Kitchen remodel cost in Waterbury, CT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $18,500 – $31,500
- Per sq ft
- $150 – $250
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #82
- 1 = most expensive
A kitchen remodel in Waterbury, CT usually costs $18,500 to $31,500 for 120 sq ft. That works out to about $150 to $250 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 3% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 97.3).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Waterbury, CT, standard level
$22,400 to $27,600
About $180 to $220 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 22% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,700 | $20,400 |
| Labor | $4,900 | $6,000 |
| Permits and fees | $800 | $1,200 |
| Total | $22,400 | $27,600 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Waterbury, CT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,900 | $18,500 | $23,100 | 74% |
| Labor | $4,100 | $5,450 | $6,800 | 22% |
| Permits and fees | $500 | $1,000 | $1,500 | 4% |
| Total | $18,500 | $25,000 | $31,500 | 100% |
Where the Waterbury price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 6 trades: carpenters at 45%, electricians at 15%, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 15%, tile and stone setters at 10%, drywall and ceiling tile installers at 10%, painters, construction and maintenance at 5%. Weighted together, Waterbury wages are 1.10 times the national level. Labor makes up about 22% of the midpoint estimate (20% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Waterbury is at 97.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $19,000 nationally becomes $18,500 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 99.8: $500 to $1,500.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Waterbury. The wage table below marks each row.
Waterbury against nearby metros and the rest of Connecticut
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 120 sq ft range from $25,000 to $27,300 across Waterbury and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury, CTthis page | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | |
| New Haven, CT20 miles | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,200 | +1% |
| Bridgeport, CT25 miles | $18,600 – $31,800 | $25,200 | +1% |
| Hartford, CT30 miles | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,100 | +1% |
| Springfield, MA50 miles | $19,000 – $32,300 | $25,600 | +3% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY50 miles | $20,200 – $34,400 | $27,300 | +9% |
| Connecticut (statewide) | $18,600 – $31,600 | $25,100 | +1% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | level |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Waterbury ranks #82 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Waterbury is 1% below the Connecticut figure.
Elsewhere in Connecticut
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartford, CT | 599,770 jobs | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,100 | +1% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $18,600 – $31,800 | $25,200 | +1% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,200 | +1% |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Waterbury against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $16,900 – $28,800 | $22,800 | −9% |
| Youngstown, OH | 160,160 jobs | $17,300 – $29,400 | $23,300 | −7% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −6% |
| Gulfport, MS | 158,310 jobs | $17,300 – $29,500 | $23,400 | −6% |
Planning more than one job in Waterbury?
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Waterbury wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+9%) and window replacement lowest (level); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $4,250 – $14,300 | +2% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,950 – $24,600 | +6% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,550 – $15,000 | level |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $39,600 – $80,100 | +4% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,050 – $3,000 | +9% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,550 | +4% |
Waterbury: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Waterbury. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small kitchen (100 sq ft) to large kitchen (300 sq ft).
Basic
$18,500 to $23,700
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$22,400 to $27,600
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$26,300 to $31,500
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $15,500 – $19,900 | $18,800 – $23,200 | $22,100 – $26,500 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $18,500 – $23,700 | $22,400 – $27,600 | $26,300 – $31,500 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $30,500 – $38,800 | $36,800 – $45,100 | $43,000 – $51,400 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $45,400 – $57,800 | $54,700 – $67,100 | $64,000 – $76,400 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Waterbury bid
Scope
A full kitchen update is $15,000-$50,000, a large remodel $50,000-$70,000+, and a partial refresh $60-$150 per square foot (HomeGuide).
Cabinets
In a 10x10 kitchen, cabinets alone are $3,000-$11,000 for stock or semi-custom and up to $26,500 for fully custom.
Counters
New countertops are $50-$150 per square foot installed; HomeGuide gives $1,500-$6,000 for an average kitchen.
What local crews earn in Waterbury
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 Waterbury the blend is 1.10.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $29.93 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.24 and $37.00 an hour. About 460 work in the metro. That is 28.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 15%) the local median is $36.47 an hour, which is 20% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $27.71 and $45.44 an hour. BLS counts 1,030 of them working in the area, 64.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 15% of the weighting: a median of $36.96 an hour, 21% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.43 and $48.95 an hour. About 670 work in the metro. That is 41.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Tile and stone setters (47-2044) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Waterbury metro, so we used the Connecticut statewide median: $30.36 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.96 and $33.90 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Waterbury metro, so we used the Connecticut statewide median: $29.08 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.00 and $37.30 an hour.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 5% of the weighting: a median of $26.77 an hour, 13% above the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $22.13 and $29.71 an hour. About 210 work in the metro. That is 13.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $540 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $360. That is a swing of roughly 1.4% to 2.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Waterbury-Shelton has 160,710 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 147th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 45% | $25.24 | $29.93 | $37.00 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $27.71 | $36.47 | $45.44 | $30.38 | 1.20 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $29.43 | $36.96 | $48.95 | $30.67 | 1.21 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $23.96 | $30.36 | $33.90 | $26.77 | 1.13 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.00 | $29.08 | $37.30 | $28.33 | 1.03 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $22.13 | $26.77 | $29.71 | $23.75 | 1.13 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.10 | |||||
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Kitchen remodel in Waterbury: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Waterbury?
For 120 sq ft, expect $18,500 to $31,500 in the Waterbury area. A standard-spec job lands at $22,400 to $27,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Waterbury?
About $150 to $250 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $500 to $1,500 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Waterbury or New Haven?
New Haven is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $25,200, which is 1% more than Waterbury ($25,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Waterbury?
About 22% at the midpoint, or $5,450 out of $25,000. Materials are 74% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Waterbury?
$30,500 to $51,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Waterbury?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $500 to $1,500 for fees in the Waterbury area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Waterbury expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Connecticut?
Waterbury is 1% below the Connecticut statewide estimate ($25,100 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Connecticut; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Waterbury?
The BLS median is $29.93 an hour in the Waterbury area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.24 to $37.00.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Waterbury?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $18,500 to $23,700 and premium work $26,300 to $31,500. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Waterbury
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 Kitchen Remodel Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = 70% of the low installed price and 85% of the high one, from HomeGuide's statement that professional labor is 15-30% of a kitchen remodeling budget. Cost to Renovate's mid-range kitchen split (45% labor, 50% materials) sits inside that band.