Bathroom remodel cost in Scranton, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,800 – $23,900
- Per sq ft
- $103 – $514
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #100
- 1 = most expensive
Scranton homeowners pay roughly $4,800 to $23,900 to remodel a bathroom at 45 sq ft, or $103 to $514 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Scranton is almost level. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $29.40 an hour in the Scranton area, 4% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Scranton, PA, standard level
$10,500 to $18,200
About $226 to $391 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $7,750 |
| Labor | $5,700 | $9,850 |
| Permits and fees | $360 | $580 |
| Total | $10,500 | $18,200 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Scranton, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,050 | $6,100 | $10,200 | 43% |
| Labor | $2,600 | $7,750 | $12,900 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $470 | $750 | 3% |
| Total | $4,800 | $14,300 | $23,900 | 100% |
Why Scranton prices look the way they do
Labor is 54% of the midpoint bill here, against 53% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (25%), tile and stone setters (25%), carpenters (20%), electricians (10%), drywall and ceiling tile installers (10%), painters, construction and maintenance (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Scranton the blended ratio comes out at 1.05.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Scranton 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 (93.6) and land at $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 Scranton. The wage table below marks each row.
How Scranton compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Scranton. Allentown is the lowest at about $14,000 (midpoint, 45 sq ft), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton, PAthis page | $4,800 – $23,900 | $14,300 | |
| Allentown, PA45 miles | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −2% |
| Binghamton, NY60 miles | $5,050 – $25,200 | $15,100 | +5% |
| Reading, PA65 miles | $4,850 – $24,200 | $14,500 | +1% |
| Lancaster, PA90 miles | $4,800 – $23,700 | $14,200 | −1% |
| Harrisburg, PA90 miles | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | +4% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $4,900 – $24,400 | $14,700 | +2% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Scranton comes in at #100 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Scranton is 2% 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 | +4% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $4,900 – $24,400 | $14,600 | +2% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −2% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | +4% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $4,800 – $23,700 | $14,200 | −1% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $4,950 – $24,700 | $14,800 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Scranton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Scranton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $5,200 – $25,900 | $15,600 | +9% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $4,800 – $23,700 | $14,200 | −1% |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $4,150 – $20,600 | $12,400 | −14% |
| Palm Bay, FL | 245,170 jobs | $4,300 – $21,400 | $12,900 | −10% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Scranton is 1.05 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $29.40 an hour, which is 4% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $34.74 an hour. BLS counts 450 of them working in the area, 17.6 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 Scranton 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 $28.96 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.00 and $35.74 an hour. BLS counts 1,070 of them working in the area, 41.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $33.44 an hour, 10% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $24.46 and $47.24 an hour. About 1,050 work in the metro. That is 41.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.91 an hour, 19% below the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $17.61 and $32.89 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 2.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 5.3 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.89 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $21.66 and $28.15 an hour. BLS counts 130 of them working in the area, 5.1 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 ($34.74 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $320. At the 25th percentile ($23.05) it shrinks by about $380. The total moves by 2.3% or 2.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 255,620 jobs in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre area. That makes it the 102nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.16% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $23.05 | $29.40 | $34.74 | $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% | $23.00 | $28.96 | $35.74 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $24.46 | $33.44 | $47.24 | $30.38 | 1.10 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $17.61 | $22.91 | $32.89 | $28.33 | 0.81 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $21.66 | $23.89 | $28.15 | $23.75 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Why two Scranton 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 Scranton
Because every project leans on different trades, Scranton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, kitchen backsplash runs +10% and kitchen cabinets level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,000 – $2,900 | +5% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,600 – $31,700 | +1% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $13,900 | level |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,550 – $15,100 | +1% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $340 – $1,650 | +10% |
Scranton: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Scranton 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 $18,200
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,300 to $23,900
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,250 – $5,750 | $4,900 – $8,400 | $7,500 – $11,000 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,300 – $11,100 | $9,400 – $16,200 | $14,500 – $21,300 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,350 – $16,400 | $13,900 – $24,000 | $21,500 – $31,600 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,500 – $27,100 | $23,000 – $39,600 | $35,500 – $52,200 |
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Bathroom remodel in Scranton: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Scranton?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,800 to $23,900 in the Scranton area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,500 to $18,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Scranton?
About $103 to $514 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 Scranton or Allentown?
Allentown is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $14,000, which is 2% less than Scranton ($14,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Scranton?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $7,750 out of $14,300. Materials are 43% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Scranton?
$6,350 to $31,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Scranton?
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 Scranton area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Scranton expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Scranton is 2% 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 Scranton?
The BLS median is $29.40 an hour in the Scranton area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.05 to $34.74.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Scranton?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,800 to $12,400 and premium work $16,300 to $23,900. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Scranton
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.