Bathroom remodel cost in Madison, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (45 sq ft)
- $5,000 – $24,900
- Per sq ft
- $107 – $536
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $14,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #56
- 1 = most expensive
Madison homeowners pay roughly $5,000 to $24,900 to remodel a bathroom at 45 sq ft, or $107 to $536 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Madison is 7% higher. Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn a median of $40.94 an hour in the Madison area, 33% above the US median of $30.67.
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Estimated cost for 45 sq ft in Madison, WI, standard level
$11,000 to $18,900
About $236 to $407 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $7,200 |
| Labor | $6,450 | $11,100 |
| Permits and fees | $370 | $600 |
| Total | $11,000 | $18,900 |
Cost breakdown for 45 sq ft in Madison, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $5,700 | $9,500 | 38% |
| Labor | $2,900 | $8,750 | $14,600 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $490 | $780 | 3% |
| Total | $5,000 | $15,000 | $24,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Madison number
Labor is 59% 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 Madison the blended ratio comes out at 1.18.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Madison metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 45 sq ft comes to $5,700, compared with $6,100 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.3) and land at $190 to $780.
Why two Madison quotes can differ
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.
Contractor fee
A general contractor charges $50-$150 an hour or 10-20% of the project cost.
Cost by quality level and size in Madison
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Madison 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
$5,000 to $13,000
Cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring
Standard
$11,000 to $18,900
Full remodel with new tub or shower and tile
Premium
$16,900 to $24,900
Primary bath, custom tile, layout change
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| half bath (20 sq ft) | $2,350 – $6,000 | $5,100 – $8,750 | $7,850 – $11,500 |
| small full bath (40 sq ft) | $4,500 – $11,600 | $9,800 – $16,900 | $15,100 – $22,200 |
| average bath (60 sq ft) | $6,600 – $17,100 | $14,500 – $25,000 | $22,400 – $32,900 |
| primary bath (100 sq ft) | $10,900 – $28,300 | $23,900 – $41,300 | $37,000 – $54,400 |
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 Madison is 1.18 times the national level.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 25%) the local median is $40.94 an hour, which is 33% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.54 and $51.62 an hour. BLS counts 1,590 of them working in the area, 39.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For tile and stone setters (47-2044, weighted 25%) the local median is $31.22 an hour, which is 17% above the national $26.77. The middle half of them earn between $28.31 and $37.00 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 1.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 20%) the local median is $30.52 an hour, which is 5% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.71 and $39.68 an hour. BLS counts 2,320 of them working in the area, 56.9 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 $37.71 an hour, 24% above the US median of $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.92 and $48.32 an hour. About 1,760 work in the metro. That is 43.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 48.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.53 an hour, 8% above the US median of $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $28.76 and $37.65 an hour. About 170 work in the metro. That is 4.2 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 $27.16 an hour, which is 14% above the national $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $23.06 and $35.97 an hour. BLS counts 520 of them working in the area, 12.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 14.5), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($51.62 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $650. At the 25th percentile ($29.54) it shrinks by about $690. The total moves by 4.3% or 4.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 408,070 jobs in the Madison area. That makes it the 61st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 25% | $29.54 | $40.94 | $51.62 | $30.67 | 1.33 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 25% | $28.31 | $31.22 | $37.00 | $26.77 | 1.17 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 20% | $25.71 | $30.52 | $39.68 | $29.12 | 1.05 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $27.92 | $37.71 | $48.32 | $30.38 | 1.24 | metro |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $28.76 | $30.53 | $37.65 | $28.33 | 1.08 | metro |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 10% | $23.06 | $27.16 | $35.97 | $23.75 | 1.14 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.18 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Madison
Because every project leans on different trades, Madison's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, shower pan runs +12% and kitchen remodel −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,050 | +12% |
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $18,100 – $30,900 | −2% |
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,200 – $14,400 | +2% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,750 – $15,300 | +3% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,550 | +3% |
How Madison compares
Same job, same size (45 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Rockford is the priciest of the group at $15,900. Dubuque is the cheapest at $13,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WIthis page | $5,000 – $24,900 | $15,000 | |
| Janesville, WI40 miles | $5,000 – $24,800 | $14,900 | level |
| Rockford, IL60 miles | $5,350 – $26,500 | $15,900 | +6% |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | −11% |
| Oshkosh, WI85 miles | $5,100 – $25,400 | $15,300 | +2% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | −3% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $4,900 – $24,300 | $14,600 | −3% |
| United States | $4,700 – $23,300 | $14,000 | −6% |
Across 300 US metros, Madison comes in at #56 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $18,400; the cheapest is Jonesboro, AR at $11,600 (midpoints, 45 sq ft). Statewide, Madison is 3% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | −1% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $4,950 – $24,500 | $14,700 | −2% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $4,950 – $24,600 | $14,800 | −1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $5,100 – $25,400 | $15,300 | +2% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $4,950 – $24,500 | $14,700 | −1% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $4,850 – $24,100 | $14,500 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Madison's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Madison against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | −11% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $4,450 – $22,100 | $13,300 | −11% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $4,250 – $21,000 | $12,600 | −16% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $5,050 – $25,100 | $15,100 | +1% |
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Bathroom remodel in Madison: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom in Madison?
For 45 sq ft, expect $5,000 to $24,900 in the Madison area. A standard-spec job lands at $11,000 to $18,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for bathroom remodel in Madison?
About $107 to $536 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 Madison or Janesville?
Janesville is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 45 sq ft there is $14,900, which is 0% less than Madison ($15,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Madison?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $8,750 out of $15,000. Materials are 38% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 53%.
+What would average bath (60 sq ft) cost in Madison?
$6,600 to $32,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does bathroom remodel need a permit in Madison?
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 Madison area (our national range of $200 to $800 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Madison expensive for bathroom remodel compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Madison is 3% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($14,600 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters earn in Madison?
The BLS median is $40.94 an hour in the Madison area, compared with $30.67 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.54 to $51.62.
+What do basic and premium bathroom remodel work cost in Madison?
For 45 sq ft, basic work runs $5,000 to $13,000 and premium work $16,900 to $24,900. Basic means: cosmetic refresh: vanity, fixtures, paint, flooring. Premium means: primary bath, custom tile, layout change.
Bathroom remodel near Madison
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.