Retaining wall cost in Dothan, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $5,950 – $11,900
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $29.50 – $57.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #297
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Dothan, AL usually costs $5,950 to $11,900 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $29.50 to $57.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,350 less. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $23.90 an hour in the Dothan area, 20% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Dothan, AL, standard level
$7,700 to $10,100
About $38 to $49 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $3,450 | $3,750 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $280 |
| Total | $7,700 | $10,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Dothan, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 57% |
| Labor | $3,200 | $3,600 | $3,950 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $210 | $380 | 2% |
| Total | $5,950 | $8,900 | $11,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Dothan number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: brickmasons and blockmasons at 50%, construction laborers at 30%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 20%. Weighted together, Dothan wages are 0.76 times the national level. Labor makes up about 40% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices). 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. Dothan 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 83.8: $40 to $380.
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 Dothan. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Dothan
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 Dothan the blend is 0.76.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dothan 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 $15.39 an hour, which is 32% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $12.40 and $18.76 an hour. BLS counts 600 of them working in the area, 98.8 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 $22.66 an hour, 21% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.22 and $26.45 an hour. About 200 work in the metro. That is 32.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
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 4.4% to 3.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Dothan has 60,720 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 284th 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% | $12.40 | $15.39 | $18.76 | $22.66 | 0.68 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $18.22 | $22.66 | $26.45 | $28.78 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.76 | |||||
Dothan 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, Dothan Rgnl 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 Dothan are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Dothan gets about 54 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (6.2 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 89 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 | 62 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 66 | 43 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 49 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 55 | 4.8 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 64 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 93 | 73 | 6.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 72 | 6.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 67 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 81 | 57 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 47 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 42 | 4.8 | Workable |
What nearby projects cost in Dothan
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Dothan wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−11%) and concrete driveway lowest (−19%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $510 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,500 – $4,500 | −17% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,000 – $7,350 | −19% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $2,900 | −11% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,400 – $8,450 | −15% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $30,600 – $95,900 | −15% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in Dothan
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Dothan. 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
$5,950 to $8,300
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$7,700 to $10,100
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,500 to $11,900
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,000 – $4,250 | $3,950 – $5,200 | $4,850 – $6,100 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,400 – $3,450 | $3,150 – $4,200 | $3,950 – $4,950 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $4,750 – $6,700 | $6,200 – $8,100 | $7,650 – $9,550 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,100 – $9,950 | $9,250 – $12,000 | $11,300 – $14,200 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Dothan bid
Height
Walls over 4 feet need engineering, deeper excavation and more skilled labor; many cities require permits over 3-4 feet (HomeGuide).
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.
Dothan against nearby metros and the rest of Alabama
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 $8,900 to $9,650 across Dothan and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan, ALthis page | $5,950 – $11,900 | $8,900 | |
| Panama City, FL70 miles | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,400 | +6% |
| Crestview, FL70 miles | $6,600 – $12,700 | $9,650 | +9% |
| Albany, GA85 miles | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,000 | +1% |
| Auburn, AL85 miles | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | +1% |
| Columbus, GA90 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 | +15% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Dothan ranks #297 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Dothan is 2% below the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,250 | +4% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +2% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | +2% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,000 | +1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | +2% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dothan against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, AL | 61,240 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +2% |
| Sheboygan, WI | 60,630 jobs | $7,800 – $14,100 | $10,900 | +23% |
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +2% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $5,950 – $11,800 | $8,900 | level |
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Detailed retaining wall report for Dothan, AL, $9
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Retaining wall in Dothan: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Dothan?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $5,950 to $11,900 in the Dothan area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,700 to $10,100. 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 Dothan?
About $29.50 to $57.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $40 to $380 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Dothan or Panama City?
Panama City is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,400, which is 6% more than Dothan ($8,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dothan?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $3,600 out of $8,900. Materials are 57% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Dothan?
$4,750 to $9,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Dothan?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $380 for fees in the Dothan area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dothan expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Alabama?
Dothan is 2% below 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 Dothan?
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 Dothan?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $5,950 to $8,300 and premium work $9,500 to $11,900. 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 Dothan?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. May 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 Dothan
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.