Retaining wall cost in Bloomington, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $8,700 – $15,200
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $43 – $73.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +16%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #18
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Bloomington, IL usually costs $8,700 to $15,200 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $43 to $73.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,700 more. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $43.26 an hour in the Bloomington area, 45% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Bloomington, IL, standard level
$10,600 to $13,200
About $52.50 to $64.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $6,450 | $7,000 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $310 |
| Total | $10,600 | $13,200 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Bloomington, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,600 | $4,950 | $7,300 | 42% |
| Labor | $6,000 | $6,750 | $7,450 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $230 | $420 | 2% |
| Total | $8,700 | $11,900 | $15,200 | 100% |
Why Bloomington prices look the way they do
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, Bloomington wages are 1.43 times the national level. Labor makes up about 56% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Illinois statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bloomington is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $4,950 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.5: $45 to $420.
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 Bloomington. The wage table below marks each row.
Bloomington: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bloomington. 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
$8,700 to $11,300
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$10,600 to $13,200
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$12,600 to $15,200
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $4,350 – $5,750 | $5,400 – $6,750 | $6,400 – $7,800 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,500 – $4,650 | $4,350 – $5,450 | $5,200 – $6,300 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,950 – $9,050 | $8,550 – $10,600 | $10,100 – $12,200 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $10,400 – $13,500 | $12,700 – $15,800 | $15,000 – $18,100 |
How Bloomington compares
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Chicago is the priciest of the group at $12,800. Lafayette is the cheapest at $10,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, ILthis page | $8,700 – $15,200 | $11,900 | |
| Champaign, IL35 miles | $8,400 – $14,800 | $11,600 | −3% |
| Peoria, IL40 miles | $8,600 – $15,100 | $11,800 | −1% |
| Springfield, IL65 miles | $8,700 – $15,200 | $11,900 | level |
| Lafayette, IN95 miles | $7,250 – $13,400 | $10,300 | −13% |
| Chicago, IL100 miles | $9,150 – $16,400 | $12,800 | +7% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $9,000 – $16,000 | $12,500 | +5% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bloomington ranks #18 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bloomington is 5% below the Illinois figure.
Elsewhere in Illinois
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $9,150 – $16,400 | $12,800 | +7% |
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $8,600 – $15,100 | $11,800 | −1% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $8,250 – $14,600 | $11,400 | −4% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $8,400 – $14,800 | $11,600 | −3% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $8,700 – $15,200 | $11,900 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bloomington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | −22% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $6,200 – $12,100 | $9,150 | −23% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $7,900 – $14,700 | $11,300 | −5% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $7,200 – $13,300 | $10,300 | −14% |
Bloomington 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, Normal 4Ne (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 Bloomington are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November and December the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 133 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Bloomington gets about 39 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 20 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.8 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 26 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 | 33 | 16 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 38 | 19 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 50 | 28 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 63 | 38 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 50 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 60 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 63 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 61 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 53 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 42 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 50 | 31 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 21 | 2.3 | Cold |
Why two Bloomington quotes can differ
Permit
Permits cost $50-$450 depending on location and wall size.
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.
What local crews earn in Bloomington
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 Bloomington the blend is 1.43.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bloomington metro, so we used the Illinois statewide median: $43.26 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $30.02 and $49.16 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $29.16 an hour, which is 29% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.23 and $37.49 an hour. BLS counts 380 of them working in the area, 43.1 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 $46.27 an hour, 61% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $40.00 and $48.14 an hour. About 180 work in the metro. That is 20.4 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 $460 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,050. That is a swing of roughly 8.7% to 3.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bloomington has 88,110 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 222nd 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% | $30.02 | $43.26 | $49.16 | $29.87 | 1.45 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.23 | $29.16 | $37.49 | $22.66 | 1.29 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $40.00 | $46.27 | $48.14 | $28.78 | 1.61 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.43 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Bloomington
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bloomington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, inground pool comes out highest (+18%) and sod installation lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $680 – $2,400 | +14% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,400 – $6,200 | +14% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,000 – $10,400 | +12% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,250 | −2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,550 – $11,400 | +14% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $42,700 – $133,000 | +18% |
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Detailed retaining wall report for Bloomington, IL, $9
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Retaining wall in Bloomington: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Bloomington?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $8,700 to $15,200 in the Bloomington area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,600 to $13,200. 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 Bloomington?
About $43 to $73.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $420 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Bloomington or Champaign?
Champaign is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $11,600, which is 3% less than Bloomington ($11,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bloomington?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $6,750 out of $11,900. Materials are 42% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Bloomington?
$6,950 to $12,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Bloomington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $420 for fees in the Bloomington area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bloomington expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Illinois?
Bloomington is 5% below the Illinois statewide estimate ($12,500 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Illinois; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Bloomington?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $43.26 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.02 to $49.16.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Bloomington?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $8,700 to $11,300 and premium work $12,600 to $15,200. 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 Bloomington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. 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 Bloomington
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.