Retaining wall cost in Albuquerque, NM
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,000 – $12,000
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $30 – $58
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #289
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Albuquerque, NM usually costs $6,000 to $12,000 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $30 to $58 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,250 less. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $21.11 an hour in the Albuquerque area, 29% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Albuquerque, NM, standard level
$7,800 to $10,200
About $38.50 to $49.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 41% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $3,500 | $3,850 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $320 |
| Total | $7,800 | $10,200 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Albuquerque, NM
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 57% |
| Labor | $3,300 | $3,650 | $4,050 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $240 | $430 | 3% |
| Total | $6,000 | $9,000 | $12,000 | 100% |
Where the Albuquerque price comes from
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 $21.11 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Albuquerque is 0.78 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 41% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Albuquerque is at 96.1 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 95.5: $50 to $430.
Specs and site conditions that change a Albuquerque 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.
Albuquerque 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, Albuquerque Intl Ap (5 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 Albuquerque are March through May and August through November: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and June and July have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January, February 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 93 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Albuquerque gets about 9 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 8 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (1.6 inches in July). Inside the workable window, March and May are the driest, at 0.5 and 0.4 inches. The station averages about 64 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 | 48 | 26 | 0.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 54 | 30 | 0.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 63 | 36 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 43 | 0.5 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 52 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 62 | 0.6 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 67 | 1.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 65 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 58 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 71 | 46 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 57 | 34 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 27 | 0.5 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Albuquerque
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Albuquerque wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−5%) and paver patio lowest (−12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,900 | −9% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,800 | −12% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,350 – $8,350 | −9% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,150 | −5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,750 – $9,350 | −6% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,400 – $101,500 | −10% |
What local crews earn in Albuquerque
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 Albuquerque the blend is 0.78.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $21.11 an hour, which is 29% below the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $17.39 and $23.26 an hour. BLS counts 180 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 $19.44 an hour, which is 14% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.40 and $23.09 an hour. BLS counts 4,140 of them working in the area, 102.3 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 $24.59 an hour, 15% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.99 and $29.11 an hour. About 1,330 work in the metro. That is 32.9 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 $170 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $290. That is a swing of roughly 3.2% to 1.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Albuquerque has 404,700 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 62nd 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% | $17.39 | $21.11 | $23.26 | $29.87 | 0.71 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.40 | $19.44 | $23.09 | $22.66 | 0.86 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $22.99 | $24.59 | $29.11 | $28.78 | 0.85 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.78 | |||||
Albuquerque: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Albuquerque. 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
$6,000 to $8,400
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$7,800 to $10,200
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,600 to $12,000
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,050 – $4,300 | $4,000 – $5,250 | $4,950 – $6,200 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,450 – $3,500 | $3,200 – $4,250 | $4,000 – $5,050 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $4,850 – $6,750 | $6,300 – $8,200 | $7,750 – $9,700 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,200 – $10,100 | $9,350 – $12,200 | $11,500 – $14,300 |
How Albuquerque compares
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 $8,850 to $10,100 across Albuquerque and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NMthis page | $6,000 – $12,000 | $9,000 | |
| Santa Fe, NM40 miles | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +1% |
| Las Cruces, NM195 miles | $6,000 – $11,900 | $8,950 | level |
| Pueblo, CO235 miles | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +12% |
| El Paso, TX255 miles | $5,900 – $11,700 | $8,850 | −2% |
| Amarillo, TX255 miles | $6,300 – $12,200 | $9,250 | +3% |
| New Mexico (statewide) | $6,000 – $12,000 | $9,000 | level |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Albuquerque ranks #289 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Albuquerque is 0% above the New Mexico figure.
Elsewhere in New Mexico
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $6,000 – $11,900 | $8,950 | level |
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Albuquerque against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $8,150 – $14,500 | $11,300 | +26% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $7,500 – $13,900 | $10,700 | +19% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $6,450 – $12,400 | $9,450 | +5% |
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $7,450 – $13,600 | $10,500 | +17% |
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Retaining wall in Albuquerque: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Albuquerque?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,000 to $12,000 in the Albuquerque area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,800 to $10,200. 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 Albuquerque?
About $30 to $58 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $430 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Albuquerque or Santa Fe?
Santa Fe is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,100, which is 1% more than Albuquerque ($9,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Albuquerque?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $3,650 out of $9,000. Materials are 57% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Albuquerque?
$4,850 to $9,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Albuquerque?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $430 for fees in the Albuquerque area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Albuquerque expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of New Mexico?
Albuquerque is 0% above the New Mexico statewide estimate ($9,000 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in New Mexico; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Albuquerque?
The BLS median is $21.11 an hour in the Albuquerque area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.39 to $23.26.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Albuquerque?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,000 to $8,400 and premium work $9,600 to $12,000. 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 Albuquerque?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through May and August through November. March and May 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 Albuquerque
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.