Retaining wall cost in Scranton, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $7,350 – $13,800
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $36.50 – $67
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #107
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Scranton, PA usually costs $7,350 to $13,800 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $36.50 to $67 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $330 more. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $33.44 an hour in the Scranton area, 12% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Scranton, PA, standard level
$9,300 to $11,900
About $45.50 to $58 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,350 | $6,350 |
| Labor | $4,800 | $5,200 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $310 |
| Total | $9,300 | $11,900 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Scranton, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $5,350 | $7,850 | 50% |
| Labor | $4,450 | $5,000 | $5,550 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $230 | $420 | 2% |
| Total | $7,350 | $10,600 | $13,800 | 100% |
Why Scranton prices look the way they do
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 $33.44 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Scranton is 1.07 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 47% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Scranton is at 100.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,350 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.6: $45 to $420.
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 Scranton. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Scranton
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Scranton wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+2%) and sod installation lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | −1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,100 – $5,550 | +2% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,700 – $9,300 | +1% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,250 | −2% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,000 – $10,000 | level |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,700 – $114,500 | +2% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Scranton
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.
What local crews earn in Scranton
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 Scranton the blend is 1.07.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Scranton metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median: $33.44 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $28.58 and $41.79 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.22 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.53 and $28.89 an hour. BLS counts 1,450 of them working in the area, 56.7 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 $28.52 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.92 and $35.72 an hour. About 950 work in the metro. That is 37.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (brickmasons and blockmasons) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $660 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $380. That is a swing of roughly 3.6% to 6.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre has 255,620 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 102nd 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% | $28.58 | $33.44 | $41.79 | $29.87 | 1.12 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $19.53 | $23.22 | $28.89 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $24.92 | $28.52 | $35.72 | $28.78 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
Scranton: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Scranton. 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
$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 |
Scranton 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, Wilkes-Barre 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 Scranton are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, 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 122 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Scranton gets about 39 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 45 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 3.3 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 12 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 | 36 | 20 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 22 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 29 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 61 | 39 | 3.3 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 50 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 80 | 58 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 63 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 54 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 43 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 34 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 40 | 26 | 2.8 | Cold |
Is Scranton cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $10,400 to $11,200 across Scranton and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton, PAthis page | $7,350 – $13,800 | $10,600 | |
| Allentown, PA45 miles | $7,200 – $13,600 | $10,400 | −2% |
| Binghamton, NY60 miles | $7,900 – $14,500 | $11,200 | +6% |
| Reading, PA65 miles | $7,400 – $13,900 | $10,700 | +1% |
| Lancaster, PA90 miles | $7,150 – $13,600 | $10,400 | −2% |
| Harrisburg, PA90 miles | $7,450 – $14,000 | $10,700 | +2% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $7,350 – $13,800 | $10,600 | level |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Scranton ranks #107 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Scranton is 0% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $7,750 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +4% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $7,700 – $14,300 | $11,000 | +4% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $7,200 – $13,600 | $10,400 | −2% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $7,450 – $14,000 | $10,700 | +2% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $7,150 – $13,600 | $10,400 | −2% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $7,100 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Scranton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $8,050 – $14,900 | $11,500 | +8% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $7,150 – $13,600 | $10,400 | −2% |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −13% |
| Palm Bay, FL | 245,170 jobs | $6,600 – $12,700 | $9,700 | −9% |
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Retaining wall in Scranton: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Scranton?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $7,350 to $13,800 in the Scranton area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,300 to $11,900. 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 Scranton?
About $36.50 to $67 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $420 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Scranton or Allentown?
Allentown is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,400, which is 2% less than Scranton ($10,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Scranton?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $5,000 out of $10,600. 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 Scranton?
$5,900 to $11,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Scranton?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $420 for fees in the Scranton area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Scranton expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Scranton is 0% above the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($10,600 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Scranton?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $33.44 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.58 to $41.79.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Scranton?
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.
+When is the best time to build a retaining wall in Scranton?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. April 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 Scranton
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.