Retaining wall cost in Birmingham, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,200 – $12,200
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $31 – $59
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #249
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Birmingham, AL usually costs $6,200 to $12,200 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $31 to $59 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,000 less. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $24.06 an hour in the Birmingham area, 19% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Birmingham, AL, standard level
$8,050 to $10,400
About $39.50 to $50.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $3,750 | $4,050 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $300 |
| Total | $8,050 | $10,400 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Birmingham, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 55% |
| Labor | $3,500 | $3,900 | $4,300 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $230 | $410 | 2% |
| Total | $6,200 | $9,250 | $12,200 | 100% |
Where the Birmingham price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on brickmasons and blockmasons, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.06 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Birmingham is 0.83 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Birmingham is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,100 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.6: $45 to $410.
Why two Birmingham quotes can differ
Material
Block, poured concrete and natural stone are priced differently; concrete and stone walls run higher than the segmental block default.
Drainage
Every wall needs drainage behind it. A French drain adds $10-$85+ per linear foot.
Rebuilding
Replacing an old wall adds $15-$30 per linear foot for demolition plus disposal.
How Birmingham 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 200 sq ft of wall face range from $9,000 to $9,250 across Birmingham and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, ALthis page | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,250 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL60 miles | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −2% |
| Decatur, AL75 miles | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL80 miles | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,000 | −2% |
| Huntsville, AL90 miles | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL100 miles | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −2% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $6,100 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −2% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Birmingham ranks #249 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Birmingham is 2% above the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −1% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −2% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,000 | −2% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −2% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −2% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Birmingham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $7,800 – $14,400 | $11,100 | +20% |
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +9% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $7,100 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +10% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $7,600 – $14,100 | $10,800 | +17% |
What nearby projects cost in Birmingham
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Birmingham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−6%) and concrete driveway lowest (−13%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,800 | −12% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,200 – $7,950 | −13% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,200 | −8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,700 – $102,000 | −9% |
Birmingham weather and the retaining wall calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Birmingham Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For digging, grading and setting material in the ground, the comfortable months in Birmingham are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Birmingham gets about 57 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 1 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and July (5.7 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 4.0 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 65 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | 35 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 59 | 38 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 45 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 52 | 5.1 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 61 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 69 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 5.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 71 | 4.3 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 65 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 54 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 65 | 43 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 57 | 38 | 4.9 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Birmingham
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 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 Birmingham the blend is 0.83.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $24.06 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $19.82 and $28.06 an hour. BLS counts 120 of them working in the area, 2.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $18.45 an hour, which is 19% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $15.51 and $22.60 an hour. BLS counts 4,780 of them working in the area, 91.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $26.12 an hour, 9% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.72 and $29.27 an hour. About 2,070 work in the metro. That is 39.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (brickmasons and blockmasons) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $310 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $330. That is a swing of roughly 3.6% to 3.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Birmingham has 520,290 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 50th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $19.82 | $24.06 | $28.06 | $29.87 | 0.81 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $15.51 | $18.45 | $22.60 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $22.72 | $26.12 | $29.27 | $28.78 | 0.91 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Birmingham: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Birmingham. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face to 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face).
Basic
$6,200 to $8,650
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,050 to $10,400
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,850 to $12,200
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,150 – $4,400 | $4,100 – $5,350 | $5,050 – $6,350 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,500 – $3,550 | $3,300 – $4,350 | $4,100 – $5,150 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,000 – $6,950 | $6,450 – $8,400 | $7,900 – $9,850 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,450 – $10,300 | $9,600 – $12,500 | $11,700 – $14,600 |
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Detailed retaining wall report for Birmingham, AL, $9
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Retaining wall in Birmingham: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Birmingham?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,200 to $12,200 in the Birmingham area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,050 to $10,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of wall face and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of wall face for retaining wall in Birmingham?
About $31 to $59 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $410 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Birmingham or Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,050, which is 2% less than Birmingham ($9,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Birmingham?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $3,900 out of $9,250. Materials are 55% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Birmingham?
$5,000 to $9,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Birmingham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $410 for fees in the Birmingham area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Birmingham expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Alabama?
Birmingham is 2% above the Alabama statewide estimate ($9,050 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Birmingham?
The BLS median is $24.06 an hour in the Birmingham area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.82 to $28.06.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Birmingham?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,200 to $8,650 and premium work $9,850 to $12,200. Basic means: short block wall, easy access. Premium means: tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access.
+When is the best time to build a retaining wall in Birmingham?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. September and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Retaining wall near Birmingham
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 Retaining Wall Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 40% of the low installed price and 60% of the high one, since HomeGuide says labor is 40-60% of the total project cost.