Bathroom remodel cost in Altoona, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,800 – $23,700
- Per sq ft
- $102 – $511
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #104
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to remodel a bathroom in Altoona, plan on $4,800 to $23,700 for 45 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $102 to $511 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $29.53 an hour in the Altoona area, 4% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Altoona, PA, standard level
$10,500 to $18,000
About $225 to $389 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $7,750 |
| Labor | $5,650 | $9,750 |
| Permits and fees | $340 | $550 |
| Total | $10,500 | $18,000 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Altoona, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,050 | $6,100 | $10,200 | 43% |
| Labor | $2,550 | $7,700 | $12,800 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $450 | $720 | 3% |
| Total | $4,800 | $14,300 | $23,700 | 100% |
What is behind the Altoona 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, Altoona wages are 1.04 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (53% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Altoona metro is 100.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $6,100, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (89.5) and land at $180 to $720.
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 Altoona. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Altoona?
Because every project leans on different trades, Altoona's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen backsplash runs +10% and kitchen cabinets −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,900 | +5% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,500 – $31,400 | level |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,150 – $13,500 | −3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,500 – $15,000 | level |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $340 – $1,650 | +10% |
Cost by quality level and size in Altoona
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Altoona wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$4,800 to $12,400
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$10,500 to $18,000
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,100 to $23,700
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,200 – $5,700 | $4,850 – $8,350 | $7,450 – $10,900 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,250 – $11,000 | $9,350 – $16,100 | $14,400 – $21,200 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,300 – $16,300 | $13,800 – $23,900 | $21,400 – $31,400 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,400 – $27,000 | $22,800 – $39,400 | $35,300 – $51,800 |
How Altoona compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Altoona. Hagerstown is the lowest at about $12,900 (midpoint, 45 sq ft), 65 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PAthis page | $4,800 – $23,700 | $14,300 | |
| State College, PA35 miles | $4,750 – $23,500 | $14,100 | −1% |
| Chambersburg, PA50 miles | $4,750 – $23,700 | $14,200 | level |
| Harrisburg, PA65 miles | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | +5% |
| Hagerstown, MD65 miles | $4,350 – $21,500 | $12,900 | −9% |
| Pittsburgh, PA80 miles | $4,900 – $24,400 | $14,600 | +3% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $4,900 – $24,400 | $14,700 | +3% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Altoona comes in at #104 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Altoona is 3% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $5,000 – $24,900 | $15,000 | +5% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $4,900 – $24,400 | $14,600 | +3% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −2% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | +5% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $4,800 – $23,900 | $14,300 | +1% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $4,800 – $23,700 | $14,200 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Altoona's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Altoona against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | +2% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | −7% |
| Niles, MI | 59,970 jobs | $4,400 – $21,700 | $13,000 | −9% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $4,200 – $20,900 | $12,500 | −12% |
Altoona labor market for bathroom remodel
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 6 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Altoona is 1.04 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $29.53 an hour, which is 4% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.81 and $36.41 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 13.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Altoona metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median: $33.77 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $24.16 and $37.82 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $27.58 an hour, which is 5% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.09 and $36.73 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the area, 61.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.18 an hour, 7% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $22.81 and $33.00 an hour. About 170 work in the metro. That is 29.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Altoona metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median: $29.40 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.28 and $34.01 an hour.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.22 an hour, which is 6% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $21.88 and $26.10 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 10.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.41 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $420. At the 25th percentile ($23.81) it shrinks by about $350. The total moves by 2.9% or 2.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 58,650 jobs in the Altoona area. That makes it the 291st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $23.81 | $29.53 | $36.41 | $30.67 | 0.96 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $24.16 | $33.77 | $37.82 | $26.77 | 1.26 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $22.09 | $27.58 | $36.73 | $29.12 | 0.95 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $22.81 | $28.18 | $33.00 | $30.38 | 0.93 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.28 | $29.40 | $34.01 | $28.33 | 1.04 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $21.88 | $22.22 | $26.10 | $23.75 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Bathroom remodel: what moves the price in Altoona
Size
HomeGuide's average-size bathroom comes to $3,500-$25,000+; per square foot it's $100-$500.
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.
Get 3 local quotes
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Bathroom remodel in Altoona: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Altoona?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,800 to $23,700 in the Altoona area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,500 to $18,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Altoona?
About $102 to $511 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $180 to $720 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Altoona or State College?
State College is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $14,100, which is 1% less than Altoona ($14,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Altoona?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $7,700 out of $14,300. Materials are 43% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Altoona?
$6,300 to $31,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Altoona?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $180 to $720 for fees in the Altoona area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Altoona expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Altoona is 3% below the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($14,700 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Altoona?
The BLS median is $29.53 an hour in the Altoona area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.81 to $36.41.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Altoona?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,800 to $12,400 and premium work $16,100 to $23,700. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Altoona
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.