Retaining wall cost in Tuscaloosa, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,050 – $12,000
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $30 – $58
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #281
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Tuscaloosa, AL usually costs $6,050 to $12,000 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $30 to $58 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,200 less. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $23.90 an hour in the Tuscaloosa area, 20% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Tuscaloosa, AL, standard level
$7,850 to $10,200
About $38.50 to $50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $3,550 | $3,900 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $7,850 | $10,200 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Tuscaloosa, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 56% |
| Labor | $3,300 | $3,700 | $4,100 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $390 | 2% |
| Total | $6,050 | $9,050 | $12,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Tuscaloosa number
Labor is 41% 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 Tuscaloosa the blended ratio comes out at 0.79. 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. Tuscaloosa 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 87.7: $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 Tuscaloosa. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Tuscaloosa
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Tuscaloosa wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−8%) and concrete driveway lowest (−16%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −12% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,700 | −13% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,650 | −16% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,600 – $9,000 | −10% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $31,700 – $99,200 | −12% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Tuscaloosa
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.
What local crews earn in Tuscaloosa
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 Tuscaloosa the blend is 0.79.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Tuscaloosa 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 $17.53 an hour, which is 23% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.59 and $20.69 an hour. BLS counts 1,110 of them working in the area, 102.3 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 $22.94 an hour, 20% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $20.77 and $27.34 an hour. About 650 work in the metro. That is 59.9 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 4.3% to 3.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Tuscaloosa has 108,460 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 192nd 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% | $14.59 | $17.53 | $20.69 | $22.66 | 0.77 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $20.77 | $22.94 | $27.34 | $28.78 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Is Tuscaloosa cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 Tuscaloosa and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa, ALthis page | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | |
| Birmingham, AL60 miles | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,250 | +2% |
| Montgomery, AL95 miles | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,000 | level |
| Decatur, AL105 miles | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +1% |
| Huntsville, AL130 miles | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +1% |
| Auburn, AL140 miles | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | level |
| Alabama (statewide) | $6,100 – $12,000 | $9,050 | level |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Tuscaloosa ranks #281 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Tuscaloosa is 0% below the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,250 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +1% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | level |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,000 | level |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | level |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tuscaloosa against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laredo, TX | 109,370 jobs | $6,100 – $12,000 | $9,050 | level |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $7,800 – $14,600 | $11,200 | +24% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $6,600 – $12,700 | $9,650 | +7% |
| Columbia, MO | 107,680 jobs | $7,450 – $13,600 | $10,500 | +16% |
Tuscaloosa 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, Northport 2 S (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 Tuscaloosa are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Tuscaloosa gets about 57 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are February, March and April (5.6 inches in February). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.6 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 | 56 | 35 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 61 | 38 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 45 | 5.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 76 | 52 | 5.4 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 5.3 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 4.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 4.2 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 65 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 78 | 53 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 42 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 58 | 37 | 5.2 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Tuscaloosa
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Tuscaloosa. 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
$6,050 to $8,450
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$7,850 to $10,200
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,650 to $12,000
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,050 – $4,300 | $4,000 – $5,250 | $4,950 – $6,200 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,450 – $3,500 | $3,250 – $4,250 | $4,000 – $5,050 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $4,850 – $6,800 | $6,300 – $8,250 | $7,750 – $9,700 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,250 – $10,100 | $9,400 – $12,200 | $11,500 – $14,400 |
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Detailed retaining wall report for Tuscaloosa, AL, $9
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Retaining wall in Tuscaloosa: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Tuscaloosa?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,050 to $12,000 in the Tuscaloosa area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,850 to $10,200. 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 Tuscaloosa?
About $30 to $58 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 Tuscaloosa or Birmingham?
Birmingham is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,250, which is 2% more than Tuscaloosa ($9,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tuscaloosa?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $3,700 out of $9,050. 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 Tuscaloosa?
$4,850 to $9,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Tuscaloosa?
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 Tuscaloosa area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tuscaloosa expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Alabama?
Tuscaloosa is 0% 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 Tuscaloosa?
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 Tuscaloosa?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,050 to $8,450 and premium work $9,650 to $12,000. 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 Tuscaloosa?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. 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 Tuscaloosa
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.