Retaining wall cost in Pennsylvania
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $7,350 – $13,800
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $36.50 – $66.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $10,300
- Metros covered
- 12
Pennsylvania prices for retaining wall: $7,350 to $13,800 for 200 sq ft of wall face, or $36.50 to $66.50 per sq ft of wall face without the permit. The state midpoint is 3% above the national one. Local wages for brickmasons and blockmasons are $33.44 an hour.
Inside Pennsylvania, the metros we cover range from $10,100 (Erie) to $11,200 (Altoona) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Pennsylvania (statewide), standard level
$9,300 to $11,900
About $45.50 to $57.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,250 | $6,250 |
| Labor | $4,850 | $5,250 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $320 |
| Total | $9,300 | $11,900 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Pennsylvania
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $5,250 | $7,750 | 50% |
| Labor | $4,500 | $5,050 | $5,600 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $240 | $440 | 2% |
| Total | $7,350 | $10,600 | $13,800 | 100% |
What brickmasons and blockmasons and the other trades earn in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's labor line is priced from 3 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.08 times the national level.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $33.44 an hour, which is 12% above the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $28.58 and $41.79 an hour. BLS counts 2,910 of them working in the state, 4.8 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 $23.75 an hour, which is 5% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.69 and $29.72 an hour. BLS counts 35,920 of them working in the state, 59.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $29.10 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.42 and $37.40 an hour. About 22,120 work in the state. That is 36.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for brickmasons and blockmasons ($41.79 an hour) would add about $660 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($28.58) would take off about $380. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,064,600 jobs across Pennsylvania (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $28.58 | $33.44 | $41.79 | $29.87 | 1.12 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.69 | $23.75 | $29.72 | $22.66 | 1.05 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $24.42 | $29.10 | $37.40 | $28.78 | 1.01 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
How Pennsylvania compares with nearby states
Pennsylvania ranks 19 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for retaining wall, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $13,300 and the cheapest New Mexico at $9,000, both for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint. Pennsylvania sits at $10,600. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 70 miles away | $7,050 – $13,600 | $10,300 | −3% |
| Delaware | 100 miles away | $7,000 – $13,300 | $10,100 | −4% |
| New Jersey | 100 miles away | $8,650 – $15,700 | $12,200 | +15% |
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $7,600 – $14,500 | $11,000 | +4% |
| New York | 140 miles away | $8,550 – $15,600 | $12,100 | +14% |
When Pennsylvania weather lets you build
Weather decides when digging and ground work can happen, and Pennsylvania is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Philadelphia has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Pennsylvania at 9 months (March through November); Altoona has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 39 inches a year in Scranton to 47 inches in Allentown.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 27 | 88 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Pittsburgh | 22 | 83 | 41 | 8: April through November |
| Allentown | 22 | 86 | 47 | 8: April through November |
| Harrisburg | 22 | 85 | 45 | 8: April through November |
| Scranton | 20 | 85 | 39 | 8: April through November |
| Lancaster | 22 | 87 | 44 | 8: April through November |
| York | 21 | 88 | 46 | 8: April through November |
| Reading | 23 | 87 | 45 | 8: April through November |
| Erie | 21 | 81 | 43 | 8: April through November |
| State College | 21 | 81 | 42 | 8: April through November |
| Chambersburg | 23 | 85 | 44 | 8: April through November |
| Altoona | 19 | 81 | 45 | 8: April through November |
Why two Pennsylvania 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.
Rebuilding
Replacing an old wall adds $15-$30 per linear foot for demolition plus disposal.
Permit
Permits cost $50-$450 depending on location and wall size.
Other Pennsylvania jobs that often go with retaining wall
Each project weights the trades differently, so Pennsylvania's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, concrete driveway is +3% and French drain level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | level |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,100 – $5,650 | +3% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,750 – $9,550 | +3% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,300 | level |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,100 – $10,200 | +2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,000 – $115,500 | +2% |
Retaining wall cost by metro in Pennsylvania
6 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $10,600, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (200 sq ft of wall face) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | $7,900 – $14,500 | $11,200 | +6% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $7,700 – $14,300 | $11,000 | +4% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $7,750 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +4% |
| State College, PA | $7,500 – $14,000 | $10,800 | +2% |
| Harrisburg, PA | $7,450 – $14,000 | $10,700 | +2% |
| Reading, PA | $7,400 – $13,900 | $10,700 | +1% |
| Scranton, PA | $7,350 – $13,800 | $10,600 | level |
| Chambersburg, PA | $7,300 – $13,800 | $10,500 | level |
| Allentown, PA | $7,200 – $13,600 | $10,400 | −2% |
| Lancaster, PA | $7,150 – $13,600 | $10,400 | −2% |
| York, PA | $7,100 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −3% |
| Erie, PA | $6,900 – $13,300 | $10,100 | −5% |
Basic, standard or premium: Pennsylvania prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid 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
$7,350 to $9,950
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$9,300 to $11,900
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$11,200 to $13,800
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,700 – $5,050 | $4,700 – $6,100 | $5,750 – $7,100 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,950 – $4,100 | $3,800 – $4,950 | $4,650 – $5,800 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,900 – $8,000 | $7,450 – $9,550 | $9,050 – $11,100 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,800 – $11,900 | $11,100 – $14,200 | $13,400 – $16,500 |
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Retaining wall in Pennsylvania: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Pennsylvania?
$7,350 to $13,800 for 200 sq ft of wall face, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Pennsylvania can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Pennsylvania is cheapest for retaining wall?
Erie at about $10,100 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). The priciest is Altoona at $11,200.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Pennsylvania than the US average?
It is 3% more expensive: $10,600 against $10,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Pennsylvania?
About 48% ($5,050). Materials are 50%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.08x the national wage level.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Pennsylvania?
The BLS statewide median is $33.44 an hour, against $29.87 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.58 to $41.79.
+Where does Pennsylvania rank for retaining wall costs?
19th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $10,600 for 200 sq ft of wall face. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Pennsylvania?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $7,350 to $9,950 and premium work $11,200 to $13,800. Basic means: short block wall, easy access. Premium means: tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access.
+Does the season matter for retaining wall in Pennsylvania?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Pennsylvania metros we cover, Philadelphia has the most comfortable months (9 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Retaining wall by city in Pennsylvania
- Altoona, PA$11,200 midpoint
- Pittsburgh, PA$11,000 midpoint
- Philadelphia, PA$11,000 midpoint
- State College, PA$10,800 midpoint
- Harrisburg, PA$10,700 midpoint
- Reading, PA$10,700 midpoint
- Scranton, PA$10,600 midpoint
- Chambersburg, PA$10,500 midpoint
- Allentown, PA$10,400 midpoint
- Lancaster, PA$10,400 midpoint
- York, PA$10,300 midpoint
- Erie, PA$10,100 midpoint
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.