Home project costs in Salinas, CA
Every project we cover, priced for the Salinas metro with local BLS wages and BEA price levels.
The BEA price index for the Salinas area is 109.0 against 100 for the US, which puts Salinas 14th among 300 metros we track. Goods prices, which matter most for materials, are at 105.2. BLS counts roughly 186,430 jobs here.
In Salinas, 38 of the 38 projects price above the national midpoint and 0 below. The biggest premiums are French drain (+22%), asphalt driveway (+20%) and gravel driveway (+19%); the lowest are shower pan (+4%), kitchen backsplash (+5%) and attic insulation (+5%). The spread comes from which trades each job uses: a labor-heavy job follows local wages, while a materials-heavy job follows the goods index.
Weather: the nearest NOAA station (Salinas Municipal Ap, 2 miles away) shows a January average low of 42°F, a July average high of 71°F and 13 inches of precipitation a year (1991-2020 normals). For concrete pours, every month is workable; for exterior installation, every month is workable.
What local trades earn in Salinas
| Trade | Projects using it | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 25 | $24.31 | $29.65 | $36.63 | $22.66 | 1.31 |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 23 | $24.94 | $32.47 | $39.57 | $29.12 | 1.12 |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 10 | $31.66 | $38.62 | $57.61 | $28.78 | 1.34 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 7 | $28.21 | $30.98 | $39.44 | $30.67 | 1.01 |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 6 | $27.39 | $32.71 | $49.38 | $27.41 | 1.19 |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 6 | $28.51 | $37.88 | $46.58 | $30.38 | 1.25 |
| Tile and stone setters (47-2044) | 5 | $23.10 | $28.09 | $37.08 | $26.77 | 1.05 |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 5 | $28.76 | $29.58 | $35.68 | $26.65 | 1.11 |
Concrete & paving in Salinas
Across these 7 projects, Salinas averages +16% against national midpoints. Asphalt driveway is highest at +20% and concrete slab lowest at +13%.
| Project | Size | Salinas range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab cost in Salinas | 400 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,850 | +13% |
| Concrete driveway cost in Salinas | 600 sq ft | $4,250 – $10,900 | +18% |
| Asphalt driveway cost in Salinas | 600 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,000 | +20% |
| Gravel driveway cost in Salinas | 1,000 sq ft | $3,000 – $12,100 | +19% |
| Paver patio cost in Salinas | 300 sq ft | $3,450 – $6,250 | +15% |
| Concrete patio cost in Salinas | 300 sq ft | $1,400 – $4,650 | +15% |
| Stamped concrete cost in Salinas | 400 sq ft | $3,700 – $9,150 | +15% |
Decks & outdoor in Salinas
Across these 2 projects, Salinas averages +10% against national midpoints. Composite deck is highest at +11% and wood deck lowest at +10%.
| Project | Size | Salinas range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood deck cost in Salinas | 300 sq ft | $8,300 – $16,600 | +10% |
| Composite deck cost in Salinas | 300 sq ft | $13,400 – $26,900 | +11% |
Building & additions in Salinas
The 2 jobs here average +11% versus the US in Salinas, from +11% (home addition) to +11% (detached garage).
| Project | Size | Salinas range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached garage cost in Salinas | 576 sq ft | $32,300 – $64,800 | +11% |
| Home addition cost in Salinas | 300 sq ft | $42,200 – $85,500 | +11% |
Doors & windows in Salinas
Across these 5 projects, Salinas averages +7% against national midpoints. Patio door is highest at +8% and front door lowest at +6%.
| Project | Size | Salinas range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garage door cost in Salinas | 1 door | $760 – $3,950 | +7% |
| Storm door cost in Salinas | 1 door | $380 – $1,000 | +7% |
| Front door cost in Salinas | 1 door | $540 – $2,650 | +6% |
| Window replacement cost in Salinas | 10 windows | $4,850 – $16,000 | +7% |
| Patio door cost in Salinas | 1 door | $640 – $6,500 | +8% |
Fencing in Salinas
Across these 4 projects, Salinas averages +12% against national midpoints. Chain-link fence is highest at +16% and vinyl fence lowest at +9%.
