Retaining wall cost in Nebraska
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,850 – $12,900
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $34 – $62.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $10,300
- Metros covered
- 2
Across Nebraska, a retaining wall costs about $6,850 to $12,900 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Statewide, that midpoint is 4% below the US figure of $10,300. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median $29.42 an hour in Nebraska (US: $29.87).
Inside Nebraska, the metros we cover range from $9,700 (Lincoln) to $10,000 (Omaha) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Nebraska (statewide), standard level
$8,650 to $11,100
About $42.50 to $54 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,950 |
| Labor | $4,450 | $4,850 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $300 |
| Total | $8,650 | $11,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Nebraska
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,650 | $5,000 | $7,350 | 51% |
| Labor | $4,150 | $4,650 | $5,150 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $230 | $410 | 2% |
| Total | $6,850 | $9,850 | $12,900 | 100% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Nebraska
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.
How Nebraska compares with nearby states
Nebraska ranks 35 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. Nebraska sits at $9,850. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 190 miles away | $7,150 – $13,300 | $10,200 | +4% |
| South Dakota | 220 miles away | $6,800 – $12,900 | $9,850 | level |
| Kansas | 220 miles away | $6,600 – $12,600 | $9,600 | −3% |
| Missouri | 270 miles away | $7,550 – $13,900 | $10,700 | +9% |
| Minnesota | 320 miles away | $8,800 – $15,600 | $12,200 | +24% |
Quality levels and sizes in Nebraska
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Nebraska wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$6,850 to $9,250
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,650 to $11,100
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,500 to $12,900
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,450 – $4,700 | $4,400 – $5,700 | $5,350 – $6,650 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,750 – $3,800 | $3,550 – $4,600 | $4,350 – $5,400 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,450 – $7,450 | $6,950 – $8,900 | $8,400 – $10,400 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,200 – $11,100 | $10,300 – $13,200 | $12,500 – $15,400 |
What brickmasons and blockmasons and the other trades earn in Nebraska
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 0.99 for Nebraska.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $29.42 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $26.02 and $31.25 an hour. About 350 work in the state. That is 3.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $22.72 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.38 and $26.71 an hour. About 8,530 work in the state. That is 83.3 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 $28.06 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $30.52 an hour. BLS counts 3,180 of them working in the state, 31.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for brickmasons and blockmasons ($31.25 an hour) would add about $140 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($26.02) would take off about $270. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,024,370 jobs across Nebraska (May 2025), which is 0.7% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $26.02 | $29.42 | $31.25 | $29.87 | 0.98 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $19.38 | $22.72 | $26.71 | $22.66 | 1.00 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $23.05 | $28.06 | $30.52 | $28.78 | 0.97 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Nebraska
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Nebraska wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−3%) and concrete driveway lowest (−8%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $580 – $2,000 | −4% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,300 | −3% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,500 | −8% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,850 – $9,600 | −4% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,800 – $109,000 | −4% |
Nebraska seasons and retaining wall
Season matters for retaining wall. For each Nebraska metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for digging and ground work.
Every Nebraska metro on the list has 7 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 29 inches a year in Lincoln to 32 in Omaha.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 15 | 88 | 32 | 7: April through October |
| Lincoln | 14 | 89 | 29 | 7: April through October |
Retaining wall cost by metro in Nebraska
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $9,850, and the top-to-bottom gap is 3%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +2% |
| Lincoln, NE | $6,650 – $12,700 | $9,700 | −2% |
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Retaining wall in Nebraska: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Nebraska?
$6,850 to $12,900 for 200 sq ft of wall face, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Nebraska can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Nebraska is cheapest for retaining wall?
Lincoln at about $9,700 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). The priciest is Omaha at $10,000.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Nebraska than the US average?
It is 4% cheaper: $9,850 against $10,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Nebraska?
About 47% ($4,650). Materials are 51%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.99x the national wage level.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Nebraska?
The BLS statewide median is $29.42 an hour, against $29.87 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.02 to $31.25.
+Where does Nebraska rank for retaining wall costs?
35th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $9,850 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Nebraska?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,850 to $9,250 and premium work $10,500 to $12,900. Basic means: short block wall, easy access. Premium means: tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access.
+Does the season matter for retaining wall in Nebraska?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Nebraska metros we cover, Omaha has the most comfortable months (7 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 Nebraska
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.