Retaining wall cost in Jackson, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,750 – $12,900
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $33.50 – $62.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #178
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Jackson area: $6,750 to $12,900 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 4% lower than the US figure. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $30.70 an hour in the Jackson area, 3% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Jackson, TN, standard level
$8,600 to $11,000
About $42 to $53.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 46% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $4,300 | $4,700 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $280 |
| Total | $8,600 | $11,000 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Jackson, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 52% |
| Labor | $4,000 | $4,500 | $4,950 | 46% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $210 | $380 | 2% |
| Total | $6,750 | $9,800 | $12,900 | 100% |
Why Jackson prices look the way they do
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, Jackson wages are 0.96 times the national level. Labor makes up about 46% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Jackson is at 96.2 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 85.5: $45 to $380.
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 Jackson. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Jackson bid
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).
Material
Block, poured concrete and natural stone are priced differently; concrete and stone walls run higher than the segmental block default.
Jackson against nearby metros and the rest of Tennessee
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Nashville is the priciest of the group at $10,100. Jonesboro is the cheapest at $8,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson, TNthis page | $6,750 – $12,900 | $9,800 | |
| Memphis, TN75 miles | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +2% |
| Clarksville, TN95 miles | $6,750 – $12,900 | $9,800 | level |
| Jonesboro, AR100 miles | $5,950 – $11,800 | $8,900 | −9% |
| Nashville, TN125 miles | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +3% |
| Decatur, AL135 miles | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −7% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +1% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Jackson ranks #178 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Jackson is 1% below the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $7,000 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +3% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +2% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +1% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +2% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $6,700 – $12,800 | $9,750 | −1% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $6,750 – $12,900 | $9,800 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Jackson against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $8,050 – $14,400 | $11,200 | +15% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $7,950 – $14,300 | $11,100 | +13% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $6,100 – $12,100 | $9,100 | −7% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $7,700 – $14,000 | $10,800 | +11% |
The best months for retaining wall in Jackson
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Jackson Exp Stn (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 Jackson are March through June and September through November: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F), and July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
In January, February 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 71 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Jackson gets about 57 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and May (5.8 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 4.1 and 4.0 inches. The station averages about 56 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 | 49 | 27 | 4.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 53 | 30 | 4.7 | Cold |
| Mar | 62 | 39 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 48 | 5.5 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 58 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 66 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 69 | 5.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 67 | 3.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 85 | 60 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 48 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 61 | 37 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 52 | 31 | 5.3 | Cold |
Who does the work: Jackson 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 Jackson the blend is 0.96.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Jackson metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median: $30.70 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $26.13 and $35.05 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $21.45 an hour, which is 5% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.83 and $23.42 an hour. BLS counts 580 of them working in the area, 68.6 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 $22.71 an hour, 21% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $19.65 and $26.72 an hour. About 270 work in the metro. That is 31.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (brickmasons and blockmasons) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $340 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $360. That is a swing of roughly 3.7% to 3.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Jackson has 84,530 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 227th 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% | $26.13 | $30.70 | $35.05 | $29.87 | 1.03 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.83 | $21.45 | $23.42 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $19.65 | $22.71 | $26.72 | $28.78 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.96 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in Jackson
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Jackson. 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
$6,750 to $9,200
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,600 to $11,000
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,400 to $12,900
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,400 – $4,700 | $4,350 – $5,650 | $5,350 – $6,600 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,750 – $3,800 | $3,500 – $4,600 | $4,300 – $5,400 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,400 – $7,400 | $6,900 – $8,900 | $8,400 – $10,400 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,100 – $11,000 | $10,300 – $13,200 | $12,500 – $15,400 |
What nearby projects cost in Jackson
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Jackson wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−4%) and concrete driveway lowest (−13%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $560 – $1,950 | −7% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,900 – $5,200 | −4% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,200 – $7,950 | −13% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,650 – $9,150 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,600 – $105,000 | −7% |
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Detailed retaining wall report for Jackson, TN, $9
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Retaining wall in Jackson: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Jackson?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,750 to $12,900 in the Jackson area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,600 to $11,000. 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 Jackson?
About $33.50 to $62.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $380 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Jackson or Memphis?
Memphis is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,000, which is 2% more than Jackson ($9,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Jackson?
About 46% at the midpoint, or $4,500 out of $9,800. Materials are 52% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Jackson?
$5,400 to $10,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Jackson?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $380 for fees in the Jackson area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Jackson expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Jackson is 1% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($9,900 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Jackson?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $30.70 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.13 to $35.05.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Jackson?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,750 to $9,200 and premium work $10,400 to $12,900. 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 Jackson?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and September through November. September and October 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 Jackson
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.