Retaining wall cost in Greenville, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,050 – $12,000
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $30 – $58
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #284
- 1 = most expensive
Greenville homeowners pay roughly $6,050 to $12,000 to build a retaining wall at 200 sq ft of wall face, or $30 to $58 per sq ft of wall face (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Greenville is 12% lower. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $21.33 an hour in the Greenville area, 29% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Greenville, NC, standard level
$7,850 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 | $6,100 |
| Labor | $3,550 | $3,850 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $7,850 | $10,200 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Greenville, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,550 | 57% |
| Labor | $3,300 | $3,700 | $4,100 | 41% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $400 | 2% |
| Total | $6,050 | $9,050 | $12,000 | 100% |
Where the Greenville 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, Greenville wages are 0.79 times the national level. Labor makes up about 41% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Greenville metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,100, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (88.4) and land at $45 to $400.
Is Greenville cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Greenville. Virginia Beach comes closest at about $9,250.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, NCthis page | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | |
| Raleigh, NC60 miles | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,400 | +4% |
| Fayetteville, NC100 miles | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | +3% |
| Wilmington, NC100 miles | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | +3% |
| Durham, NC100 miles | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,450 | +4% |
| Virginia Beach, VA100 miles | $6,200 – $12,300 | $9,250 | +2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,350 | +3% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +13% |
Across 300 US metros, Greenville comes in at #284 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $13,500; the cheapest is El Paso, TX at $8,850 (midpoints, 200 sq ft of wall face). Statewide, Greenville is 3% below the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $6,450 – $12,600 | $9,500 | +5% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,400 | +4% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | +2% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,450 | +4% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | +1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Greenville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Greenville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odessa, TX | 80,910 jobs | $6,400 – $12,300 | $9,350 | +3% |
| Jefferson City, MO | 80,220 jobs | $7,200 – $13,300 | $10,300 | +14% |
| Johnson City, TN | 81,690 jobs | $6,650 – $12,800 | $9,700 | +7% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $6,000 – $11,900 | $8,950 | −1% |
When to schedule retaining wall in Greenville
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Greenville (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
August through June is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Greenville (11 of 12 months). July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Greenville gets about 53 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (7.3 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 53 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53 | 33 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 57 | 35 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 41 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 67 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 71 | 5.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 70 | 6.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 64 | 7.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 52 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 41 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 35 | 3.5 | Workable |
Why two Greenville quotes can differ
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Greenville
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Greenville wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$6,050 to $8,450
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$7,850 to $10,200
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,650 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 | $3,250 – $4,250 | $4,000 – $5,050 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $4,850 – $6,800 | $6,300 – $8,250 | $7,750 – $9,700 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,250 – $10,100 | $9,400 – $12,200 | $11,500 – $14,400 |
Planning more than one job in Greenville?
Because every project leans on different trades, Greenville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −6% and concrete driveway −17%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,850 | −11% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,100 – $7,600 | −17% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,200 | −8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,300 – $101,000 | −10% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Greenville is 0.79 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $21.33 an hour, 29% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $20.96 and $23.13 an hour. About 40 work in the metro. That is 5.0 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 $20.40 an hour, 10% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.36 and $23.08 an hour. About 450 work in the metro. That is 55.7 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 $23.05 an hour, which is 20% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $20.96 and $27.03 an hour. BLS counts 210 of them working in the area, 26.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the brickmasons and blockmasons on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($23.13 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $140. At the 25th percentile ($20.96) it shrinks by about $30. The total moves by 1.6% or 0.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 80,770 jobs in the Greenville area. That makes it the 236th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $20.96 | $21.33 | $23.13 | $29.87 | 0.71 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.36 | $20.40 | $23.08 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $20.96 | $23.05 | $27.03 | $28.78 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed retaining wall report for Greenville, NC, $9
The report lays out the retaining wall numbers for Greenville, NC line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Retaining wall in Greenville: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Greenville?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,050 to $12,000 in the Greenville area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,850 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 Greenville?
About $30 to $58 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Greenville or Raleigh?
Raleigh is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,400, which is 4% more than Greenville ($9,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Greenville?
About 41% at the midpoint, or $3,700 out of $9,050. Materials are 57% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Greenville?
$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 Greenville?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $400 for fees in the Greenville area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Greenville expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Greenville is 3% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($9,350 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Greenville?
The BLS median is $21.33 an hour in the Greenville area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.96 to $23.13.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Greenville?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,050 to $8,450 and premium work $9,650 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 Greenville?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February and November 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 Greenville
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.