Retaining wall cost in Dalton, GA
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
- #295
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a retaining wall in Dalton, plan on $5,950 to $11,900 for 200 sq ft of wall face, all in. Per sq ft of wall face, that is $29.50 to $57.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 13% lower than the national one. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $24.35 an hour in the Dalton area, 18% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Dalton, GA, standard level
$7,750 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 | $150 | $300 |
| Total | $7,750 | $10,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Dalton, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 57% |
| Labor | $3,250 | $3,600 | $4,000 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $400 | 3% |
| Total | $5,950 | $8,950 | $11,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Dalton number
Labor is 40% 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 Dalton the blended ratio comes out at 0.77. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dalton metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,100, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (89.8) and land at $45 to $400.
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 Dalton. The wage table below marks each row.
Dalton: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dalton wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$5,950 to $8,350
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$7,750 to $10,100
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,550 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 | $4,900 – $6,150 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,400 – $3,450 | $3,200 – $4,250 | $3,950 – $5,000 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $4,800 – $6,700 | $6,250 – $8,150 | $7,700 – $9,600 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,150 – $10,000 | $9,250 – $12,100 | $11,400 – $14,200 |
Dalton labor market for retaining wall
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Dalton is 0.77 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dalton metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median: $24.35 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.00 and $32.90 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $16.98 an hour, 25% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $12.27 and $20.63 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 36.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $19.65 an hour, which is 32% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.28 and $23.07 an hour. BLS counts 200 of them working in the area, 30.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the brickmasons and blockmasons on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($32.90 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $670. At the 25th percentile ($18.00) it shrinks by about $500. The total moves by 7.5% or 5.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 65,300 jobs in the Dalton area. That makes it the 276th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $18.00 | $24.35 | $32.90 | $29.87 | 0.82 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $12.27 | $16.98 | $20.63 | $22.66 | 0.75 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $18.28 | $19.65 | $23.07 | $28.78 | 0.68 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.77 | |||||
Climate in Dalton: timing your retaining wall job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Chattanooga Lovell Ap (20 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through June and September through December are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Dalton (9 of 12 months). January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); 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 56 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Dalton gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.3 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 58 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | 32 | 5.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 56 | 36 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 64 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 35 | 5.3 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Dalton?
Because every project leans on different trades, Dalton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −7% and concrete driveway −17%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,700 | −14% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,550 | −17% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,350 – $8,450 | −16% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $30,600 – $95,700 | −15% |
Is Dalton cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Dalton. Huntsville comes closest at about $9,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, GAthis page | $5,950 – $11,900 | $8,950 | |
| Chattanooga, TN35 miles | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +12% |
| Gainesville, GA70 miles | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | +2% |
| Atlanta, GA80 miles | $6,600 – $12,900 | $9,750 | +9% |
| Knoxville, TN95 miles | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +11% |
| Huntsville, AL105 miles | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +2% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $6,250 – $12,400 | $9,300 | +4% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +15% |
Across 300 US metros, Dalton comes in at #295 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $13,500; the cheapest is El Paso, TX at $8,850 (midpoints, 200 sq ft of wall face). Statewide, Dalton is 4% below the Georgia figure.
Other Georgia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $6,600 – $12,900 | $9,750 | +9% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | +2% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | +2% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | +1% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | +2% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Dalton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dalton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $7,750 – $14,500 | $11,100 | +25% |
| Terre Haute, IN | 65,120 jobs | $7,250 – $13,400 | $10,300 | +15% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $6,450 – $12,600 | $9,500 | +6% |
| Muskegon, MI | 62,340 jobs | $6,900 – $13,000 | $9,950 | +11% |
Why two Dalton 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.
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $7,750 to $10,100 for Dalton, GA is attached.
Detailed retaining wall report for Dalton, GA, $9
The report lays out the retaining wall numbers for Dalton, GA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Retaining wall in Dalton: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Dalton?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $5,950 to $11,900 in the Dalton area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,750 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 Dalton?
About $29.50 to $57.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Dalton or Chattanooga?
Chattanooga is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,000, which is 12% more than Dalton ($8,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dalton?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $3,600 out of $8,950. Materials are 57% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Dalton?
$4,800 to $9,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Dalton?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $400 for fees in the Dalton area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dalton expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Georgia?
Dalton is 4% below the Georgia statewide estimate ($9,300 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Georgia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Dalton?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $24.35 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.00 to $32.90.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Dalton?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $5,950 to $8,350 and premium work $9,550 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 Dalton?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and September through December. 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 Dalton
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.