Bathroom remodel cost in Waterbury, CT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,950 – $24,600
- Per sq ft
- $106 – $529
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #69
- 1 = most expensive
A bathroom remodel in Waterbury, CT usually costs $4,950 to $24,600 for 45 sq ft. That works out to about $106 to $529 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $770 more. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $36.96 an hour in the Waterbury area, 21% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Waterbury, CT, standard level
$10,800 to $18,700
About $233 to $402 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,350 | $7,500 |
| Labor | $6,150 | $10,600 |
| Permits and fees | $380 | $620 |
| Total | $10,800 | $18,700 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Waterbury, CT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,900 | $9,850 | 40% |
| Labor | $2,800 | $8,350 | $13,900 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $200 | $500 | $800 | 3% |
| Total | $4,950 | $14,800 | $24,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Waterbury 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 $36.96 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Waterbury is 1.13 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 57% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Waterbury is at 97.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,100 nationally becomes $5,900 here (midpoint, 45 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 99.8: $200 to $800.
Data note: 35% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Waterbury. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Waterbury
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 Waterbury the blend is 1.13.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $36.96 an hour, 21% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.43 and $48.95 an hour. About 670 work in the metro. That is 41.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Waterbury metro, so we used the Connecticut statewide median: $30.36 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.96 and $33.90 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $29.93 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.24 and $37.00 an hour. About 460 work in the metro. That is 28.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $36.47 an hour, which is 20% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.71 and $45.44 an hour. BLS counts 1,030 of them working in the area, 64.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Waterbury metro, so we used the Connecticut statewide median: $29.08 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.00 and $37.30 an hour.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 10% of the weighting: a median of $26.77 an hour, 13% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $22.13 and $29.71 an hour. About 210 work in the metro. That is 13.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $730 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $460. That is a swing of roughly 3.1% to 4.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Waterbury-Shelton has 160,710 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 147th 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% | $29.43 | $36.96 | $48.95 | $30.67 | 1.21 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $23.96 | $30.36 | $33.90 | $26.77 | 1.13 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $25.24 | $29.93 | $37.00 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $27.71 | $36.47 | $45.44 | $30.38 | 1.20 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.00 | $29.08 | $37.30 | $28.33 | 1.03 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $22.13 | $26.77 | $29.71 | $23.75 | 1.13 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Waterbury
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Waterbury wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+9%) and kitchen remodel lowest (level); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $3,000 | +9% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,500 – $31,500 | level |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,300 | +2% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,550 – $15,000 | level |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,550 | +4% |
Waterbury: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Waterbury. 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
$4,950 to $12,800
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,800 to $18,700
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,700 to $24,600
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,300 – $5,950 | $5,050 – $8,650 | $7,750 – $11,400 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,450 – $11,400 | $9,700 – $16,700 | $14,900 – $21,900 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,550 – $16,900 | $14,300 – $24,700 | $22,100 – $32,500 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,800 – $27,900 | $23,600 – $40,800 | $36,500 – $53,700 |
Bathroom remodel: what moves the price in Waterbury
Contractor fee
A general contractor charges $50-$150 an hour or 10-20% of the project cost.
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.
How Waterbury compares
Same job, same size (45 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Springfield is the priciest of the group at $15,700.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury, CTthis page | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | |
| New Haven, CT20 miles | $5,000 – $24,900 | $14,900 | +1% |
| Bridgeport, CT25 miles | $5,050 – $25,100 | $15,100 | +2% |
| Hartford, CT30 miles | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | +1% |
| Springfield, MA50 miles | $5,250 – $26,100 | $15,700 | +6% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY50 miles | $5,050 – $25,000 | $15,000 | +2% |
| Connecticut (statewide) | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | +1% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Waterbury ranks #69 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Waterbury is 1% below the Connecticut figure.
Elsewhere in Connecticut
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | +1% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $5,050 – $25,100 | $15,100 | +2% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $5,000 – $24,900 | $14,900 | +1% |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $5,000 – $24,700 | $14,800 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Waterbury against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $4,200 – $20,700 | $12,400 | −16% |
| Youngstown, OH | 160,160 jobs | $4,300 – $21,400 | $12,900 | −13% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $4,350 – $21,700 | $13,000 | −12% |
| Gulfport, MS | 158,310 jobs | $4,200 – $20,900 | $12,600 | −15% |
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Bathroom remodel in Waterbury: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Waterbury?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,950 to $24,600 in the Waterbury area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,800 to $18,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Waterbury?
About $106 to $529 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $200 to $800 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Waterbury or New Haven?
New Haven is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $14,900, which is 1% more than Waterbury ($14,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Waterbury?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $8,350 out of $14,800. Materials are 40% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Waterbury?
$6,550 to $32,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Waterbury?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $200 to $800 for fees in the Waterbury area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Waterbury expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Connecticut?
Waterbury is 1% below the Connecticut statewide estimate ($14,900 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Connecticut; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Waterbury?
The BLS median is $36.96 an hour in the Waterbury area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.43 to $48.95.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Waterbury?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,950 to $12,800 and premium work $16,700 to $24,600. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Waterbury
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.