Retaining wall cost in Louisiana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,350 – $12,300
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $31.50 – $59.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $10,300
- Metros covered
- 9
Louisiana prices for retaining wall: $6,350 to $12,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face, or $31.50 to $59.50 per sq ft of wall face without the permit. The state midpoint is 9% below the national one. Local wages for brickmasons and blockmasons are $27.62 an hour.
Inside Louisiana, the metros we cover range from $9,150 (Monroe) to $9,500 (Lake Charles) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Louisiana (statewide), standard level
$8,150 to $10,500
About $40 to $51 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $3,950 | $4,300 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $8,150 | $10,500 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Louisiana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,600 | $4,950 | $7,300 | 53% |
| Labor | $3,700 | $4,150 | $4,550 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $400 | 2% |
| Total | $6,350 | $9,300 | $12,300 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in Louisiana
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Louisiana wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$6,350 to $8,700
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,150 to $10,500
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,900 to $12,300
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,200 – $4,450 | $4,150 – $5,400 | $5,100 – $6,350 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,550 – $3,600 | $3,350 – $4,350 | $4,100 – $5,150 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,100 – $7,000 | $6,550 – $8,450 | $8,000 – $9,900 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,600 – $10,400 | $9,750 – $12,500 | $11,800 – $14,600 |
Louisiana labor market for retaining wall
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.88 for Louisiana.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $27.62 an hour, 8% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $29.23 an hour. About 240 work in the state. That is 1.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $18.38 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.59 and $22.74 an hour. About 22,100 work in the state. That is 114.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $24.86 an hour, which is 14% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.33 and $29.92 an hour. BLS counts 7,860 of them working in the state, 40.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for brickmasons and blockmasons ($29.23 an hour) would add about $130 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.05) would take off about $360. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,934,900 jobs across Louisiana (May 2025), which is 1.2% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $23.05 | $27.62 | $29.23 | $29.87 | 0.92 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $16.59 | $18.38 | $22.74 | $22.66 | 0.81 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $22.33 | $24.86 | $29.92 | $28.78 | 0.86 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
If you are planning more than one job in Louisiana
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Louisiana wages and prices. Against national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (−8%) and concrete driveway lowest (−13%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −11% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,850 | −11% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,200 – $8,000 | −13% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $3,000 | −10% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,650 – $9,150 | −8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,500 – $101,500 | −10% |
How Louisiana compares with nearby states
Louisiana ranks 43 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for retaining wall, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $13,300 and the cheapest New Mexico at $9,000, both for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint. Louisiana sits at $9,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 130 miles away | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −3% |
| Alabama | 310 miles away | $6,100 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −3% |
| Texas | 360 miles away | $6,500 – $12,700 | $9,600 | +3% |
| Arkansas | 360 miles away | $6,150 – $12,000 | $9,100 | −2% |
| Tennessee | 460 miles away | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +6% |
Retaining wall cost by metro in Louisiana
3 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $9,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (200 sq ft of wall face) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | $6,500 – $12,500 | $9,500 | +2% |
| New Orleans, LA | $6,500 – $12,400 | $9,450 | +2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $6,450 – $12,400 | $9,450 | +1% |
| Slidell, LA | $6,350 – $12,300 | $9,300 | level |
| Shreveport, LA | $6,350 – $12,300 | $9,300 | level |
| Lafayette, LA | $6,350 – $12,200 | $9,300 | level |
| Houma, LA | $6,300 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −1% |
| Alexandria, LA | $6,200 – $12,100 | $9,150 | −2% |
| Monroe, LA | $6,200 – $12,100 | $9,150 | −2% |
Weather windows across Louisiana
Season matters for retaining wall. For each Louisiana metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
New Orleans has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Louisiana at 10 months (September through June); Shreveport has the shortest at 8 (October through May). Rainfall runs from 51 inches a year in Shreveport to 66 inches in Slidell.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 47 | 91 | 60 | 10: September through June |
| Baton Rouge | 42 | 92 | 62 | 9: September through May |
| Lafayette | 44 | 92 | 63 | 9: September through May |
| Shreveport | 37 | 94 | 51 | 8: October through May |
| Lake Charles | 43 | 92 | 60 | 9: September through May |
| Slidell | 42 | 90 | 66 | 10: September through June |
| Monroe | 37 | 93 | 55 | 9: September through May |
| Houma | 44 | 91 | 65 | 9: September through May |
| Alexandria | 39 | 92 | 61 | 10: September through June |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Louisiana
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.
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.
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Multi-page report for Louisiana: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Louisiana: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Louisiana?
$6,350 to $12,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Louisiana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Louisiana is cheapest for retaining wall?
Monroe at about $9,150 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). The priciest is Lake Charles at $9,500.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Louisiana than the US average?
It is 9% cheaper: $9,300 against $10,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Louisiana?
About 44% ($4,150). Materials are 53%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.88x the national wage level.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Louisiana?
The BLS statewide median is $27.62 an hour, against $29.87 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.05 to $29.23.
+Where does Louisiana rank for retaining wall costs?
43rd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $9,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Louisiana?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,350 to $8,700 and premium work $9,900 to $12,300. Basic means: short block wall, easy access. Premium means: tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access.
+Does the season matter for retaining wall in Louisiana?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Louisiana metros we cover, New Orleans has the most comfortable months (10 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Retaining wall by city in Louisiana
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.