Bathroom remodel cost in Traverse City, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,450 – $22,100
- Per sq ft
- $94.50 – $474
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #161
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a bathroom remodel in the Traverse City area: $4,450 to $22,100 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 5% lower than the US figure. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Traverse City, MI, standard level
$9,750 to $16,800
About $208 to $360 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $7,200 |
| Labor | $5,200 | $9,000 |
| Permits and fees | $350 | $580 |
| Total | $9,750 | $16,800 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Traverse City, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $5,700 | $9,500 | 43% |
| Labor | $2,350 | $7,100 | $11,800 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $470 | $750 | 4% |
| Total | $4,450 | $13,300 | $22,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Traverse City number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 6 trades: plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 25%, tile and stone setters at 25%, carpenters at 20%, electricians at 10%, drywall and ceiling tile installers at 10%, painters, construction and maintenance at 10%. Weighted together, Traverse City wages are 0.96 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (53% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Traverse City is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,100 nationally becomes $5,700 here (midpoint, 45 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.4: $190 to $750.
Data note: 25% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Traverse City. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in Traverse City
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Traverse City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, kitchen cabinets comes out highest (−4%) and kitchen backsplash lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $860 – $2,600 | −7% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,500 – $29,700 | −6% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,050 – $13,400 | −4% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,250 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $270 – $1,350 | −9% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Traverse City bid
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.
Permit
A bathroom remodel permit is $200-$800, more if you move walls (HomeGuide).
Who does the work: Traverse City 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 Traverse City the blend is 0.96.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $30.34 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.77 and $43.29 an hour. About 190 work in the metro. That is 27.8 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 Traverse City metro, so we used the Michigan statewide median: $23.05 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.17 and $30.08 an hour.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $28.47 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.71 and $30.60 an hour. About 420 work in the metro. That is 61.4 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 $29.64 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.86 and $37.07 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 57.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $26.80 an hour, which is 5% below the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $22.95 and $29.91 an hour. BLS counts 30 of them working in the area, 4.4 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 $25.00 an hour, 5% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $28.54 an hour. About 180 work in the metro. That is 26.3 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 $780 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $340. That is a swing of roughly 2.5% to 5.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Traverse City has 68,440 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 264th 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% | $24.77 | $30.34 | $43.29 | $30.67 | 0.99 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $20.17 | $23.05 | $30.08 | $26.77 | 0.86 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $22.71 | $28.47 | $30.60 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.86 | $29.64 | $37.07 | $30.38 | 0.98 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $22.95 | $26.80 | $29.91 | $28.33 | 0.95 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $21.90 | $25.00 | $28.54 | $23.75 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.96 | |||||
Traverse City: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Traverse City. 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
$4,450 to $11,500
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$9,750 to $16,800
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$15,000 to $22,100
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,100 – $5,350 | $4,500 – $7,800 | $6,950 – $10,200 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,000 – $10,300 | $8,700 – $15,000 | $13,400 – $19,700 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $5,850 – $15,200 | $12,900 – $22,200 | $19,800 – $29,200 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $9,650 – $25,000 | $21,200 – $36,600 | $32,700 – $48,100 |
How Traverse City compares
Same job, same size (45 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Sheboygan is the priciest of the group at $14,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MIthis page | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | |
| Green Bay, WI110 miles | $4,950 – $24,500 | $14,700 | +11% |
| Muskegon, MI110 miles | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | +2% |
| Sheboygan, WI125 miles | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | +12% |
| Appleton, WI130 miles | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | +11% |
| Grand Rapids, MI135 miles | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | +3% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $4,750 – $23,600 | $14,200 | +7% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Traverse City ranks #161 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Traverse City is 6% below the Michigan figure.
Elsewhere in Michigan
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | +12% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $4,600 – $22,800 | $13,700 | +3% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $4,800 – $23,700 | $14,300 | +8% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $4,750 – $23,500 | $14,100 | +7% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $4,750 – $23,600 | $14,200 | +7% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $4,900 – $24,200 | $14,600 | +10% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Traverse City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $4,750 – $23,500 | $14,100 | +7% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $4,450 – $22,000 | $13,200 | level |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $4,350 – $21,500 | $12,900 | −3% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $4,200 – $20,700 | $12,400 | −6% |
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Bathroom remodel in Traverse City: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Traverse City?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,450 to $22,100 in the Traverse City area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,750 to $16,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Traverse City?
About $94.50 to $474 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $190 to $750 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Traverse City or Green Bay?
Green Bay is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $14,700, which is 11% more than Traverse City ($13,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Traverse City?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $7,100 out of $13,300. Materials are 43% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Traverse City?
$5,850 to $29,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Traverse City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $190 to $750 for fees in the Traverse City area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Traverse City expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Michigan?
Traverse City is 6% below the Michigan statewide estimate ($14,200 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Michigan; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Traverse City?
The BLS median is $30.34 an hour in the Traverse City area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.77 to $43.29.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Traverse City?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,450 to $11,500 and premium work $15,000 to $22,100. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Traverse City
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.