Retaining wall cost in Peoria, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $8,600 – $15,100
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $43 – $73.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +15%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #22
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Peoria area: $8,600 to $15,100 for 200 sq ft of wall face. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 15% higher than the US figure. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $43.26 an hour in the Peoria area, 45% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Peoria, IL, standard level
$10,500 to $13,100
About $52 to $64 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $6,350 | $6,950 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $300 |
| Total | $10,500 | $13,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Peoria, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,600 | $4,950 | $7,300 | 42% |
| Labor | $5,950 | $6,650 | $7,350 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $230 | $410 | 2% |
| Total | $8,600 | $11,800 | $15,100 | 100% |
Where the Peoria 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 $43.26 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Peoria is 1.41 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 56% of the total. 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. Peoria 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 91.2: $45 to $410.
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 Peoria. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Peoria cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Peoria. Davenport is the lowest at about $10,500 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face), 65 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, ILthis page | $8,600 – $15,100 | $11,800 | |
| Bloomington, IL40 miles | $8,700 – $15,200 | $11,900 | +1% |
| Davenport, IA65 miles | $7,400 – $13,600 | $10,500 | −11% |
| Springfield, IL65 miles | $8,700 – $15,200 | $11,900 | +1% |
| Champaign, IL75 miles | $8,400 – $14,800 | $11,600 | −2% |
| Rockford, IL110 miles | $8,250 – $14,600 | $11,400 | −4% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $9,000 – $16,000 | $12,500 | +6% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Peoria ranks #22 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Peoria 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 | +8% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $8,250 – $14,600 | $11,400 | −4% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $8,400 – $14,800 | $11,600 | −2% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $8,700 – $15,200 | $11,900 | +1% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $8,700 – $15,200 | $11,900 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Peoria against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $6,000 – $11,800 | $8,900 | −25% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,000 | −24% |
| Atlantic City, NJ | 168,700 jobs | $8,000 – $14,600 | $11,300 | −5% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −22% |
Peoria: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Peoria. 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
$8,600 to $11,200
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$10,500 to $13,100
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$12,500 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 | $4,350 – $5,700 | $5,350 – $6,700 | $6,350 – $7,750 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,450 – $4,600 | $4,300 – $5,450 | $5,150 – $6,250 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,900 – $9,000 | $8,450 – $10,600 | $10,000 – $12,100 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $10,300 – $13,400 | $12,600 – $15,700 | $14,900 – $18,000 |
The best months for retaining wall in Peoria
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Peoria Gtr Peoria 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 Peoria are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March 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 118 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Peoria gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 26 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (4.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.2 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 23 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 | 34 | 18 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 21 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 51 | 32 | 2.7 | Cold |
| Apr | 64 | 42 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 53 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 64 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 56 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 65 | 44 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 33 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 39 | 23 | 2.2 | Cold |
Who does the work: Peoria trade wages
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 Peoria the blend is 1.41.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Peoria 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 $30.27 an hour, which is 34% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.67 and $37.76 an hour. BLS counts 1,020 of them working in the area, 61.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $41.56 an hour, 44% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $28.36 and $47.59 an hour. About 330 work in the metro. That is 19.9 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 8.8% to 3.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Peoria has 166,020 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 141st 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% | $22.67 | $30.27 | $37.76 | $22.66 | 1.34 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $28.36 | $41.56 | $47.59 | $28.78 | 1.44 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.41 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Peoria
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Peoria wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete driveway comes out highest (+19%) 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 – $2,350 | +13% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,450 – $6,250 | +15% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,250 – $11,100 | +19% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,600 – $11,500 | +15% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $42,400 – $132,000 | +17% |
Why two Peoria quotes can differ
Rebuilding
Replacing an old wall adds $15-$30 per linear foot for demolition plus disposal.
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).
Get 3 local quotes
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Retaining wall in Peoria: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Peoria?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $8,600 to $15,100 in the Peoria area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,500 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 Peoria?
About $43 to $73.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $410 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Peoria or Bloomington?
Bloomington is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $11,900, which is 1% more than Peoria ($11,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Peoria?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $6,650 out of $11,800. 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 Peoria?
$6,900 to $12,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Peoria?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $410 for fees in the Peoria area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Peoria expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Illinois?
Peoria 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 Peoria?
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 Peoria?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $8,600 to $11,200 and premium work $12,500 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 Peoria?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October and November 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 Peoria
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.