| Project | Size | Salinas range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence cost in Salinas | 150 linear ft | $3,400 – $8,450 | +11% |
| Vinyl fence cost in Salinas | 150 linear ft | $4,900 – $10,000 | +9% |
| Chain-link fence cost in Salinas | 150 linear ft | $1,750 – $7,200 | +16% |
| Aluminum fence cost in Salinas | 150 linear ft | $4,250 – $12,700 | +12% |
Roofing & exterior in Salinas
Across these 5 projects, Salinas averages +11% against national midpoints. Gutters is highest at +13% and attic insulation lowest at +5%.
| Project | Size | Salinas range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement cost in Salinas | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,800 – $13,800 | +11% |
| Metal roof cost in Salinas | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,700 – $36,200 | +12% |
| Gutters cost in Salinas | 160 linear ft | $1,500 – $4,750 | +13% |
| Vinyl siding cost in Salinas | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,450 – $28,300 | +12% |
| Attic insulation cost in Salinas | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,200 | +5% |
Kitchen & bath in Salinas
The 5 jobs here average +7% versus the US in Salinas, from +4% (shower pan) to +9% (kitchen cabinets).
| Project | Size | Salinas range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets cost in Salinas | 25 linear ft | $4,550 – $15,300 | +9% |
| Shower pan cost in Salinas | 1 pan | $960 – $2,950 | +4% |
| Kitchen remodel cost in Salinas | 120 sq ft | $19,800 – $33,700 | +7% |
| Bathroom remodel cost in Salinas | 45 sq ft | $5,100 – $25,300 | +8% |
| Kitchen backsplash cost in Salinas | 30 sq ft | $320 – $1,600 | +5% |
Landscaping & drainage in Salinas
The 5 jobs here average +15% versus the US in Salinas, from +11% (retaining wall) to +22% (French drain).
| Project | Size | Salinas range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain cost in Salinas | 60 linear ft | $730 – $2,550 | +22% |
| Retaining wall cost in Salinas | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,000 – $14,900 | +11% |
| Sod installation cost in Salinas | 1,500 sq ft | $1,700 – $3,700 | +13% |
| Sprinkler system cost in Salinas | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,500 – $11,300 | +13% |
| Inground pool cost in Salinas | 450 sq ft | $41,500 – $129,500 | +15% |
Flooring & interior in Salinas
Across these 3 projects, Salinas averages +7% against national midpoints. Laminate flooring is highest at +8% and tile flooring lowest at +7%.
| Project | Size | Salinas range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardwood flooring cost in Salinas | 500 sq ft | $5,900 – $13,400 | +7% |
| Laminate flooring cost in Salinas | 500 sq ft | $2,150 – $7,550 | +8% |
| Tile flooring cost in Salinas | 200 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,600 | +7% |
Salinas against its nearest metros
Averaged over all 38 projects, Salinas prices +11% against the US midpoint. Of the 6 closest metros, 4 price higher and 2 lower. Fresno is the lowest at +7% (100 miles) and San Jose the highest at +23% (45 miles). These are unweighted averages of the midpoints, a rough guide to overall price level rather than a number for any one job.
| Metro | Distance | Price index | Goods index | All projects vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas, CAthis page | 109.0 | 105.2 | +11% | |
| San Jose, CA | 45 miles | 110.4 | 105.2 | +23% |
| Santa Cruz, CA | 65 miles | 109.9 | 105.2 | +12% |
| Merced, CA | 75 miles | 98.3 | 105.2 | +9% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 75 miles | 108.6 | 105.2 | +12% |
| Modesto, CA | 95 miles | 104.1 | 105.2 | +12% |
| Fresno, CA | 100 miles | 102.2 | 105.2 | +7% |