Retaining wall cost in Modesto, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $8,200 – $15,100
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $41 – $73.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #31
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Modesto, CA usually costs $8,200 to $15,100 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $41 to $73.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,450 more. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $33.20 an hour in the Modesto area, 11% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Modesto, CA, standard level
$10,300 to $13,100
About $50.50 to $63.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $6,650 |
| Labor | $5,600 | $6,100 |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $340 |
| Total | $10,300 | $13,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Modesto, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,950 | $5,550 | $8,200 | 48% |
| Labor | $5,250 | $5,850 | $6,450 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $260 | $470 | 2% |
| Total | $8,200 | $11,700 | $15,100 | 100% |
Where the Modesto 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 $33.20 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Modesto is 1.24 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 50% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the California statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Modesto is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,550 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 104.1: $50 to $470.
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 Modesto. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Modesto 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 $11,200 to $12,700 across Modesto and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CAthis page | $8,200 – $15,100 | $11,700 | |
| Stockton, CA30 miles | $8,150 – $15,100 | $11,600 | level |
| Merced, CA30 miles | $7,850 – $14,600 | $11,200 | −4% |
| San Jose, CA50 miles | $9,150 – $16,300 | $12,700 | +9% |
| Santa Cruz, CA65 miles | $7,950 – $14,800 | $11,400 | −2% |
| Vallejo, CA70 miles | $8,350 – $15,300 | $11,800 | +1% |
| California (statewide) | $8,200 – $15,200 | $11,700 | level |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Modesto ranks #31 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Modesto is 0% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $8,050 – $15,000 | $11,600 | −1% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $9,400 – $16,800 | $13,100 | +12% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $7,750 – $14,400 | $11,100 | −5% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $7,900 – $14,900 | $11,400 | −2% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $9,150 – $16,300 | $12,700 | +9% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $8,400 – $15,400 | $11,900 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Modesto against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | −22% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $6,400 – $12,300 | $9,350 | −20% |
| Manchester, NH | 199,560 jobs | $7,150 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −11% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $7,250 – $13,500 | $10,400 | −11% |
Planning more than one job in Modesto?
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Modesto wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+24%) and sod installation lowest (+12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $740 – $2,600 | +24% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,450 – $6,250 | +15% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,450 – $11,500 | +24% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,700 – $3,700 | +12% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,550 – $11,400 | +14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $42,500 – $132,500 | +18% |
Modesto 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, Modesto City Co 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 Modesto are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Modesto gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.6 inches in January). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 0.1 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 90 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 | 39 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 42 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 45 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 48 | 1.0 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 54 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 59 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 63 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 59 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 43 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in Modesto
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Modesto. 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
$8,200 to $11,000
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$10,300 to $13,100
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$12,400 to $15,100
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $4,150 – $5,600 | $5,250 – $6,700 | $6,350 – $7,800 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,300 – $4,550 | $4,250 – $5,450 | $5,150 – $6,350 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,600 – $8,850 | $8,250 – $10,500 | $9,950 – $12,200 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $9,850 – $13,100 | $12,300 – $15,600 | $14,800 – $18,100 |
Why two Modesto quotes can differ
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 Modesto
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 Modesto the blend is 1.24.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Modesto metro, so we used the California statewide median: $33.20 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $28.24 and $38.26 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $29.15 an hour, which is 29% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.89 and $38.02 an hour. BLS counts 1,070 of them working in the area, 54.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $43.54 an hour, 51% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $32.57 and $62.15 an hour. About 430 work in the metro. That is 22.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer 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 $400 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $390. That is a swing of roughly 3.3% to 3.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Modesto has 195,230 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 117th 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% | $28.24 | $33.20 | $38.26 | $29.87 | 1.11 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.89 | $29.15 | $38.02 | $22.66 | 1.29 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $32.57 | $43.54 | $62.15 | $28.78 | 1.51 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.24 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed retaining wall report for Modesto, CA, $9
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Retaining wall in Modesto: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Modesto?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $8,200 to $15,100 in the Modesto area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,300 to $13,100. 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 Modesto?
About $41 to $73.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $470 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Modesto or Stockton?
Stockton is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $11,600, which is 0% less than Modesto ($11,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Modesto?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $5,850 out of $11,700. Materials are 48% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Modesto?
$6,600 to $12,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Modesto?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $470 for fees in the Modesto area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Modesto expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of California?
Modesto is 0% below the California statewide estimate ($11,700 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Modesto?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $33.20 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.24 to $38.26.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Modesto?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $8,200 to $11,000 and premium work $12,400 to $15,100. 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 Modesto?
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 Modesto
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.