Retaining wall cost in Youngstown, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical 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
- Rank of 300 metros
- #173
- 1 = most expensive
Youngstown homeowners pay roughly $6,850 to $12,900 to build a retaining wall at 200 sq ft of wall face, or $34 to $62.50 per sq ft of wall face (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Youngstown is 4% lower. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.6).
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Youngstown, OH, standard level
$8,700 to $11,100
About $42.50 to $54 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $4,500 | $4,900 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $8,700 | $11,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Youngstown, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,600 | $4,950 | $7,300 | 50% |
| Labor | $4,200 | $4,700 | $5,200 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $390 | 2% |
| Total | $6,850 | $9,900 | $12,900 | 100% |
Why Youngstown prices look the way they do
Labor is 48% 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 Youngstown the blended ratio comes out at 1.00.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Youngstown metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $4,950, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (87.4) and land at $45 to $390.
When to schedule retaining wall in Youngstown
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Youngstown Rgnl Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Youngstown (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March 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 127 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Youngstown gets about 41 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 68 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and September (4.3 inches in July). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 8 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 | 34 | 19 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 21 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 47 | 28 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 60 | 38 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 48 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 60 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 59 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 52 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 42 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 50 | 33 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 39 | 26 | 3.2 | Cold |
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 Youngstown is 1.00 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $29.53 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $22.91 and $36.06 an hour. About 130 work in the metro. That is 8.1 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 $23.36 an hour, 3% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.83 and $31.39 an hour. About 850 work in the metro. That is 53.1 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 $28.47 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.54 and $40.17 an hour. BLS counts 420 of them working in the area, 26.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the brickmasons and blockmasons on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.06 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $510. At the 25th percentile ($22.91) it shrinks by about $520. The total moves by 5.2% or 5.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 160,160 jobs in the Youngstown-Warren area. That makes it the 148th 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% | $22.91 | $29.53 | $36.06 | $29.87 | 0.99 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.83 | $23.36 | $31.39 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $24.54 | $28.47 | $40.17 | $28.78 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Youngstown?
Because every project leans on different trades, Youngstown's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +4% and sod installation −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $630 – $2,200 | +4% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,300 | −3% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,650 – $9,250 | level |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,850 – $9,600 | −4% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,000 – $109,500 | −3% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in Youngstown
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Youngstown 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
$6,850 to $9,300
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,700 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 – $4,750 | $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) | $5,500 – $7,450 | $6,950 – $8,950 | $8,450 – $10,400 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,250 – $11,100 | $10,400 – $13,300 | $12,500 – $15,400 |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Youngstown
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.
Is Youngstown cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Cleveland is the priciest of the group at $11,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown, OHthis page | $6,850 – $12,900 | $9,900 | |
| Akron, OH30 miles | $7,550 – $13,700 | $10,600 | +8% |
| Canton, OH40 miles | $7,500 – $13,700 | $10,600 | +7% |
| Cleveland, OH45 miles | $7,850 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +11% |
| Pittsburgh, PA70 miles | $7,700 – $14,300 | $11,000 | +11% |
| Erie, PA75 miles | $6,900 – $13,300 | $10,100 | +2% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $7,500 – $13,700 | $10,600 | +7% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Youngstown comes in at #173 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, Youngstown is 7% below the Ohio figure.
Other Ohio metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $7,900 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +12% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $7,450 – $13,700 | $10,600 | +7% |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $7,850 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +11% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $7,200 – $13,400 | $10,300 | +4% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $7,550 – $13,700 | $10,600 | +8% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $7,500 – $13,700 | $10,600 | +7% |
Cities with a workforce like Youngstown's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Youngstown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury, CT | 160,710 jobs | $7,700 – $14,100 | $10,900 | +10% |
| Gulfport, MS | 158,310 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −8% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $6,350 – $12,300 | $9,300 | −6% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $7,850 – $14,700 | $11,300 | +14% |
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 $8,700 to $11,100 for Youngstown, OH is attached.
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Retaining wall in Youngstown: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Youngstown?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,850 to $12,900 in the Youngstown area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,700 to $11,100. 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 Youngstown?
About $34 to $62.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $390 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Youngstown or Akron?
Akron is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,600, which is 8% more than Youngstown ($9,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Youngstown?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $4,700 out of $9,900. 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 Youngstown?
$5,500 to $10,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Youngstown?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $390 for fees in the Youngstown area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Youngstown expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Ohio?
Youngstown is 7% below the Ohio statewide estimate ($10,600 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Youngstown?
The BLS median is $29.53 an hour in the Youngstown area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.91 to $36.06.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Youngstown?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,850 to $9,300 and premium work $10,500 to $12,900. 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 Youngstown?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October 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 Youngstown
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.