Kitchen backsplash cost in Morgantown, WV
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $280 – $1,400
- Per sq ft
- $9.35 – $47
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #148
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen backsplash in Morgantown, WV usually costs $280 to $1,400 for 30 sq ft. That works out to about $9.35 to $47 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $55 less. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $24.47 an hour in the Morgantown area, 9% below the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in Morgantown, WV, standard level
$620 to $1,050
About $20.50 to $35.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $360 | $650 |
| Labor | $260 | $420 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $620 | $1,050 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in Morgantown, WV
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $510 | $870 | 60% |
| Labor | $140 | $340 | $540 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $280 | $840 | $1,400 | 100% |
Why Morgantown 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, Morgantown wages are 0.90 times the national level. Labor makes up about 40% of the midpoint estimate (42% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the West Virginia statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Morgantown is at 96.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $510 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.3: $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 Morgantown. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Morgantown cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Pittsburgh is the priciest of the group at $960. Hagerstown is the cheapest at $820.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WVthis page | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | |
| Wheeling, WV65 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | level |
| Pittsburgh, PA65 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $960 | +14% |
| Winchester, VA75 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −1% |
| Harrisonburg, VA85 miles | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −1% |
| Hagerstown, MD95 miles | $270 – $1,350 | $820 | −3% |
| West Virginia (statewide) | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Morgantown ranks #148 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Morgantown is 0% below the West Virginia figure.
Elsewhere in West Virginia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WV | 140,740 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | level |
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | level |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $850 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Morgantown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $280 – $1,400 | $840 | −1% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +6% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $270 – $1,350 | $810 | −4% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | +6% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen backsplash pricing in Morgantown
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Morgantown. 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
$280 to $730
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$620 to $1,050
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$960 to $1,400
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $230 – $610 | $520 – $890 | $800 – $1,150 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $280 – $730 | $620 – $1,050 | $960 – $1,400 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $470 – $1,200 | $1,050 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,350 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Morgantown 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.
What local crews earn in Morgantown
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 Morgantown the blend is 0.90.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Morgantown metro, so we used the West Virginia statewide median: $24.47 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.43 and $26.91 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.64 an hour, 19% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.73 and $28.06 an hour. About 450 work in the metro. That is 66.8 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 $30 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $50. That is a swing of roughly 6.0% to 3.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Morgantown has 67,370 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 268th 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% | $20.43 | $24.47 | $26.91 | $26.77 | 0.91 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $21.73 | $23.64 | $28.06 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Morgantown
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Morgantown wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, tile flooring comes out highest (−6%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,700 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,900 – $12,500 | −10% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,500 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,300 – $21,400 | −8% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,600 | −7% |
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 $620 to $1,050 for Morgantown, WV is attached.
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The report lays out the kitchen backsplash numbers for Morgantown, WV 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 Morgantown: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in Morgantown?
For 30 sq ft, expect $280 to $1,400 in the Morgantown area. A standard-spec job lands at $620 to $1,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in Morgantown?
About $9.35 to $47 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 Morgantown or Wheeling?
Wheeling is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $850, which is 0% more than Morgantown ($840). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Morgantown?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $340 out of $840. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in Morgantown?
$280 to $1,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in Morgantown?
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 Morgantown area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Morgantown expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of West Virginia?
Morgantown is 0% below the West Virginia statewide estimate ($850 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in West Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in Morgantown?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $24.47 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.43 to $26.91.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in Morgantown?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $280 to $730 and premium work $960 to $1,400. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near Morgantown
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.