Bathroom remodel cost in Rochester, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,900 – $24,300
- Per sq ft
- $104 – $522
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #81
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a bathroom remodel in the Rochester area: $4,900 to $24,300 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 4% higher than the US figure. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $35.38 an hour in the Rochester area, 15% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Rochester, NY, standard level
$10,700 to $18,400
About $230 to $397 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,450 | $7,650 |
| Labor | $5,900 | $10,200 |
| Permits and fees | $370 | $600 |
| Total | $10,700 | $18,400 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Rochester, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,000 | $6,050 | $10,100 | 42% |
| Labor | $2,700 | $8,050 | $13,400 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $490 | $780 | 3% |
| Total | $4,900 | $14,600 | $24,300 | 100% |
Why Rochester prices look the way they do
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, Rochester wages are 1.08 times the national level. Labor makes up about 55% of the midpoint estimate (53% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Rochester is at 99.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $6,100 nationally becomes $6,050 here (midpoint, 45 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.0: $190 to $780.
Pick a size, pick a tier: bathroom remodel pricing in Rochester
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Rochester. 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
$4,900 to $12,600
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,700 to $18,400
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,500 to $24,300
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,300 – $5,850 | $4,950 – $8,550 | $7,650 – $11,200 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,350 – $11,300 | $9,550 – $16,500 | $14,700 – $21,600 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,450 – $16,700 | $14,100 – $24,400 | $21,800 – $32,100 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,600 – $27,600 | $23,300 – $40,300 | $36,000 – $52,900 |
Bathroom remodel: what moves the price in Rochester
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).
Rochester against nearby metros and the rest of New York
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Rochester. Syracuse is the lowest at about $14,300 (midpoint, 45 sq ft), 70 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NYthis page | $4,900 – $24,300 | $14,600 | |
| Buffalo, NY60 miles | $4,900 – $24,300 | $14,600 | level |
| Syracuse, NY70 miles | $4,800 – $23,900 | $14,300 | −2% |
| Binghamton, NY105 miles | $5,050 – $25,200 | $15,100 | +4% |
| Utica, NY120 miles | $4,850 – $24,000 | $14,400 | −1% |
| Erie, PA150 miles | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | −1% |
| New York (statewide) | $5,300 – $26,200 | $15,700 | +8% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Rochester ranks #81 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Rochester is 7% below the New York figure.
Elsewhere in New York
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $5,450 – $26,900 | $16,200 | +11% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $4,900 – $24,300 | $14,600 | level |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $4,900 – $24,300 | $14,600 | level |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $4,800 – $23,900 | $14,300 | −2% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $5,050 – $25,000 | $15,000 | +3% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $4,850 – $24,000 | $14,400 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Rochester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $4,550 – $22,500 | $13,500 | −7% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $4,900 – $24,200 | $14,600 | level |
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $4,300 – $21,200 | $12,800 | −12% |
| Tulsa, OK | 458,730 jobs | $4,200 – $20,700 | $12,400 | −15% |
Who does the work: Rochester 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 Rochester the blend is 1.08.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 25% of the weighting: a median of $35.38 an hour, 15% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $26.75 and $43.18 an hour. About 1,460 work in the metro. That is 29.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044), 25% of the weighting: a median of $29.67 an hour, 11% above the US median of $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $23.96 and $34.63 an hour. About 110 work in the metro. That is 2.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Carpenters (47-2031), 20% of the weighting: a median of $28.60 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $24.10 and $35.00 an hour. About 2,350 work in the metro. That is 47.5 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 $37.17 an hour, which is 22% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.91 and $46.49 an hour. BLS counts 2,540 of them working in the area, 51.4 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 $28.80 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $23.81 and $31.12 an hour. BLS counts 200 of them working in the area, 4.0 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 $22.71 an hour, 4% below the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $22.34 and $29.03 an hour. About 590 work in the metro. That is 11.9 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 $470 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $520. That is a swing of roughly 3.6% to 3.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Rochester has 494,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 52nd 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% | $26.75 | $35.38 | $43.18 | $30.67 | 1.15 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $23.96 | $29.67 | $34.63 | $26.77 | 1.11 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $24.10 | $28.60 | $35.00 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $27.91 | $37.17 | $46.49 | $30.38 | 1.22 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.81 | $28.80 | $31.12 | $28.33 | 1.02 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $22.34 | $22.71 | $29.03 | $23.75 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Rochester
Jobs that often go together with bathroom remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Rochester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+7%) and window replacement lowest (level); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $2,950 | +7% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,700 – $31,700 | +1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,100 | +1% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,550 – $15,100 | level |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,550 | +4% |
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Bathroom remodel in Rochester: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Rochester?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,900 to $24,300 in the Rochester area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,700 to $18,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Rochester?
About $104 to $522 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $190 to $780 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Rochester or Buffalo?
Buffalo is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $14,600, which is 0% more than Rochester ($14,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rochester?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $8,050 out of $14,600. Materials are 42% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Rochester?
$6,450 to $32,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Rochester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $190 to $780 for fees in the Rochester area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Rochester expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of New York?
Rochester is 7% below the New York statewide estimate ($15,700 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in New York; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Rochester?
The BLS median is $35.38 an hour in the Rochester area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.75 to $43.18.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Rochester?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,900 to $12,600 and premium work $16,500 to $24,300. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Rochester
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.