Kitchen backsplash cost in Salem, OR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $320 – $1,600
- Per sq ft
- $10.50 – $52.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #55
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the Salem area: $320 to $1,600 for 30 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 5% higher than the US figure. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 105.3).
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Salem, OR, standard level
$690 to $1,200
About $23 to $40 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $390 | $710 |
| Labor | $300 | $490 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $690 | $1,200 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Salem, OR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $160 | $550 | $950 | 58% |
| Labor | $160 | $390 | $630 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $320 | $950 | $1,600 | 100% |
Why Salem 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, Salem wages are 1.05 times the national level. Labor makes up about 42% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Salem is at 105.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $550 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.6: $0 to $0.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Salem
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Salem. 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
$320 to $820
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$690 to $1,200
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,050 to $1,600
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $260 – $680 | $580 – $1,000 | $890 – $1,300 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $320 – $820 | $690 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,600 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $530 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $2,650 |
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in Salem
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.
Material
A tile backsplash is $10-$50 per sq ft installed. A stone slab backsplash is $35-$200 and granite slabs are $50-$200.
Who does the work: Salem trade wages
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 Salem the blend is 1.05.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 90% of the weighting: a median of $28.35 an hour, 6% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $22.32 and $32.08 an hour. About 100 work in the metro. That is 5.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.71 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.19 and $36.75 an hour. About 1,720 work in the metro. That is 91.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $45 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $75. That is a swing of roughly 8.0% to 5.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Salem has 188,620 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 122nd 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% | $22.32 | $28.35 | $32.08 | $26.77 | 1.06 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.19 | $28.71 | $36.75 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Salem
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Salem wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+11%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (+6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,700 – $33,600 | +7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,500 – $14,900 | +6% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,600 | +6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $5,150 – $25,600 | +10% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $3,100 | +11% |
Salem against nearby metros and the rest of Oregon
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Salem. Bend is the lowest at about $890 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 110 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, ORthis page | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | |
| Portland, OR50 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | +3% |
| Eugene, OR65 miles | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +1% |
| Bend, OR110 miles | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | −6% |
| Olympia, WA140 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +12% |
| Yakima, WA150 miles | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +12% |
| Oregon (statewide) | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Salem ranks #55 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Salem is 0% below the Oregon figure.
Elsewhere in Oregon
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | +3% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $960 | +1% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | −6% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $290 – $1,500 | $890 | −6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Salem against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −15% |
| Salinas, CA | 186,430 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | level |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −15% |
| Tallahassee, FL | 186,160 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −13% |
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Detailed kitchen backsplash report for Salem, OR, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Salem, OR 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 Salem: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Salem?
For 30 sq ft, expect $320 to $1,600 in the Salem 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 Salem?
About $10.50 to $52.50 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 Salem or Portland?
Portland is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $970, which is 3% more than Salem ($950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Salem?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $390 out of $950. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Salem?
$320 to $1,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Salem?
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 Salem area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Salem expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Oregon?
Salem is 0% below the Oregon statewide estimate ($950 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Oregon; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Salem?
The BLS median is $28.35 an hour in the Salem area, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.32 to $32.08.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Salem?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $320 to $820 and premium work $1,050 to $1,600. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Salem
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.