Kitchen backsplash cost in La Crosse, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (30 sq ft)
- $310 – $1,500
- Per sq ft
- $10 – $50.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $900
- Rank of 300 metros
- #91
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen backsplash in the La Crosse area: $310 to $1,500 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 lands close to the US figure. Tile and stone setters earn a median of $30.14 an hour in the La Crosse area, 13% above the US median of $26.77.
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Estimated cost for 30 sq ft in La Crosse, WI, standard level
$670 to $1,150
About $22.50 to $38.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $350 | $630 |
| Labor | $320 | $520 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $670 | $1,150 |
Cost breakdown for 30 sq ft in La Crosse, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $140 | $490 | $840 | 54% |
| Labor | $170 | $420 | $670 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $310 | $910 | $1,500 | 100% |
Why La Crosse prices look the way they do
Labor is 46% 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 La Crosse the blended ratio comes out at 1.11. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. La Crosse is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $530 nationally becomes $490 here (midpoint, 30 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.8: $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 La Crosse. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in La Crosse?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen backsplash are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same La Crosse wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+9%) and kitchen remodel lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,900 – $30,400 | −4% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,100 – $13,800 | −2% |
| Tile flooring | 200 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,000 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,100 | +3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,000 | +9% |
Who does the work: La Crosse 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 La Crosse the blend is 1.11.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 90% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the La Crosse metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $30.14 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.44 and $36.42 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.34 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.93 and $36.95 an hour. About 450 work in the metro. That is 53.3 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 $80 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $35. That is a swing of roughly 3.7% to 8.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
La Crosse-Onalaska has 84,380 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 228th 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% | $27.44 | $30.14 | $36.42 | $26.77 | 1.13 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 10% | $23.93 | $28.34 | $36.95 | $29.12 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
Kitchen backsplash: what moves the price in La Crosse
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.
Labor and minimums
Tile labor is $8-$20 per sq ft and many installers charge minimums for small areas.
La Crosse against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Same job, same size (30 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Rochester is the priciest of the group at $970. Waterloo is the cheapest at $860.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse, WIthis page | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | |
| Rochester, MN65 miles | $330 – $1,600 | $970 | +7% |
| Dubuque, IA85 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −6% |
| Eau Claire, WI85 miles | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | level |
| Madison, WI85 miles | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +2% |
| Waterloo, IA105 miles | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −6% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | level |
| United States | $300 – $1,500 | $900 | −1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, La Crosse ranks #91 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, La Crosse is 0% below the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $930 | +2% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $900 | −1% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | level |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $310 – $1,550 | $920 | +2% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is La Crosse against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $800 | −12% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $290 – $1,450 | $860 | −6% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $310 – $1,500 | $910 | level |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $260 – $1,350 | $790 | −13% |
Cost by quality level and size in La Crosse
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to La Crosse. 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
$310 to $790
Basic ceramic subway tile
Standard
$670 to $1,150
Mid-grade tile in a pattern
Premium
$1,050 to $1,500
Slab or natural stone
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (25 sq ft) | $260 – $660 | $560 – $960 | $860 – $1,250 |
| average kitchen (30 sq ft) | $310 – $790 | $670 – $1,150 | $1,050 – $1,500 |
| full-height (50 sq ft) | $510 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,500 |
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Kitchen backsplash in La Crosse: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a backsplash in La Crosse?
For 30 sq ft, expect $310 to $1,500 in the La Crosse area. A standard-spec job lands at $670 to $1,150. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen backsplash in La Crosse?
About $10 to $50.50 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 La Crosse or Rochester?
Rochester is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 30 sq ft there is $970, which is 7% more than La Crosse ($910). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in La Crosse?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $420 out of $910. Materials are 54% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 42%.
+What would average kitchen (30 sq ft) cost in La Crosse?
$310 to $1,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen backsplash need a permit in La Crosse?
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 La Crosse area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is La Crosse expensive for kitchen backsplash compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
La Crosse is 0% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($910 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do tile and stone setters earn in La Crosse?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $30.14 an hour, compared with $26.77 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.44 to $36.42.
+What do basic and premium kitchen backsplash work cost in La Crosse?
For 30 sq ft, basic work runs $310 to $790 and premium work $1,050 to $1,500. Basic means: basic ceramic subway tile. Premium means: slab or natural stone.
Kitchen backsplash near La Crosse
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.