Retaining wall cost in Omaha, NE
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,950 – $13,100
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $34.50 – $63.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #157
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Omaha area: $6,950 to $13,100 for 200 sq ft of wall face. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.1).
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Omaha, NE, standard level
$8,800 to $11,200
About $43 to $54.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,950 |
| Labor | $4,600 | $5,000 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $300 |
| Total | $8,800 | $11,200 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Omaha, NE
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,650 | $5,000 | $7,350 | 50% |
| Labor | $4,300 | $4,800 | $5,300 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $230 | $410 | 2% |
| Total | $6,950 | $10,000 | $13,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Omaha number
The wage side of the estimate leans on brickmasons and blockmasons, who do 50% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $30.71 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Omaha is 1.02 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 48% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Omaha is at 94.1 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,000 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.9: $45 to $410.
What nearby projects cost in Omaha
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Omaha wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (+3%) and concrete driveway lowest (−6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,100 | −1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,500 | +1% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,400 – $8,600 | −6% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,400 | +3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,900 – $9,750 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,400 – $110,500 | −2% |
Is Omaha cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Omaha. Lincoln is the lowest at about $9,700 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NEthis page | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | |
| Lincoln, NE55 miles | $6,650 – $12,700 | $9,700 | −3% |
| Sioux City, IA85 miles | $7,150 – $13,300 | $10,200 | +2% |
| Des Moines, IA120 miles | $7,450 – $13,600 | $10,500 | +5% |
| Topeka, KS155 miles | $6,850 – $12,900 | $9,850 | −1% |
| Sioux Falls, SD160 miles | $6,900 – $13,000 | $9,950 | level |
| Nebraska (statewide) | $6,850 – $12,900 | $9,850 | −2% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Omaha ranks #157 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Omaha is 2% above the Nebraska figure.
Elsewhere in Nebraska
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | 182,620 jobs | $6,650 – $12,700 | $9,700 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Omaha against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,250 | −8% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $7,600 – $14,100 | $10,800 | +8% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $7,800 – $14,400 | $11,100 | +11% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $7,900 – $14,700 | $11,300 | +13% |
Cost by quality level and size in Omaha
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Omaha. 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
$6,950 to $9,400
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,800 to $11,200
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,600 to $13,100
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,500 – $4,800 | $4,500 – $5,750 | $5,450 – $6,750 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,800 – $3,900 | $3,600 – $4,700 | $4,400 – $5,450 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,600 – $7,550 | $7,050 – $9,050 | $8,550 – $10,500 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,350 – $11,300 | $10,500 – $13,400 | $12,700 – $15,600 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Omaha 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.
The best months for retaining wall in Omaha
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Omaha Eppley Airfield (10 miles from the city center). 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 Omaha are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, 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 134 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Omaha gets about 32 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 27 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.0 and 2.3 inches. The station averages about 33 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 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 19 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 30 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 64 | 41 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 53 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 66 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 56 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 43 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 50 | 30 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 20 | 1.2 | Cold |
Who does the work: Omaha trade wages
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 Omaha the blend is 1.02.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $30.71 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $26.95 and $32.37 an hour. BLS counts 220 of them working in the area, 4.4 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 $23.22 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.00 and $27.58 an hour. BLS counts 3,990 of them working in the area, 80.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $28.86 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.14 and $31.54 an hour. About 1,380 work in the metro. That is 27.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (brickmasons and blockmasons) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $130 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $300. That is a swing of roughly 3.0% to 1.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Omaha has 498,100 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 51st 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% | $26.95 | $30.71 | $32.37 | $29.87 | 1.03 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $20.00 | $23.22 | $27.58 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $24.14 | $28.86 | $31.54 | $28.78 | 1.00 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
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Retaining wall in Omaha: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Omaha?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,950 to $13,100 in the Omaha area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,800 to $11,200. 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 Omaha?
About $34.50 to $63.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $410 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Omaha or Lincoln?
Lincoln is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,700, which is 3% less than Omaha ($10,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Omaha?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $4,800 out of $10,000. Materials are 50% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Omaha?
$5,600 to $10,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Omaha?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $410 for fees in the Omaha area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Omaha expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Nebraska?
Omaha is 2% above the Nebraska statewide estimate ($9,850 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Nebraska; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Omaha?
The BLS median is $30.71 an hour in the Omaha area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.95 to $32.37.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Omaha?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,950 to $9,400 and premium work $10,600 to $13,100. 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 Omaha?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September and October 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 Omaha
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.