Bathroom remodel cost in Johnson City, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $4,050 – $20,200
- Per sq ft
- $86.50 – $433
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #286
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to remodel a bathroom in Johnson City, plan on $4,050 to $20,200 for 45 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $86.50 to $433 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 13% lower than the national one. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $23.31 an hour in the Johnson City area, 24% below the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Johnson City, TN, standard level
$8,900 to $15,400
About $190 to $329 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,300 | $7,400 |
| Labor | $4,300 | $7,400 |
| Permits and fees | $330 | $550 |
| Total | $8,900 | $15,400 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Johnson City, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $5,850 | $9,750 | 48% |
| Labor | $1,950 | $5,850 | $9,750 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $440 | $700 | 4% |
| Total | $4,050 | $12,100 | $20,200 | 100% |
What is behind the Johnson 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, Johnson City wages are 0.79 times the national level. Labor makes up about 48% of the midpoint estimate (53% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Johnson City metro is 96.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $5,850, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (87.9) and land at $180 to $700.
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 Johnson City. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in Johnson City
Because every project leans on different trades, Johnson City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, window replacement runs −7% and shower pan −16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $750 – $2,400 | −16% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,100 – $29,100 | −7% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,850 – $12,100 | −13% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,100 – $13,900 | −7% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $260 – $1,350 | −11% |
Cost by quality level and size in Johnson City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Johnson City 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
$4,050 to $10,500
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$8,900 to $15,400
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$13,700 to $20,200
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $1,900 – $4,900 | $4,150 – $7,150 | $6,400 – $9,350 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $3,650 – $9,400 | $7,950 – $13,700 | $12,300 – $18,000 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $5,350 – $13,900 | $11,800 – $20,300 | $18,200 – $26,700 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $8,850 – $22,900 | $19,400 – $33,400 | $29,900 – $44,000 |
How Johnson City 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 $12,100 to $12,800 across Johnson City and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City, TNthis page | $4,050 – $20,200 | $12,100 | |
| Kingsport, TN25 miles | $4,200 – $20,800 | $12,500 | +3% |
| Asheville, NC45 miles | $4,300 – $21,400 | $12,800 | +6% |
| Hickory, NC60 miles | $4,100 – $20,400 | $12,300 | +1% |
| Knoxville, TN100 miles | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | +4% |
| Spartanburg, SC105 miles | $4,200 – $20,700 | $12,500 | +3% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $4,250 – $21,100 | $12,700 | +5% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | +15% |
Across 300 US metros, Johnson City comes in at #286 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Johnson City is 4% below the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $4,350 – $21,600 | $13,000 | +7% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $4,300 – $21,200 | $12,800 | +5% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | +4% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | +4% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $4,200 – $20,800 | $12,500 | +3% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $4,200 – $20,800 | $12,500 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Johnson City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Johnson City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $4,150 – $20,600 | $12,400 | +2% |
| Odessa, TX | 80,910 jobs | $4,300 – $21,300 | $12,800 | +6% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $4,200 – $20,700 | $12,400 | +3% |
| Greenville, NC | 80,770 jobs | $4,150 – $20,600 | $12,400 | +2% |
Johnson City 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 Johnson City is 0.79 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $23.31 an hour, which is 24% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $20.64 and $28.97 an hour. BLS counts 210 of them working in the area, 25.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 25% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Johnson City metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median: $20.95 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.57 and $22.81 an hour.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $23.04 an hour, which is 21% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.81 and $26.92 an hour. BLS counts 160 of them working in the area, 19.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Electricians (47-2111), 10% of the weighting: a median of $25.09 an hour, 17% below the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $19.92 and $36.42 an hour. About 270 work in the metro. That is 33.1 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 Johnson City metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median: $22.84 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.98 and $27.18 an hour.
For painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141, weighted 10%) the local median is $18.94 an hour, which is 20% below the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $17.11 and $25.84 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 7.3 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 ($28.97 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $340. At the 25th percentile ($20.64) it shrinks by about $160. The total moves by 2.8% or 1.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 81,690 jobs in the Johnson City area. That makes it the 234th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $20.64 | $23.31 | $28.97 | $30.67 | 0.76 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $17.57 | $20.95 | $22.81 | $26.77 | 0.78 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $21.81 | $23.04 | $26.92 | $29.12 | 0.79 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $19.92 | $25.09 | $36.42 | $30.38 | 0.83 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $18.98 | $22.84 | $27.18 | $28.33 | 0.81 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $17.11 | $18.94 | $25.84 | $23.75 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Why two Johnson City quotes can differ
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 Johnson City: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Johnson City?
For 45 sq ft, expect $4,050 to $20,200 in the Johnson City area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,900 to $15,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Johnson City?
About $86.50 to $433 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $180 to $700 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $100 to $500.
+Is bathroom remodel cheaper in Johnson City or Kingsport?
Kingsport is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $12,500, which is 3% more than Johnson City ($12,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Johnson City?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $5,850 out of $12,100. Materials are 48% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Johnson City?
$5,350 to $26,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Johnson City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $180 to $700 for fees in the Johnson City area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Johnson City expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Johnson City is 4% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($12,700 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Johnson City?
The BLS median is $23.31 an hour in the Johnson City area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.64 to $28.97.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Johnson City?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $4,050 to $10,500 and premium work $13,700 to $20,200. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Johnson 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.