Kitchen backsplash cost in Hickory, NC
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
- $8.85 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #235
- 1 = most expensive
Hickory homeowners pay roughly $270 to $1,350 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $8.85 to $45 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Hickory is 10% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $21.47 an hour in the Hickory area, 20% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Hickory, NC, standard level
$590 to $1,000
About $19.50 to $34 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $230 | $370 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 63% |
| Labor | $120 | $300 | $480 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
Why Hickory 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 $21.47 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Hickory is 0.80 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Hickory metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $510, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (88.5) and land at $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 Hickory. The wage table below marks each row.
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 Hickory is 0.80 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Hickory metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $21.47 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $24.36 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.20 an hour, which is 20% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.63 and $27.52 an hour. BLS counts 250 of them working in the area, 16.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the tile and stone setters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($24.36 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $35. At the 25th percentile ($19.02) it shrinks by about $30. The total moves by 4.5% or 3.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 154,090 jobs in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area. That makes it the 152nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $19.02 | $21.47 | $24.36 | $26.77 | 0.80 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.63 | $23.20 | $27.52 | $29.12 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Is Hickory cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $800 to $840 across Hickory and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Hickory comes in at #235 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Hickory is 0% below the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +4% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Hickory's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hickory against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −1% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +19% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +1% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Hickory 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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Hickory
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Hickory 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
$270 to $700
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$590 to $1,000
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$920 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $580 | $490 – $850 | $760 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,000 | $920 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $440 – $1,150 | $980 – $1,700 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
Planning more than one job in Hickory?
Because every project leans on different trades, Hickory's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −7% and shower pan −14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,200 – $29,300 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,200 | −12% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,250 | −9% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,100 – $20,400 | −12% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $770 – $2,450 | −14% |
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 $590 to $1,000 for Hickory, NC is attached.
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Kitchen backsplash in Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Hickory?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $590 to $1,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Hickory?
About $8.85 to $45 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 Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $800, which is 1% less than Hickory ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $300 out of $810. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Hickory?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Hickory?
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 Hickory area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 0% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($810 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Hickory?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $21.47 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.02 to $24.36.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Hickory?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $700 and premium work $920 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Hickory
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.