Retaining wall cost in State College, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $7,500 – $14,000
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $37 – $68
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #94
- 1 = most expensive
State College homeowners pay roughly $7,500 to $14,000 to build a retaining wall at 200 sq ft of wall face, or $37 to $68 per sq ft of wall face (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, State College is 5% higher. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $33.44 an hour in the State College area, 12% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in State College, PA, standard level
$9,450 to $12,100
About $46.50 to $58.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,350 | $6,350 |
| Labor | $4,950 | $5,400 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $320 |
| Total | $9,450 | $12,100 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in State College, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $5,350 | $7,850 | 50% |
| Labor | $4,650 | $5,200 | $5,750 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $240 | $440 | 2% |
| Total | $7,500 | $10,800 | $14,000 | 100% |
What is behind the State College number
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 State College is 1.10 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 48% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the State College metro is 100.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,350, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (96.8) and land at $50 to $440.
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 State College. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in State College
Because every project leans on different trades, State College's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs +6% and sod installation level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $610 – $2,150 | +2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,750 | +6% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,800 – $9,650 | +5% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $3,300 | level |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,050 – $10,100 | +1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,600 – $117,500 | +4% |
When to schedule retaining wall in State College
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for State College (in the city). 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 State College (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 121 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
State College gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 44 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.2 inches in August). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 21 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 22 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 39 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 50 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 59 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 63 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 62 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 54 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 43 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 34 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 26 | 3.2 | Cold |
State College against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
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 $9,550 to $11,200 across State College and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PAthis page | $7,500 – $14,000 | $10,800 | |
| Altoona, PA35 miles | $7,900 – $14,500 | $11,200 | +4% |
| Harrisburg, PA60 miles | $7,450 – $14,000 | $10,700 | level |
| Chambersburg, PA70 miles | $7,300 – $13,800 | $10,500 | −2% |
| York, PA90 miles | $7,100 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −4% |
| Hagerstown, MD95 miles | $6,500 – $12,600 | $9,550 | −11% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $7,350 – $13,800 | $10,600 | −2% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −5% |
Across 300 US metros, State College comes in at #94 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, State College is 2% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $7,750 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +2% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $7,700 – $14,300 | $11,000 | +2% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $7,200 – $13,600 | $10,400 | −3% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $7,450 – $14,000 | $10,700 | level |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $7,350 – $13,800 | $10,600 | −2% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $7,150 – $13,600 | $10,400 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like State College's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is State College against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $6,650 – $12,800 | $9,700 | −10% |
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $7,550 – $13,800 | $10,600 | −1% |
| Wausau, WI | 69,530 jobs | $8,050 – $14,400 | $11,200 | +4% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | −7% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in State College
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for State College 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
$7,500 to $10,100
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$9,450 to $12,100
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$11,400 to $14,000
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,750 – $5,150 | $4,800 – $6,200 | $5,850 – $7,250 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,050 – $4,150 | $3,900 – $5,000 | $4,750 – $5,850 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,000 – $8,100 | $7,600 – $9,700 | $9,200 – $11,300 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $9,000 – $12,100 | $11,300 – $14,400 | $13,600 – $16,700 |
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 State College is 1.10 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the State College 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.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $25.68 an hour, 13% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.13 and $30.00 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 90.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $29.11 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.42 and $37.55 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the area, 66.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the brickmasons and blockmasons on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($41.79 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $660. At the 25th percentile ($28.58) it shrinks by about $380. The total moves by 6.1% or 3.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 68,840 jobs in the State College area. That makes it the 263rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% 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% | $22.13 | $25.68 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.13 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $24.42 | $29.11 | $37.55 | $28.78 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.10 | |||||
Retaining wall: what moves the price in State College
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.
Height
Walls over 4 feet need engineering, deeper excavation and more skilled labor; many cities require permits over 3-4 feet (HomeGuide).
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 $9,450 to $12,100 for State College, PA is attached.
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Multi-page report for State College, PA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 State College: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in State College?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $7,500 to $14,000 in the State College area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,450 to $12,100. 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 State College?
About $37 to $68 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $440 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in State College or Altoona?
Altoona is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $11,200, which is 4% more than State College ($10,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in State College?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $5,200 out of $10,800. 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 State College?
$6,000 to $11,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in State College?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $440 for fees in the State College area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is State College expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
State College is 2% 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 State College?
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 State College?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $7,500 to $10,100 and premium work $11,400 to $14,000. 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 State College?
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 State College
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.