Retaining wall cost in Missouri
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $7,550 – $13,900
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $37.50 – $67.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $10,300
- Metros covered
- 6
Across Missouri, a retaining wall costs about $7,550 to $13,900 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Statewide, that midpoint is 5% above the US figure of $10,300. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median $34.80 an hour in Missouri (US: $29.87).
Inside Missouri, the metros we cover range from $9,750 (Springfield) to $11,700 (St. Louis) 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 Missouri (statewide), standard level
$9,450 to $12,000
About $46.50 to $58.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $5,150 | $5,600 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $300 |
| Total | $9,450 | $12,000 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Missouri
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 48% |
| Labor | $4,800 | $5,400 | $5,950 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $230 | $410 | 2% |
| Total | $7,550 | $10,700 | $13,900 | 100% |
Which Missouri city is cheapest for retaining wall?
1 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $10,700, and the top-to-bottom gap is 20%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | $8,350 – $15,000 | $11,700 | +9% |
| Columbia, MO | $7,450 – $13,600 | $10,500 | −2% |
| Kansas City, MO | $7,400 – $13,600 | $10,500 | −2% |
| Joplin, MO | $7,200 – $13,300 | $10,300 | −4% |
| Jefferson City, MO | $7,200 – $13,300 | $10,300 | −4% |
| Springfield, MO | $6,750 – $12,800 | $9,750 | −9% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Missouri
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.
Missouri versus the states around it
Missouri ranks 17 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. Missouri sits at $10,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 220 miles away | $7,150 – $13,300 | $10,200 | −5% |
| Arkansas | 230 miles away | $6,150 – $12,000 | $9,100 | −15% |
| Kansas | 250 miles away | $6,600 – $12,600 | $9,600 | −10% |
| Nebraska | 270 miles away | $6,850 – $12,900 | $9,850 | −8% |
| Illinois | 310 miles away | $9,000 – $16,000 | $12,500 | +17% |
Related projects, priced for Missouri
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Missouri wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+7%) and sod installation lowest (−1%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $620 – $2,200 | +4% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,850 | +7% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,800 – $9,750 | +6% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,250 | −1% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,150 – $10,400 | +4% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,800 – $118,000 | +5% |
Missouri seasons and retaining wall
Season matters for retaining wall. For each Missouri metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Springfield has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Missouri at 9 months (March through November); Joplin has the shortest at 7 (March through June and September through November). Rainfall runs from 38 inches a year in Kansas City to 47 inches in Springfield.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis | 25 | 90 | 44 | 8: March through June and August through November |
| Kansas City | 22 | 90 | 38 | 8: March through June and August through November |
| Springfield | 23 | 88 | 47 | 9: March through November |
| Columbia | 23 | 89 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Joplin | 25 | 90 | 46 | 7: March through June and September through November |
| Jefferson City | 23 | 89 | 40 | 9: March through November |
Quality levels and sizes in Missouri
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Missouri wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$7,550 to $10,100
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$9,450 to $12,000
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$11,300 to $13,900
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,800 – $5,150 | $4,800 – $6,150 | $5,800 – $7,150 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,050 – $4,150 | $3,850 – $4,950 | $4,700 – $5,800 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,050 – $8,100 | $7,600 – $9,650 | $9,150 – $11,200 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $9,050 – $12,100 | $11,300 – $14,300 | $13,600 – $16,600 |
Missouri 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 1.15 for Missouri.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $34.80 an hour, 17% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $28.18 and $38.24 an hour. About 1,940 work in the state. That is 6.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $27.28 an hour, 20% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.93 and $37.30 an hour. About 17,050 work in the state. That is 58.1 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 $29.10 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.21 and $40.58 an hour. BLS counts 10,470 of them working in the state, 35.7 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 ($38.24 an hour) would add about $270 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($28.18) would take off about $520. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,936,050 jobs across Missouri (May 2025), which is 1.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $28.18 | $34.80 | $38.24 | $29.87 | 1.17 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.93 | $27.28 | $37.30 | $22.66 | 1.20 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $23.21 | $29.10 | $40.58 | $28.78 | 1.01 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.15 | |||||
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Retaining wall in Missouri: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Missouri?
$7,550 to $13,900 for 200 sq ft of wall face, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Missouri can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Missouri is cheapest for retaining wall?
Springfield at about $9,750 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). The priciest is St. Louis at $11,700.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Missouri than the US average?
It is 5% more expensive: $10,700 against $10,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Missouri?
About 50% ($5,400). Materials are 48%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.15x the national wage level.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Missouri?
The BLS statewide median is $34.80 an hour, against $29.87 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.18 to $38.24.
+Where does Missouri rank for retaining wall costs?
17th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $10,700 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Missouri?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $7,550 to $10,100 and premium work $11,300 to $13,900. Basic means: short block wall, easy access. Premium means: tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access.
+Does the season matter for retaining wall in Missouri?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Missouri metros we cover, Springfield has the most comfortable months (9 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 Missouri
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.