Kitchen backsplash cost in Waco, 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
- #247
- 1 = most expensive
Waco homeowners pay roughly $270 to $1,350 to install a backsplash at 30 sq ft, or $8.90 to $45 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Waco is 10% lower. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $22.61 an hour in the Waco area, 16% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Waco, 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 Waco, 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 Waco number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: tile and stone setters at 90%, carpenters at 10%. Weighted together, Waco 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 Waco 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 (92.5) 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 Waco. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Waco 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 $860 across Waco and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco, TXthis page | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | |
| Killeen, TX40 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| College Station, TX75 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Dallas, TX90 miles | $280 – $1,450 | $860 | +7% |
| Austin, TX95 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Tyler, TX130 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $800 | level |
| Texas (statewide) | $270 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Waco comes in at #247 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $1,150; the cheapest is Little Rock, AR at $750 (midpoints, 30 sq ft). Statewide, Waco 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 Waco's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Waco against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +32% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $360 – $1,750 | $1,050 | +32% |
| Fayetteville, NC | 131,430 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $810 | level |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $830 | +3% |
Why two Waco quotes can differ
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.
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 Waco 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 Waco 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 $22.76 an hour, which is 22% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.96 and $25.45 an hour. BLS counts 420 of them working in the area, 32.3 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 129,860 jobs in the Waco area. That makes it the 168th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% 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% | $19.96 | $22.76 | $25.45 | $29.12 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Waco: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Waco 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 |
Planning more than one job in Waco?
Because every project leans on different trades, Waco's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen remodel runs −9% and kitchen cabinets −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $16,900 – $28,800 | −9% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,800 – $12,000 | −13% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,050 – $9,100 | −10% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,200 – $20,700 | −11% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $820 – $2,550 | −10% |
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 Waco, TX is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Waco, TX 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 Waco: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Waco?
For 30 sq ft, expect $270 to $1,350 in the Waco 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 Waco?
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 Waco or Killeen?
Killeen is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $810, which is 0% more than Waco ($810). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Waco?
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 Waco?
$270 to $1,350. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Waco?
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 Waco area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Waco expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Texas?
Waco 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 Waco?
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 Waco?
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 Waco
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.