Retaining wall cost in Hickory, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,300 – $12,300
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $31 – $59.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #234
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a retaining wall in Hickory, plan on $6,300 to $12,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face, all in. Per sq ft of wall face, that is $31 to $59.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 9% lower than the national one. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $24.01 an hour in the Hickory area, 20% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Hickory, NC, standard level
$8,100 to $10,500
About $40 to $51 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,100 |
| Labor | $3,800 | $4,150 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $8,100 | $10,500 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Hickory, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,550 | 55% |
| Labor | $3,550 | $3,950 | $4,400 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $400 | 2% |
| Total | $6,300 | $9,300 | $12,300 | 100% |
What is behind the Hickory number
Labor is 43% of the midpoint bill here, against 46% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is brickmasons and blockmasons (50%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Hickory the blended ratio comes out at 0.84. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Hickory 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 (88.5) and land at $45 to $400.
Data note: 50% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Hickory. The wage table below marks each row.
Hickory against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Johnson City is the priciest of the group at $9,700. Winston is the cheapest at $9,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory, NCthis page | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | |
| Johnson City, TN60 miles | $6,650 – $12,800 | $9,700 | +4% |
| Charlotte, NC60 miles | $6,450 – $12,600 | $9,500 | +2% |
| Asheville, NC65 miles | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,350 | +1% |
| Winston, NC65 miles | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | −1% |
| Spartanburg, SC70 miles | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,350 | +1% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, Hickory comes in at #234 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, Hickory is 1% 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 | +2% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,400 | +1% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,450 | +1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | −1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Hickory's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hickory against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville, TX | 157,450 jobs | $6,100 – $11,900 | $9,000 | −3% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −2% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $7,850 – $14,700 | $11,300 | +21% |
| Gainesville, FL | 152,670 jobs | $6,300 – $12,400 | $9,350 | level |
Planning more than one job in Hickory?
Because every project leans on different trades, Hickory's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sod installation runs −5% and concrete driveway −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,000 | −8% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,000 | −13% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,100 | −5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,650 – $9,100 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,800 – $102,500 | −9% |
Climate in Hickory: timing your retaining wall job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Hickory Faa Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through December is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Hickory (11 of 12 months). January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 69 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Hickory gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.6 inches in August). Inside the workable window, February and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 33 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 | 49 | 30 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 70 | 48 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 64 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 68 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 67 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 52 | 33 | 3.9 | Workable |
Hickory labor market for retaining wall
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 Hickory is 0.84 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Hickory metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $24.01 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.78 and $27.70 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.42 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.03 and $24.58 an hour. About 800 work in the metro. That is 51.9 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 $22.76 an hour, which is 21% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $19.88 and $27.84 an hour. BLS counts 370 of them working in the area, 24.0 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 ($27.70 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $290. At the 25th percentile ($21.78) it shrinks by about $180. The total moves by 3.1% or 1.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 154,090 jobs in the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area. That makes it the 152nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.10% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $21.78 | $24.01 | $27.70 | $29.87 | 0.80 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.03 | $21.42 | $24.58 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $19.88 | $22.76 | $27.84 | $28.78 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Hickory
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.
Hickory: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Hickory 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
$6,300 to $8,700
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,100 to $10,500
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,900 to $12,300
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,150 – $4,450 | $4,150 – $5,400 | $5,100 – $6,350 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,550 – $3,600 | $3,350 – $4,400 | $4,100 – $5,150 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,050 – $7,000 | $6,500 – $8,450 | $8,000 – $9,950 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,550 – $10,400 | $9,700 – $12,600 | $11,800 – $14,700 |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $8,100 to $10,500 for Hickory, NC is attached.
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Retaining wall in Hickory: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Hickory?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,300 to $12,300 in the Hickory area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,100 to $10,500. 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 Hickory?
About $31 to $59.50 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 Hickory or Johnson City?
Johnson City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,700, which is 4% more than Hickory ($9,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hickory?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $3,950 out of $9,300. Materials are 55% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Hickory?
$5,050 to $9,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Hickory?
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 Hickory area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hickory expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Hickory is 1% 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 Hickory?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $24.01 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.78 to $27.70.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Hickory?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,300 to $8,700 and premium work $9,900 to $12,300. 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 Hickory?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through December. February 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 Hickory
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.