Kitchen backsplash cost in College Station, TX
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
- $8.90 – $45
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #249
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in College Station, plan on $270 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $8.90 to $45 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 10% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.61 an hour in the College Station area, 16% below the US median of $26.77.
Estimate your kitchen backsplash cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in College Station, TX, standard level
$590 to $1,000
About $19.50 to $34 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $240 | $390 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $590 | $1,000 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in College Station, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 61% |
| Labor | $130 | $310 | $500 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $270 | $810 | $1,350 | 100% |
What is behind the College Station number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, College Station wages are 0.84 times the national level. Labor makes up about 39% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Texas statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the College Station metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 30 sq ft comes to $490, compared with $530 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.0) 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 College Station. The wage table below marks each row.
College Station 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 College Station is 0.84 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the College Station metro, so we used the Texas statewide median: $22.61 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.28 and $26.45 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.58 an hour, which is 22% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.77 and $26.89 an hour. BLS counts 170 of them working in the area, 12.7 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 ($26.45 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $50. At the 25th percentile ($19.28) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 6.0% or 5.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 134,040 jobs in the College Station-Bryan area. That makes it the 164th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.09% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 90% | $19.28 | $22.61 | $26.45 | $26.77 | 0.84 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $20.77 | $22.58 | $26.89 | $29.12 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Related projects, priced for College Station
Because every project leans on different trades, College Station's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −9% and kitchen cabinets −14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,800 – $28,600 | −9% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,750 – $11,900 | −14% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,050 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,100 – $20,200 | −13% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $780 – $2,450 | −14% |
Cost by quality level and size in College Station
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for College Station 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
$910 to $1,350
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $220 – $580 | $490 – $850 | $760 – $1,100 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $270 – $700 | $590 – $1,000 | $910 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $440 – $1,150 | $980 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,250 |
College Station against nearby metros and the rest of Texas
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than College Station. Tyler is the lowest at about $800 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 135 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Station, TXthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Waco, TX75 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Austin, TX75 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Killeen, TX85 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Houston, TX95 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +5% |
| Tyler, TX135 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Texas (statewide) | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, College Station comes in at #249 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, College Station is 3% below the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +7% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | +5% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −2% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
Cities with a workforce like College Station's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is College Station against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | +2% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +2% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +12% |
| Fayetteville, NC | 131,430 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
Why two College Station 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.
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 College Station, TX is attached.
Detailed kitchen backsplash report for College Station, TX, $9
Multi-page report for College Station, TX: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 College Station: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in College Station?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the College Station 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 College Station?
About $8.90 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 College Station or Waco?
Waco is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 0% more than College Station ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in College Station?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $310 out of $810. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in College Station?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in College Station?
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 College Station area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is College Station expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Texas?
College Station is 3% below the Texas statewide estimate ($830 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in College Station?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $22.61 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.28 to $26.45.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in College Station?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $270 to $700 and premium work $910 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near College Station
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.