Retaining wall cost in Bozeman, MT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $7,050 – $13,300
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $35 – $64
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #140
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Bozeman, MT usually costs $7,050 to $13,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $35 to $64 per sq ft of wall face before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.0).
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Bozeman, MT, standard level
$8,900 to $11,400
About $43.50 to $55.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $4,600 | $5,000 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $340 |
| Total | $8,900 | $11,400 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Bozeman, MT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 50% |
| Labor | $4,300 | $4,800 | $5,300 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $260 | $460 | 3% |
| Total | $7,050 | $10,200 | $13,300 | 100% |
Where the Bozeman price comes from
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, Bozeman wages are 1.02 times the national level. Labor makes up about 47% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bozeman is at 96.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,100 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 102.5: $50 to $460.
What nearby projects cost in Bozeman
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bozeman wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (+9%) and inground pool lowest (+4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $630 – $2,200 | +5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,150 – $5,700 | +5% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,900 – $10,000 | +8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,550 | +8% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,350 – $10,900 | +9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,700 – $117,500 | +4% |
Cost by quality level and size in Bozeman
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bozeman. 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
$7,050 to $9,550
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,900 to $11,400
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,800 to $13,300
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,550 – $4,850 | $4,550 – $5,850 | $5,550 – $6,850 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,850 – $3,950 | $3,650 – $4,750 | $4,500 – $5,600 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,650 – $7,650 | $7,150 – $9,200 | $8,700 – $10,700 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,450 – $11,400 | $10,700 – $13,600 | $12,900 – $15,800 |
Bozeman 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, Bozeman Montana State Univ (in the city). 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 Bozeman are May through September: 5 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, October, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, April, October, 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 178 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Bozeman gets about 20 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 91 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (3.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 1.3 and 1.3 inches. The station averages about 12 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 | 15 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 17 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 24 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 55 | 31 | 2.5 | Cold |
| May | 63 | 39 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 72 | 46 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 52 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 50 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 42 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 57 | 32 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Nov | 42 | 22 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 33 | 15 | 1.0 | Cold |
Bozeman against nearby metros and the rest of Montana
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Idaho Falls is the priciest of the group at $10,300. Billings is the cheapest at $9,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MTthis page | $7,050 – $13,300 | $10,200 | |
| Billings, MT115 miles | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −3% |
| Idaho Falls, ID145 miles | $7,200 – $13,400 | $10,300 | +2% |
| Missoula, MT185 miles | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,950 | −2% |
| Logan, UT255 miles | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −2% |
| Boise, ID300 miles | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | −1% |
| Montana (statewide) | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −2% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bozeman ranks #140 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bozeman is 3% above the Montana figure.
Elsewhere in Montana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −3% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,950 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bozeman against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | −10% |
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $7,900 – $14,700 | $11,300 | +11% |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 72,280 jobs | $7,100 – $13,400 | $10,200 | +1% |
| Bismarck, ND | 71,270 jobs | $7,650 – $13,900 | $10,800 | +6% |
What local crews earn in Bozeman
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 Bozeman the blend is 1.02.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $26.38 an hour, which is 12% below the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $23.34 and $28.65 an hour. BLS counts 60 of them working in the area, 8.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $26.77 an hour, which is 18% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $24.06 and $29.16 an hour. BLS counts 790 of them working in the area, 109.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $32.77 an hour, 14% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.51 and $37.68 an hour. About 530 work in the metro. That is 73.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 $180 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $240. That is a swing of roughly 2.4% to 1.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bozeman has 72,210 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 256th 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% | $23.34 | $26.38 | $28.65 | $29.87 | 0.88 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $24.06 | $26.77 | $29.16 | $22.66 | 1.18 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $29.51 | $32.77 | $37.68 | $28.78 | 1.14 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Bozeman bid
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.
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Retaining wall in Bozeman: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Bozeman?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $7,050 to $13,300 in the Bozeman area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,900 to $11,400. 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 Bozeman?
About $35 to $64 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Bozeman or Billings?
Billings is 115 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,900, which is 3% less than Bozeman ($10,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bozeman?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $4,800 out of $10,200. Materials are 50% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Bozeman?
$5,650 to $10,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Bozeman?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $460 for fees in the Bozeman area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bozeman expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Montana?
Bozeman is 3% above the Montana statewide estimate ($9,900 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Montana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Bozeman?
The BLS median is $26.38 an hour in the Bozeman area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.34 to $28.65.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Bozeman?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $7,050 to $9,550 and premium work $10,800 to $13,300. 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 Bozeman?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through September. July 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 Bozeman
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.