Bathroom remodel cost in Worcester, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $5,100 – $25,400
- Per sq ft
- $109 – $547
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #34
- 1 = most expensive
A bathroom remodel in Worcester, MA usually costs $5,100 to $25,400 for 45 sq ft. That works out to about $109 to $547 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,250 more. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $39.55 an hour in the Worcester area, 29% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Worcester, MA, standard level
$11,200 to $19,300
About $240 to $415 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,450 |
| Labor | $6,500 | $11,200 |
| Permits and fees | $390 | $640 |
| Total | $11,200 | $19,300 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Worcester, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,900 | $9,800 | 39% |
| Labor | $2,950 | $8,850 | $14,800 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $510 | $820 | 3% |
| Total | $5,100 | $15,300 | $25,400 | 100% |
What is behind the Worcester 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 $39.55 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Worcester is 1.19 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 58% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Worcester 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 102.5: $210 to $820.
Why two Worcester quotes can differ
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.
What nearby projects cost in Worcester
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Worcester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+9%) and kitchen backsplash lowest (+1%); 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 | $18,900 – $32,100 | +2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,450 – $15,500 | +9% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,850 – $15,700 | +6% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,500 | +1% |
What local crews earn in Worcester
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 Worcester the blend is 1.19.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $39.55 an hour, 29% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $28.23 and $51.02 an hour. About 1,370 work in the metro. That is 39.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 25% of the weighting: a median of $28.33 an hour, 6% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.74 and $37.24 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 1.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $35.10 an hour, 21% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.63 and $43.40 an hour. About 1,590 work in the metro. That is 45.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $36.30 an hour, which is 19% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.03 and $44.62 an hour. BLS counts 1,580 of them working in the area, 45.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is about average.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $38.60 an hour, which is 36% above the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $33.20 and $38.60 an hour. BLS counts 120 of them working in the area, 3.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 10% of the weighting: a median of $26.08 an hour, 10% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $20.90 and $31.57 an hour. About 300 work in the metro. That is 8.6 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 $690 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $690. That is a swing of roughly 4.5% to 4.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Worcester has 349,880 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 73rd 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% | $28.23 | $39.55 | $51.02 | $30.67 | 1.29 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $23.74 | $28.33 | $37.24 | $26.77 | 1.06 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $28.63 | $35.10 | $43.40 | $29.12 | 1.21 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $27.03 | $36.30 | $44.62 | $30.38 | 1.19 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $33.20 | $38.60 | $38.60 | $28.33 | 1.36 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $20.90 | $26.08 | $31.57 | $23.75 | 1.10 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.19 | |||||
How Worcester 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 $13,900 to $16,700 across Worcester and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MAthis page | $5,100 – $25,400 | $15,300 | |
| Amherst, MA35 miles | $5,250 – $26,000 | $15,600 | +2% |
| Springfield, MA40 miles | $5,250 – $26,100 | $15,700 | +3% |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $4,650 – $23,100 | $13,900 | −9% |
| Boston, MA50 miles | $5,600 – $27,800 | $16,700 | +9% |
| Hartford, CT55 miles | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | −2% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $5,550 – $27,400 | $16,500 | +8% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Worcester ranks #34 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Worcester is 7% 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 | +9% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $5,250 – $26,100 | $15,700 | +3% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $5,250 – $26,000 | $15,600 | +2% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $5,250 – $26,000 | $15,600 | +2% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $5,200 – $25,800 | $15,500 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Worcester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $3,950 – $19,600 | $11,800 | −23% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | −16% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | −16% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | −16% |
Cost by quality level and size in Worcester
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Worcester. 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
$5,100 to $13,200
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$11,200 to $19,300
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$17,300 to $25,400
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,400 – $6,150 | $5,200 – $8,950 | $8,000 – $11,800 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,600 – $11,800 | $10,000 – $17,200 | $15,400 – $22,700 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,750 – $17,500 | $14,800 – $25,600 | $22,900 – $33,600 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $11,100 – $28,900 | $24,400 – $42,200 | $37,700 – $55,500 |
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Bathroom remodel in Worcester: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Worcester?
For 45 sq ft, expect $5,100 to $25,400 in the Worcester area. A standard-spec job lands at $11,200 to $19,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Worcester?
About $109 to $547 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $210 to $820 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Worcester or Amherst?
Amherst is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $15,600, which is 2% more than Worcester ($15,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Worcester?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $8,850 out of $15,300. Materials are 39% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Worcester?
$6,750 to $33,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Worcester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $210 to $820 for fees in the Worcester area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Worcester expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Worcester is 7% 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 Worcester?
The BLS median is $39.55 an hour in the Worcester area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.23 to $51.02.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Worcester?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $5,100 to $13,200 and premium work $17,300 to $25,400. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Worcester
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.