Retaining wall cost in Amherst, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $8,450 – $15,100
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $42 – $73
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +15%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #28
- 1 = most expensive
Amherst homeowners pay roughly $8,450 to $15,100 to build a retaining wall at 200 sq ft of wall face, or $42 to $73 per sq ft of wall face (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Amherst is 15% higher. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $45.65 an hour in the Amherst area, 53% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Amherst, MA, standard level
$10,500 to $13,100
About $51.50 to $64 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,100 |
| Labor | $6,100 | $6,650 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $330 |
| Total | $10,500 | $13,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Amherst, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,150 | $7,550 | 44% |
| Labor | $5,700 | $6,400 | $7,050 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $450 | 2% |
| Total | $8,450 | $11,800 | $15,100 | 100% |
Why Amherst prices look the way they do
Labor is 54% 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 Amherst the blended ratio comes out at 1.36. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Amherst metro is 97.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,150, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.2) and land at $50 to $450.
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 Amherst. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Amherst
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Amherst 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
$8,450 to $11,100
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$10,500 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 | $4,250 – $5,650 | $5,300 – $6,700 | $6,350 – $7,750 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,400 – $4,550 | $4,300 – $5,450 | $5,150 – $6,300 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,800 – $8,950 | $8,400 – $10,500 | $10,000 – $12,200 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $10,200 – $13,300 | $12,500 – $15,600 | $14,900 – $18,000 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Amherst is 1.36 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Amherst metro, so we used the Massachusetts statewide median: $45.65 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $36.67 and $64.18 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $27.96 an hour, 23% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $36.52 an hour. About 280 work in the metro. That is 42.6 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 $32.13 an hour, which is 12% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.45 and $38.91 an hour. BLS counts 180 of them working in the area, 27.4 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 ($64.18 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,450. At the 25th percentile ($36.67) it shrinks by about $710. The total moves by 12.4% or 6.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 65,670 jobs in the Amherst Town-Northampton area. That makes it the 273rd 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% | $36.67 | $45.65 | $64.18 | $29.87 | 1.53 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.14 | $27.96 | $36.52 | $22.66 | 1.23 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $27.45 | $32.13 | $38.91 | $28.78 | 1.12 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.36 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Amherst bid
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.
Amherst against nearby metros and the rest of Massachusetts
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 $10,900 to $12,000 across Amherst and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst, MAthis page | $8,450 – $15,100 | $11,800 | |
| Springfield, MA15 miles | $8,650 – $15,300 | $12,000 | +2% |
| Pittsfield, MA30 miles | $8,050 – $14,500 | $11,300 | −4% |
| Worcester, MA35 miles | $8,100 – $14,600 | $11,400 | −4% |
| Hartford, CT45 miles | $8,300 – $14,900 | $11,600 | −1% |
| Waterbury, CT60 miles | $7,700 – $14,100 | $10,900 | −7% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $8,800 – $15,600 | $12,200 | +4% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −13% |
Across 300 US metros, Amherst comes in at #28 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, Amherst is 3% below the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $8,900 – $15,800 | $12,300 | +5% |
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $8,100 – $14,600 | $11,400 | −4% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $8,650 – $15,300 | $12,000 | +2% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $8,600 – $15,200 | $11,900 | +1% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $8,050 – $14,500 | $11,300 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Amherst's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Amherst against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $6,750 – $12,900 | $9,850 | −16% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $6,450 – $12,600 | $9,500 | −19% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −16% |
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $7,750 – $14,500 | $11,100 | −5% |
Related projects, priced for Amherst
Because every project leans on different trades, Amherst's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs +18% and sod installation +9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $670 – $2,350 | +12% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,550 – $6,450 | +18% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,950 – $10,100 | +10% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,650 – $3,600 | +9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,400 – $10,900 | +9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,500 – $126,000 | +12% |
When to schedule retaining wall in Amherst
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Westfield Barnes Muni Ap (15 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Amherst (7 of 12 months). 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 144 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Amherst gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, September and October (4.7 inches in October). Inside the workable window, May and August are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 18 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 | 35 | 16 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 38 | 17 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 47 | 26 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 60 | 35 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 46 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 80 | 55 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 59 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 51 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 39 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 30 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Dec | 40 | 22 | 3.6 | Cold |
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Detailed retaining wall report for Amherst, MA, $9
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Retaining wall in Amherst: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Amherst?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $8,450 to $15,100 in the Amherst 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 Amherst?
About $42 to $73 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Amherst or Springfield?
Springfield is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $12,000, which is 2% more than Amherst ($11,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Amherst?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $6,400 out of $11,800. Materials are 44% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Amherst?
$6,800 to $12,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Amherst?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $450 for fees in the Amherst area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Amherst expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Amherst is 3% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($12,200 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Amherst?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $45.65 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $36.67 to $64.18.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Amherst?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $8,450 to $11,100 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 Amherst?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. May and August 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 Amherst
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.