Kitchen backsplash cost in McAllen, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $260 – $1,350
- Per sq ft
- $8.85 – $44.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #259
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a backsplash in McAllen, plan on $260 to $1,350 for 30 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $8.85 to $44.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 11% lower than the national one. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.61 an hour in the McAllen area, 16% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in McAllen, 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 McAllen, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 61% |
| Labor | $120 | $310 | $500 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $260 | $800 | $1,350 | 100% |
What is behind the McAllen number
Labor is 39% 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 McAllen the blended ratio comes out at 0.83. 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 McAllen 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 (85.9) 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 McAllen. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in McAllen
Because every project leans on different trades, McAllen's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −11% and kitchen cabinets −19%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,500 – $28,200 | −11% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,650 – $11,200 | −19% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,050 | −11% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $3,950 – $19,700 | −16% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $750 – $2,400 | −16% |
McAllen 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 McAllen is 0.83 times the national level.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the McAllen 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 $19.97 an hour, which is 31% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $17.40 and $21.94 an hour. BLS counts 310 of them working in the area, 10.4 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 296,700 jobs in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area. That makes it the 86th 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% | $19.28 | $22.61 | $26.45 | $26.77 | 0.84 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $17.40 | $19.97 | $21.94 | $29.12 | 0.69 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Is McAllen cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than McAllen. San Antonio is the lowest at about $790 (midpoint, 30 sq ft), 210 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| McAllen, TXthis page | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | |
| Brownsville, TX50 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Corpus Christi, TX115 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Laredo, TX120 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| San Antonio, TX210 miles | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −1% |
| Austin, TX270 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | +1% |
| Texas (statewide) | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, McAllen comes in at #259 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, McAllen 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 | +1% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −1% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
Cities with a workforce like McAllen's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is McAllen against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +15% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Provo, UT | 304,660 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $870 | +8% |
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $320 – $1,600 | $950 | +19% |
Specs and site conditions that change a McAllen bid
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.
Cost by quality level and size in McAllen
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for McAllen 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
$260 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) | $260 – $700 | $590 – $1,000 | $910 – $1,350 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $440 – $1,150 | $980 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,250 |
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Kitchen backsplash in McAllen: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in McAllen?
For 30 sq ft, expect $260 to $1,350 in the McAllen 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 McAllen?
About $8.85 to $44.50 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 McAllen or Brownsville?
Brownsville is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $800, which is 0% less than McAllen ($800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in McAllen?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $310 out of $800. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in McAllen?
$260 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in McAllen?
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 McAllen area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is McAllen expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Texas?
McAllen 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 McAllen?
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 McAllen?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $260 to $700 and premium work $910 to $1,350. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near McAllen
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.