Retaining wall cost in Providence, RI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $8,300 – $14,800
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $41 – $72
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #36
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a retaining wall in Providence, plan on $8,300 to $14,800 for 200 sq ft of wall face, all in. Per sq ft of wall face, that is $41 to $72 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 13% higher than the national one. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $41.82 an hour in the Providence area, 40% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Providence, RI, standard level
$10,200 to $12,900
About $50.50 to $62.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,200 | $6,100 |
| Labor | $5,900 | $6,400 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $340 |
| Total | $10,200 | $12,900 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Providence, RI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,150 | $7,600 | 45% |
| Labor | $5,500 | $6,150 | $6,800 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $460 | 2% |
| Total | $8,300 | $11,600 | $14,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Providence number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: brickmasons and blockmasons at 50%, construction laborers at 30%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 20%. Weighted together, Providence wages are 1.31 times the national level. Labor makes up about 53% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Providence metro is 97.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,150, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (101.8) and land at $50 to $460.
How Providence compares
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Boston is the priciest of the group at $12,300. Norwich is the cheapest at $10,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RIthis page | $8,300 – $14,800 | $11,600 | |
| Norwich, CT45 miles | $7,400 – $13,800 | $10,600 | −8% |
| Worcester, MA55 miles | $8,100 – $14,600 | $11,400 | −2% |
| Boston, MA60 miles | $8,900 – $15,800 | $12,300 | +7% |
| Barnstable, MA60 miles | $8,600 – $15,200 | $11,900 | +3% |
| Hartford, CT65 miles | $8,300 – $14,900 | $11,600 | level |
| Rhode Island (statewide) | $7,850 – $14,400 | $11,100 | −4% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −11% |
Across 300 US metros, Providence comes in at #36 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, Providence is 4% above the Rhode Island figure.
Providence is the only Rhode Island metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Providence's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Providence against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $6,400 – $12,500 | $9,400 | −19% |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | −13% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $6,200 – $12,300 | $9,250 | −20% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $6,150 – $12,000 | $9,100 | −21% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Providence
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.
What nearby projects cost in Providence
Because every project leans on different trades, Providence's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs +16% and sod installation +7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $670 – $2,350 | +12% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,450 – $6,350 | +16% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,950 – $10,100 | +10% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,600 – $3,550 | +7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,450 – $11,100 | +11% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,500 – $126,500 | +12% |
Cost by quality level and size in Providence
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Providence 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
$8,300 to $10,900
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$10,200 to $12,900
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$12,200 to $14,800
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $4,150 – $5,550 | $5,200 – $6,600 | $6,250 – $7,650 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,350 – $4,500 | $4,200 – $5,350 | $5,050 – $6,200 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,650 – $8,750 | $8,250 – $10,400 | $9,850 – $12,000 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $9,900 – $13,000 | $12,300 – $15,400 | $14,600 – $17,700 |
Climate in Providence: timing your retaining wall job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Providence T F Green Ap (5 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 Providence (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 109 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Providence gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 37 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and December (4.9 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and July are the driest, at 3.4 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 12 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 | 38 | 22 | 4.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 41 | 24 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 30 | 4.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 40 | 4.3 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 59 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 65 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 64 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 57 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 45 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 36 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 43 | 28 | 4.7 | Cold |
Providence 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 Providence is 1.31 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $41.82 an hour, 40% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $36.79 and $53.45 an hour. About 450 work in the metro. That is 6.3 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 $28.50 an hour, 26% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.10 and $37.25 an hour. About 3,240 work in the metro. That is 45.4 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 $33.61 an hour, which is 17% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.92 and $40.30 an hour. BLS counts 1,570 of them working in the area, 22.0 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 ($53.45 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $910. At the 25th percentile ($36.79) it shrinks by about $400. The total moves by 7.9% or 3.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 714,120 jobs in the Providence-Warwick area. That makes it the 42nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.46% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $36.79 | $41.82 | $53.45 | $29.87 | 1.40 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $23.10 | $28.50 | $37.25 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $29.92 | $33.61 | $40.30 | $28.78 | 1.17 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.31 | |||||
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Retaining wall in Providence: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Providence?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $8,300 to $14,800 in the Providence area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,200 to $12,900. 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 Providence?
About $41 to $72 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Providence or Norwich?
Norwich is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,600, which is 8% less than Providence ($11,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Providence?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $6,150 out of $11,600. Materials are 45% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Providence?
$6,650 to $12,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Providence?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $460 for fees in the Providence area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Providence expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Rhode Island?
Providence is 4% above the Rhode Island statewide estimate ($11,100 at the midpoint).
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Providence?
The BLS median is $41.82 an hour in the Providence area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $36.79 to $53.45.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Providence?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $8,300 to $10,900 and premium work $12,200 to $14,800. 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 Providence?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. May and July 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 Providence
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.