Retaining wall cost in Decatur, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,100 – $12,100
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $30.50 – $58.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #273
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Decatur, AL usually costs $6,100 to $12,100 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $30.50 to $58.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,150 less. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $23.90 an hour in the Decatur area, 20% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Decatur, AL, standard level
$7,900 to $10,300
About $39 to $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 | $3,600 | $3,950 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $7,900 | $10,300 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Decatur, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 56% |
| Labor | $3,400 | $3,800 | $4,200 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $390 | 2% |
| Total | $6,100 | $9,100 | $12,100 | 100% |
Why Decatur prices look the way they do
Labor is 42% of the midpoint bill here, against 46% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is brickmasons and blockmasons (50%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Decatur the blended ratio comes out at 0.81. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Decatur 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 87.2: $45 to $390.
Data note: 50% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Decatur. The wage table below marks each row.
How Decatur compares
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Nashville is the priciest of the group at $10,100. Tuscaloosa is the cheapest at $9,050.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, ALthis page | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | |
| Huntsville, AL30 miles | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Birmingham, AL75 miles | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,250 | +1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL105 miles | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
| Chattanooga, TN105 miles | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +10% |
| Nashville, TN115 miles | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +11% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $6,100 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Decatur ranks #273 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Decatur is 1% above the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,250 | +1% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,000 | −1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −1% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Decatur against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Dothan, AL | 60,720 jobs | $5,950 – $11,900 | $8,900 | −2% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +11% |
| Sheboygan, WI | 60,630 jobs | $7,800 – $14,100 | $10,900 | +20% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in Decatur
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Decatur. 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
$6,100 to $8,500
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$7,900 to $10,300
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,700 to $12,100
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,100 – $4,350 | $4,050 – $5,300 | $5,000 – $6,250 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,500 – $3,500 | $3,250 – $4,300 | $4,050 – $5,050 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $4,900 – $6,850 | $6,350 – $8,300 | $7,800 – $9,750 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,350 – $10,200 | $9,450 – $12,300 | $11,600 – $14,400 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Decatur bid
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.
Permit
Permits cost $50-$450 depending on location and wall size.
What local crews earn in Decatur
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 Decatur the blend is 0.81.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Decatur metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median: $23.90 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.98 and $27.55 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $18.11 an hour, which is 20% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $15.52 and $23.05 an hour. BLS counts 690 of them working in the area, 112.7 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 $23.79 an hour, 17% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.70 and $28.46 an hour. About 290 work in the metro. That is 47.4 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 $290 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $390. That is a swing of roughly 4.2% to 3.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Decatur has 61,240 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 283rd 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% | $18.98 | $23.90 | $27.55 | $29.87 | 0.80 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $15.52 | $18.11 | $23.05 | $22.66 | 0.80 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $21.70 | $23.79 | $28.46 | $28.78 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
Decatur 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, Decatur Pryor Fld (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 Decatur are February through June and September through December: 9 of 12. Outside them, January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 62 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Decatur gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are February, March and December (5.2 inches in December). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 64 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 | 51 | 32 | 4.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 55 | 35 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 50 | 4.5 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 70 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 68 | 3.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 85 | 61 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 75 | 50 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 39 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 54 | 35 | 5.2 | Workable |
What nearby projects cost in Decatur
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Decatur wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−6%) and concrete driveway lowest (−14%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $540 – $1,900 | −11% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,800 | −12% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,150 – $7,800 | −14% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,650 – $9,100 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,100 – $100,500 | −11% |
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Retaining wall in Decatur: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Decatur?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,100 to $12,100 in the Decatur area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,900 to $10,300. 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 Decatur?
About $30.50 to $58.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $390 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Decatur or Huntsville?
Huntsville is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,100, which is 0% more than Decatur ($9,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Decatur?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $3,800 out of $9,100. Materials are 56% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Decatur?
$4,900 to $9,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Decatur?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $390 for fees in the Decatur area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Decatur expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Alabama?
Decatur is 1% 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 Decatur?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.90 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.98 to $27.55.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Decatur?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,100 to $8,500 and premium work $9,700 to $12,100. 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 Decatur?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and September through December. 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 Decatur
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.