10 to $35.91.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Utica?
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 Utica
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.