Kitchen remodel cost in Wausau, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (120 sq ft)
- $17,700 – $30,100
- Per sq ft
- $143 – $239
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $25,000
- Rank of 300 metros
- #146
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a kitchen remodel in the Wausau area: $17,700 to $30,100 for 120 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 5% lower than the US figure. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 120 sq ft in Wausau, WI, standard level
$21,400 to $26,300
About $172 to $210 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 21% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,100 | $19,600 |
| Labor | $4,600 | $5,600 |
| Permits and fees | $740 | $1,100 |
| Total | $21,400 | $26,300 |
Cost breakdown for 120 sq ft in Wausau, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $13,400 | $17,800 | $22,300 | 75% |
| Labor | $3,850 | $5,100 | $6,400 | 21% |
| Permits and fees | $460 | $930 | $1,400 | 4% |
| Total | $17,700 | $23,900 | $30,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Wausau number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 45% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.03 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Wausau is 1.02 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 21% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Wausau is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $19,000 nationally becomes $17,800 here (midpoint, 120 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.7: $460 to $1,400.
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 Wausau. The wage table below marks each row.
How Wausau 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 120 sq ft range from $23,900 to $25,100 across Wausau and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WIthis page | $17,700 – $30,100 | $23,900 | |
| Eau Claire, WI75 miles | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | +2% |
| Oshkosh, WI80 miles | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,100 | +5% |
| Appleton, WI80 miles | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | +2% |
| Green Bay, WI90 miles | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | +2% |
| La Crosse, WI105 miles | $17,900 – $30,400 | $24,100 | +1% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $18,000 – $30,700 | $24,300 | +2% |
| United States | $18,500 – $31,500 | $25,000 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Wausau ranks #146 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Wausau is 2% below the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $18,100 – $30,800 | $24,400 | +2% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $18,100 – $30,900 | $24,500 | +3% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | +2% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $18,000 – $30,600 | $24,300 | +2% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $18,600 – $31,700 | $25,100 | +5% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $17,900 – $30,500 | $24,200 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wausau against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $18,400 – $31,200 | $24,800 | +4% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $17,400 – $29,600 | $23,500 | −1% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $18,400 – $31,300 | $24,800 | +4% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $18,400 – $31,400 | $24,900 | +4% |
Who does the work: Wausau trade wages
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 Wausau the blend is 1.02.
Carpenters (47-2031), 45% of the weighting: a median of $24.03 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.14 and $29.66 an hour. About 370 work in the metro. That is 53.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 15%) the local median is $37.83 an hour, which is 25% above the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $24.13 and $41.57 an hour. BLS counts 480 of them working in the area, 69.0 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 $41.71 an hour, 36% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.85 and $48.25 an hour. About 260 work in the metro. That is 37.4 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 Wausau metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $30.14 an hour against $26.77 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.44 and $36.42 an hour.
Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Wausau metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $28.83 an hour against $28.33 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $33.42 an hour.
Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141), 5% of the weighting: a median of $22.90 an hour, 4% below the US median of $23.75. The middle half of them earn between $22.20 and $28.09 an hour. About 50 work in the metro. That is 7.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 14.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $430 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $70. That is a swing of roughly 0.3% to 1.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Wausau has 69,530 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 261st 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% | $23.14 | $24.03 | $29.66 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 15% | $24.13 | $37.83 | $41.57 | $30.38 | 1.25 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 15% | $29.85 | $41.71 | $48.25 | $30.67 | 1.36 | metro |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 10% | $27.44 | $30.14 | $36.42 | $26.77 | 1.13 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $23.05 | $28.83 | $33.42 | $28.33 | 1.02 | state |
| Painters, construction and maintenance (47-2141) | 5% | $22.20 | $22.90 | $28.09 | $23.75 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Wausau
Jobs that often go together with kitchen remodel are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Wausau wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, shower pan comes out highest (+11%) and kitchen cabinets lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets | 25 linear ft | $3,950 – $13,000 | −7% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,850 – $24,000 | +3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,300 – $14,300 | −5% |
| Home addition | 300 sq ft | $37,000 – $74,900 | −3% |
| Shower pan | 1 pan | $1,100 – $3,050 | +11% |
| Kitchen backsplash | 30 sq ft | $310 – $1,500 | level |
Specs and site conditions that change a Wausau bid
Counters
New countertops are $50-$150 per square foot installed; HomeGuide gives $1,500-$6,000 for an average kitchen.
Structure
Moving or removing walls can need a structural engineer at $1,900-$3,700+.
Permit
Kitchen remodel permits are $500-$1,500 and are usually based on project value.
Pick a size, pick a tier: kitchen remodel pricing in Wausau
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Wausau. 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
$17,700 to $22,600
Update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout
Standard
$21,400 to $26,300
Full remodel, mid-range finishes, some layout changes
Premium
$25,100 to $30,100
Large or custom remodel, high-end finishes
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small kitchen (100 sq ft) | $14,800 – $19,000 | $17,900 – $22,100 | $21,100 – $25,300 |
| 10x12 kitchen (120 sq ft) | $17,700 – $22,600 | $21,400 – $26,300 | $25,100 – $30,100 |
| average kitchen (200 sq ft) | $29,100 – $37,200 | $35,200 – $43,200 | $41,200 – $49,200 |
| large kitchen (300 sq ft) | $43,500 – $55,300 | $52,400 – $64,200 | $61,200 – $73,100 |
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Kitchen remodel in Wausau: your questions
+How much does it cost to remodel a kitchen in Wausau?
For 120 sq ft, expect $17,700 to $30,100 in the Wausau area. A standard-spec job lands at $21,400 to $26,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for kitchen remodel in Wausau?
About $143 to $239 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $460 to $1,400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $150 to $250.
+Is kitchen remodel cheaper in Wausau or Eau Claire?
Eau Claire is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 120 sq ft there is $24,200, which is 2% more than Wausau ($23,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wausau?
About 21% at the midpoint, or $5,100 out of $23,900. Materials are 75% and permits 4%. Nationally, labor is 20%.
+What would average kitchen (200 sq ft) cost in Wausau?
$29,100 to $49,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does kitchen remodel need a permit in Wausau?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $460 to $1,400 for fees in the Wausau area (our national range of $500 to $1,500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wausau expensive for kitchen remodel compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Wausau is 2% below the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($24,300 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Wausau?
The BLS median is $24.03 an hour in the Wausau area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.14 to $29.66.
+What do basic and premium kitchen remodel work cost in Wausau?
For 120 sq ft, basic work runs $17,700 to $22,600 and premium work $25,100 to $30,100. Basic means: update: cabinets, counters, flooring and lighting; same layout. Premium means: large or custom remodel, high-end finishes.
Kitchen remodel near Wausau
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.