Bathroom remodel cost in Chico, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,800 – $23,800
- Per sq ft
- $102 – $510
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #103
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a bathroom remodel in the Chico area: $4,800 to $23,800 for 45 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. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 105.2).
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Chico, CA, standard level
$10,500 to $18,100
About $225 to $388 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,700 | $8,100 |
| Labor | $5,400 | $9,350 |
| Permits and fees | $380 | $630 |
| Total | $10,500 | $18,100 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Chico, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,150 | $6,400 | $10,600 | 45% |
| Labor | $2,450 | $7,400 | $12,300 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $200 | $510 | $810 | 4% |
| Total | $4,800 | $14,300 | $23,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Chico number
The wage side of the estimate leans on plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters, who do 25% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.20 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Chico is 1.00 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 52% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chico is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,100 nationally becomes $6,400 here (midpoint, 45 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.2: $200 to $810.
What nearby projects cost in Chico
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chico wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (+10%) and shower pan lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $870 – $2,750 | −4% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $19,500 – $33,200 | +5% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,600 – $15,400 | +10% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,900 – $16,100 | +8% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $290 – $1,500 | −1% |
Who does the work: Chico trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 6 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 Chico the blend is 1.00.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $29.20 an hour, 5% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.06 and $39.29 an hour. About 180 work in the metro. That is 23.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 25% of the weighting: a median of $23.05 an hour, 14% below the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $21.24 and $29.70 an hour. About 30 work in the metro. That is 3.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $34.75 an hour, 19% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.79 and $38.46 an hour. About 390 work in the metro. That is 49.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $31.44 an hour, which is 3% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.55 and $42.44 an hour. BLS counts 320 of them working in the area, 40.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.52 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $24.20 and $35.21 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 7.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.66 an hour, 5% below the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $18.46 and $28.32 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 30.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $610 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $310. That is a swing of roughly 2.2% to 4.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chico has 78,220 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 241st by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $24.06 | $29.20 | $39.29 | $30.67 | 0.95 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $21.24 | $23.05 | $29.70 | $26.77 | 0.86 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $24.79 | $34.75 | $38.46 | $29.12 | 1.19 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $27.55 | $31.44 | $42.44 | $30.38 | 1.03 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $24.20 | $29.52 | $35.21 | $28.33 | 1.04 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $18.46 | $22.66 | $28.32 | $23.75 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
How Chico compares
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 45 sq ft range from $14,300 to $15,700 across Chico and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CAthis page | $4,800 – $23,800 | $14,300 | |
| Sacramento, CA70 miles | $5,050 – $25,100 | $15,100 | +6% |
| Redding, CA80 miles | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +1% |
| Napa, CA90 miles | $5,250 – $26,100 | $15,700 | +10% |
| Vallejo, CA100 miles | $5,200 – $25,900 | $15,500 | +9% |
| Santa Rosa, CA105 miles | $5,250 – $26,000 | $15,600 | +9% |
| California (statewide) | $5,200 – $25,900 | $15,600 | +9% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chico ranks #103 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chico is 8% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $5,200 – $25,700 | $15,500 | +8% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $5,650 – $28,000 | $16,900 | +18% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +1% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $5,250 – $26,100 | $15,700 | +10% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $5,750 – $28,500 | $17,100 | +20% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $5,050 – $25,100 | $15,100 | +6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chico against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | 79,510 jobs | $5,050 – $25,000 | $15,000 | +5% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $5,250 – $26,100 | $15,700 | +10% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $4,800 – $23,700 | $14,200 | level |
| Racine, WI | 76,280 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +1% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Chico bid
Permit
A bathroom remodel permit is $200-$800, more if you move walls (HomeGuide).
Size
HomeGuide's average-size bathroom comes to $3,500-$25,000+; per square foot it's $100-$500.
Tile
New tile costs $10-$50 per square foot installed, and regrouting runs $7-$28 per square foot.
Pick a size, pick a tier: bathroom remodel pricing in Chico
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chico. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from half bath (20 sq ft) to primary bath (100 sq ft).
Basic
$4,800 to $12,400
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,500 to $18,100
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,200 to $23,800
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,250 – $5,750 | $4,850 – $8,400 | $7,500 – $11,000 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,300 – $11,100 | $9,350 – $16,100 | $14,400 – $21,200 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,350 – $16,400 | $13,900 – $23,900 | $21,400 – $31,400 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,400 – $27,000 | $22,800 – $39,400 | $35,300 – $51,800 |
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Bathroom remodel in Chico: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Chico?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,800 to $23,800 in the Chico area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,500 to $18,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Chico?
About $102 to $510 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $200 to $810 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Chico or Sacramento?
Sacramento is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $15,100, which is 6% more than Chico ($14,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chico?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $7,400 out of $14,300. Materials are 45% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Chico?
$6,350 to $31,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Chico?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $200 to $810 for fees in the Chico area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chico expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of California?
Chico is 8% below the California statewide estimate ($15,600 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Chico?
The BLS median is $29.20 an hour in the Chico area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.06 to $39.29.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Chico?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,800 to $12,400 and premium work $16,200 to $23,800. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Chico
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: How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 45% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range split for bathroom projects (50% labor, 45% materials, 5% permits and design). Their sample is their own guides, not a survey of contractors, so treat the split as approximate.