Retaining wall cost in Florence, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,300 – $12,300
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $31 – $59.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #241
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to build a retaining wall in Florence, plan on $6,300 to $12,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face, all in. Per sq ft of wall face, that is $31 to $59.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 9% lower than the national one. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $23.56 an hour in the Florence area, 21% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Florence, SC, standard level
$8,100 to $10,500
About $39.50 to $51 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $3,800 | $4,150 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $8,100 | $10,500 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Florence, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 55% |
| Labor | $3,550 | $3,950 | $4,400 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $390 | 2% |
| Total | $6,300 | $9,300 | $12,300 | 100% |
What is behind the Florence 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 $23.56 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Florence is 0.84 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 43% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the South Carolina statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Florence metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,100, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (86.8) and land at $45 to $390.
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 Florence. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Florence cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Florence. Myrtle Beach is the lowest at about $9,000 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face), 50 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence, SCthis page | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | |
| Myrtle Beach, SC50 miles | $6,000 – $12,000 | $9,000 | −3% |
| Columbia, SC70 miles | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −1% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | level |
| Charleston, SC80 miles | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,300 | level |
| Charlotte, NC90 miles | $6,450 – $12,600 | $9,500 | +3% |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,250 | level |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +10% |
Across 300 US metros, Florence comes in at #241 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, Florence is 0% above the South Carolina figure.
Other South Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | level |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −1% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,300 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −1% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $6,000 – $12,000 | $9,000 | −3% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,350 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Florence's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Florence against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $7,900 – $14,700 | $11,300 | +22% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $8,700 – $15,200 | $11,900 | +28% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $6,550 – $12,600 | $9,600 | +3% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $6,200 – $12,100 | $9,150 | −2% |
Florence 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 Florence is 0.84 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Florence metro, so we used the South Carolina statewide median: $23.56 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.85 and $29.66 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.75 an hour, 4% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.11 and $26.11 an hour. About 650 work in the metro. That is 73.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $23.08 an hour, which is 20% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.08 and $27.20 an hour. BLS counts 250 of them working in the area, 28.1 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 ($29.66 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $480. At the 25th percentile ($21.85) it shrinks by about $130. The total moves by 5.2% or 1.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 89,060 jobs in the Florence area. That makes it the 221st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $21.85 | $23.56 | $29.66 | $29.87 | 0.79 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.11 | $21.75 | $26.11 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $22.08 | $23.08 | $27.20 | $28.78 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Climate in Florence: timing your retaining wall job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Florence Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in Florence (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Florence gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.8 inches in July). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 3.0 and 2.6 inches. The station averages about 70 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 | 57 | 36 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 61 | 39 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 44 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 52 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 61 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 69 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 72 | 5.8 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 71 | 4.9 | Hot |
| Sep | 85 | 66 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 77 | 54 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 44 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
Related projects, priced for Florence
Because every project leans on different trades, Florence's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, sprinkler system runs −7% and concrete driveway −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,750 – $5,000 | −8% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,150 | −11% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,300 | −7% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,000 – $103,000 | −9% |
Florence: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Florence 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
$6,300 to $8,700
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,100 to $10,500
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,900 to $12,300
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,150 – $4,450 | $4,100 – $5,400 | $5,050 – $6,350 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,550 – $3,600 | $3,300 – $4,350 | $4,100 – $5,150 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,050 – $7,000 | $6,500 – $8,450 | $7,950 – $9,900 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,550 – $10,400 | $9,650 – $12,500 | $11,800 – $14,700 |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Florence
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
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Retaining wall in Florence: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Florence?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,300 to $12,300 in the Florence area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,100 to $10,500. 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 Florence?
About $31 to $59.50 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 Florence or Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,000, which is 3% less than Florence ($9,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Florence?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $3,950 out of $9,300. Materials are 55% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Florence?
$5,050 to $9,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Florence?
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 Florence area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Florence expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Florence is 0% above the South Carolina statewide estimate ($9,250 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Florence?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.56 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.85 to $29.66.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Florence?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,300 to $8,700 and premium work $9,900 to $12,300. 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 Florence?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. February 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 Florence
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.