Retaining wall cost in Johnson City, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,650 – $12,800
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $33 – $62
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #187
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Johnson City area: $6,650 to $12,800 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 5% lower than the US figure. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $30.70 an hour in the Johnson City area, 3% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Johnson City, TN, standard level
$8,500 to $10,900
About $41.50 to $53 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $4,200 | $4,600 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $8,500 | $10,900 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Johnson City, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 53% |
| Labor | $3,950 | $4,400 | $4,850 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $400 | 2% |
| Total | $6,650 | $9,700 | $12,800 | 100% |
Why Johnson City 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, Johnson City wages are 0.93 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% 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. Johnson City 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 87.9: $45 to $400.
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 Johnson City. The wage table below marks each row.
The best months for retaining wall in Johnson City
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Bristol Tri City Ap (10 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 Johnson City are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
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 94 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Johnson City gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 9 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, June and July (5.0 inches in July). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 2.8 and 2.5 inches. The station averages about 23 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 | 47 | 26 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 51 | 29 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 59 | 35 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 69 | 43 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 52 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 65 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 63 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 56 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 44 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 59 | 34 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 50 | 29 | 3.8 | Cold |
Who does the work: Johnson City 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 Johnson City the blend is 0.93.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Johnson City 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 $19.79 an hour, which is 13% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.74 and $22.37 an hour. BLS counts 580 of them working in the area, 71.0 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 $22.87 an hour, 21% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.37 and $26.76 an hour. About 200 work in the metro. That is 24.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer 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 $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.
Johnson City has 81,690 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 234th 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% | $17.74 | $19.79 | $22.37 | $22.66 | 0.87 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $21.37 | $22.87 | $26.76 | $28.78 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Johnson City
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Johnson City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−6%) and concrete driveway lowest (−12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $540 – $1,900 | −10% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,100 | −6% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,050 | −12% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,050 | −7% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,550 – $8,850 | −12% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,000 – $103,000 | −9% |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Johnson City
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in Johnson City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Johnson City. 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
$6,650 to $9,100
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,500 to $10,900
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,300 to $12,800
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,350 – $4,650 | $4,300 – $5,600 | $5,300 – $6,600 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,700 – $3,750 | $3,500 – $4,550 | $4,300 – $5,350 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,350 – $7,300 | $6,850 – $8,800 | $8,300 – $10,300 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,000 – $10,900 | $10,200 – $13,100 | $12,300 – $15,200 |
How Johnson City compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Johnson City. Spartanburg is the lowest at about $9,200 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face), 105 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City, TNthis page | $6,650 – $12,800 | $9,700 | |
| Kingsport, TN25 miles | $6,700 – $12,800 | $9,750 | level |
| Asheville, NC45 miles | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,350 | −4% |
| Hickory, NC60 miles | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | −4% |
| Knoxville, TN100 miles | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +2% |
| Spartanburg, SC105 miles | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −6% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +2% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Johnson City ranks #187 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Johnson City is 2% 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 | +4% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +3% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +2% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +3% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $6,700 – $12,800 | $9,750 | level |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $6,750 – $12,900 | $9,800 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Johnson City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $7,200 – $13,400 | $10,300 | +6% |
| Odessa, TX | 80,910 jobs | $6,400 – $12,300 | $9,350 | −4% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,350 | −4% |
| Greenville, NC | 80,770 jobs | $6,050 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −7% |
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Retaining wall in Johnson City: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Johnson City?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,650 to $12,800 in the Johnson City area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,500 to $10,900. 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 Johnson City?
About $33 to $62 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Johnson City or Kingsport?
Kingsport is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,750, which is 0% more than Johnson City ($9,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Johnson City?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $4,400 out of $9,700. Materials are 53% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Johnson City?
$5,350 to $10,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Johnson City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $400 for fees in the Johnson City area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Johnson City expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Johnson City is 2% 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 Johnson City?
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 Johnson City?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,650 to $9,100 and premium work $10,300 to $12,800. 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 Johnson City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March 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 Johnson City
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.