Retaining wall cost in Spartanburg, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,200 – $12,200
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $30.50 – $59
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #260
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Spartanburg area: $6,200 to $12,200 for 200 sq ft of wall face. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 10% lower than the US figure. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $23.07 an hour in the Spartanburg area, 23% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Spartanburg, SC, standard level
$8,000 to $10,400
About $39 to $50.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $3,700 | $4,000 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $300 |
| Total | $8,000 | $10,400 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Spartanburg, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 56% |
| Labor | $3,450 | $3,850 | $4,250 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $230 | $410 | 2% |
| Total | $6,200 | $9,200 | $12,200 | 100% |
What is behind the Spartanburg 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 $23.07 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Spartanburg is 0.82 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Spartanburg is at 96.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $5,100 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.1: $45 to $410.
The best months for retaining wall in Spartanburg
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Spartanburg 3 Sse (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 Spartanburg are February through June and August through December: 10 of 12. Outside them, January has an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January the average low is at or below freezing, which means frozen ground and slower digging, compaction and sod or stone placement. NOAA counts about 76 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Spartanburg gets about 50 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, June and December (4.8 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 57 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 | 54 | 32 | 4.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 59 | 34 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 47 | 4.3 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 56 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 65 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 49 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 38 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 34 | 4.7 | Workable |
Who does the work: Spartanburg trade wages
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 Spartanburg the blend is 0.82.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $23.07 an hour, which is 23% below the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $22.41 and $28.59 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 3.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is about average.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $20.29 an hour, which is 10% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.77 and $23.33 an hour. BLS counts 1,310 of them working in the area, 79.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.53 an hour, 18% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $20.29 and $28.72 an hour. About 650 work in the metro. That is 39.4 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 $430 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $50. That is a swing of roughly 0.6% to 4.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Spartanburg has 165,150 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 143rd 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% | $22.41 | $23.07 | $28.59 | $29.87 | 0.77 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.77 | $20.29 | $23.33 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $20.29 | $23.53 | $28.72 | $28.78 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
Spartanburg: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Spartanburg. 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
$6,200 to $8,600
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,000 to $10,400
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,800 to $12,200
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,100 – $4,400 | $4,050 – $5,350 | $5,000 – $6,300 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,500 – $3,550 | $3,300 – $4,350 | $4,050 – $5,100 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $4,950 – $6,900 | $6,400 – $8,350 | $7,900 – $9,850 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,400 – $10,300 | $9,550 – $12,400 | $11,700 – $14,500 |
Related projects, priced for Spartanburg
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Spartanburg wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−5%) and concrete driveway lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,900 | −10% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,300 – $8,150 | −11% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −5% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,600 – $9,050 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,400 – $101,500 | −10% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Spartanburg
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.
Spartanburg against nearby metros and the rest of South Carolina
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Charlotte is the priciest of the group at $9,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartanburg, SCthis page | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | |
| Greenville, SC35 miles | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | +1% |
| Charlotte, NC65 miles | $6,450 – $12,600 | $9,500 | +4% |
| Asheville, NC70 miles | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,350 | +2% |
| Columbia, SC70 miles | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | level |
| Hickory, NC70 miles | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | +1% |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,250 | +1% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Spartanburg ranks #260 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Spartanburg is 1% below the South Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in South Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | +1% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | level |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,300 | +1% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $6,000 – $12,000 | $9,000 | −2% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | +1% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,350 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Spartanburg against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,000 | −2% |
| Beaumont, TX | 163,220 jobs | $6,550 – $12,500 | $9,550 | +4% |
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $8,600 – $15,100 | $11,800 | +29% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $7,500 – $13,700 | $10,600 | +16% |
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Detailed retaining wall report for Spartanburg, SC, $9
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Retaining wall in Spartanburg: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Spartanburg?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,200 to $12,200 in the Spartanburg area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,000 to $10,400. 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 Spartanburg?
About $30.50 to $59 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $410 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Spartanburg or Greenville?
Greenville is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,300, which is 1% more than Spartanburg ($9,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Spartanburg?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $3,850 out of $9,200. Materials are 56% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Spartanburg?
$4,950 to $9,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Spartanburg?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $410 for fees in the Spartanburg area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Spartanburg expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Spartanburg is 1% below 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 Spartanburg?
The BLS median is $23.07 an hour in the Spartanburg area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.41 to $28.59.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Spartanburg?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,200 to $8,600 and premium work $9,800 to $12,200. 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 Spartanburg?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and August through December. September 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 Spartanburg
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.