Bathroom remodel cost in Amherst, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $5,250 – $26,000
- Per sq ft
- $112 – $560
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #22
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a bathroom remodel in the Amherst area: $5,250 to $26,000 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 runs 12% higher than the US figure. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $37.77 an hour in the Amherst area, 23% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Amherst, MA, standard level
$11,500 to $19,800
About $247 to $426 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,450 |
| Labor | $6,750 | $11,700 |
| Permits and fees | $380 | $620 |
| Total | $11,500 | $19,800 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Amherst, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,900 | $9,800 | 38% |
| Labor | $3,100 | $9,250 | $15,400 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $200 | $500 | $800 | 3% |
| Total | $5,250 | $15,600 | $26,000 | 100% |
Where the Amherst price comes from
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 $37.77 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Amherst is 1.24 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 59% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Amherst is at 97.0 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 100.2: $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 Amherst. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Amherst cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (45 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Springfield is the priciest of the group at $15,700. Waterbury is the cheapest at $14,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, MAthis page | $5,250 – $26,000 | $15,600 | |
| Springfield, MA15 miles | $5,250 – $26,100 | $15,700 | level |
| Pittsfield, MA30 miles | $5,200 – $25,800 | $15,500 | −1% |
| Worcester, MA35 miles | $5,100 – $25,400 | $15,300 | −2% |
| Hartford, CT45 miles | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | −5% |
| Waterbury, CT60 miles | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | −6% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $5,550 – $27,400 | $16,500 | +5% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Amherst ranks #22 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Amherst is 5% below the Massachusetts figure.
Elsewhere in Massachusetts
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $5,600 – $27,800 | $16,700 | +7% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $5,100 – $25,400 | $15,300 | −2% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $5,250 – $26,100 | $15,700 | level |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $5,250 – $26,000 | $15,600 | level |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $5,200 – $25,800 | $15,500 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Amherst against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $4,450 – $22,000 | $13,200 | −15% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $4,250 – $21,100 | $12,700 | −19% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $4,350 – $21,400 | $12,900 | −18% |
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $5,100 – $25,300 | $15,200 | −3% |
Related projects, priced for Amherst
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Amherst wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+19%) and kitchen remodel lowest (+1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,200 – $3,250 | +19% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,800 – $31,900 | +1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,350 – $14,800 | +5% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,100 – $16,300 | +10% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $360 – $1,750 | +16% |
Amherst: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Amherst. 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
$5,250 to $13,600
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$11,500 to $19,800
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$17,700 to $26,000
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,450 – $6,250 | $5,300 – $9,150 | $8,200 – $12,000 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,700 – $12,100 | $10,200 – $17,700 | $15,800 – $23,200 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,950 – $17,900 | $15,200 – $26,200 | $23,400 – $34,400 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $11,400 – $29,600 | $25,000 – $43,200 | $38,700 – $56,800 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Amherst bid
Tile
New tile costs $10-$50 per square foot installed, and regrouting runs $7-$28 per square foot.
Moving plumbing
Keeping the toilet, tub and vanity in place keeps plumbing costs down. Moving them does not.
Contractor fee
A general contractor charges $50-$150 an hour or 10-20% of the project cost.
Who does the work: Amherst 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 Amherst the blend is 1.24.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $37.77 an hour, 23% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $27.70 and $45.15 an hour. About 190 work in the metro. That is 28.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Amherst metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median: $39.02 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $28.46 and $46.13 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $32.13 an hour, 10% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.62 and $41.93 an hour. About 350 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.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $37.01 an hour, which is 22% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $28.16 and $40.75 an hour. BLS counts 240 of them working in the area, 36.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Amherst metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median: $33.42 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.51 and $38.60 an hour.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 10% of the weighting: a median of $26.46 an hour, 11% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $21.61 and $31.44 an hour. About 60 work in the metro. That is 9.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so expect fewer 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 $450 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $610. That is a swing of roughly 3.9% to 2.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Amherst Town-Northampton has 65,670 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 273rd 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% | $27.70 | $37.77 | $45.15 | $30.67 | 1.23 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $28.46 | $39.02 | $46.13 | $26.77 | 1.46 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $28.62 | $32.13 | $41.93 | $29.12 | 1.10 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $28.16 | $37.01 | $40.75 | $30.38 | 1.22 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $29.51 | $33.42 | $38.60 | $28.33 | 1.18 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $21.61 | $26.46 | $31.44 | $23.75 | 1.11 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.24 | |||||
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Bathroom remodel in Amherst: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Amherst?
For 45 sq ft, expect $5,250 to $26,000 in the Amherst area. A standard-spec job lands at $11,500 to $19,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Amherst?
About $112 to $560 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 Amherst or Springfield?
Springfield is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $15,700, which is 0% more than Amherst ($15,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Amherst?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $9,250 out of $15,600. Materials are 38% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Amherst?
$6,950 to $34,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Amherst?
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 Amherst area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Amherst expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Amherst is 5% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($16,500 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Amherst?
The BLS median is $37.77 an hour in the Amherst area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.70 to $45.15.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Amherst?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $5,250 to $13,600 and premium work $17,700 to $26,000. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Amherst
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.