Retaining wall cost in Corpus Christi, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,400 – $12,300
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $31.50 – $59.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #225
- 1 = most expensive
A retaining wall in Corpus Christi, TX usually costs $6,400 to $12,300 for 200 sq ft of wall face. That works out to about $31.50 to $59.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $890 less. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $27.12 an hour in the Corpus Christi area, 9% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Corpus Christi, TX, standard level
$8,150 to $10,600
About $40 to $51 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $4,000 | $4,350 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $310 |
| Total | $8,150 | $10,600 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Corpus Christi, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,650 | $4,950 | $7,300 | 53% |
| Labor | $3,700 | $4,150 | $4,600 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $230 | $420 | 2% |
| Total | $6,400 | $9,350 | $12,300 | 100% |
What is behind the Corpus Christi 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, Corpus Christi wages are 0.89 times the national level. Labor makes up about 44% of the midpoint estimate (46% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Texas statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Corpus Christi is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $4,950 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.7: $45 to $420.
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 Corpus Christi. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Corpus Christi
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Corpus Christi wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (−9%) and concrete driveway lowest (−11%); 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 | $2,750 – $4,950 | −9% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,150 | −11% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $3,000 | −9% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,650 – $9,150 | −9% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $32,700 – $102,000 | −9% |
What local crews earn in Corpus Christi
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 Corpus Christi the blend is 0.89.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Corpus Christi metro, so we used the Texas statewide median: $27.12 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.31 and $28.57 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $20.40 an hour, which is 10% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.27 and $23.05 an hour. BLS counts 2,640 of them working in the area, 137.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.23 an hour, 19% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.12 and $28.12 an hour. About 1,160 work in the metro. That is 60.2 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 $110 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $300. That is a swing of roughly 3.2% to 1.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Corpus Christi has 192,580 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 118th 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% | $23.31 | $27.12 | $28.57 | $29.87 | 0.91 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.27 | $20.40 | $23.05 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $22.12 | $23.23 | $28.12 | $28.78 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
Is Corpus Christi cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Corpus Christi. McAllen is the lowest at about $8,950 (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face), 115 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi, TXthis page | $6,400 – $12,300 | $9,350 | |
| McAllen, TX115 miles | $6,050 – $11,900 | $8,950 | −4% |
| Laredo, TX120 miles | $6,100 – $12,000 | $9,050 | −3% |
| Brownsville, TX125 miles | $6,100 – $11,900 | $9,000 | −4% |
| San Antonio, TX130 miles | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | −1% |
| Austin, TX165 miles | $6,600 – $12,600 | $9,600 | +3% |
| Texas (statewide) | $6,500 – $12,700 | $9,600 | +2% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Corpus Christi ranks #225 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Corpus Christi is 2% below the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $6,850 – $13,300 | $10,100 | +8% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $6,600 – $12,900 | $9,750 | +4% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $6,600 – $12,600 | $9,600 | +3% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | −1% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $5,900 – $11,700 | $8,850 | −6% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $6,050 – $11,900 | $8,950 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Corpus Christi against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $8,200 – $15,100 | $11,700 | +25% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $7,250 – $13,500 | $10,400 | +11% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $6,150 – $12,200 | $9,150 | −2% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | level |
Corpus Christi weather and the retaining wall calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Corpus Christi Nas (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 Corpus Christi are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Corpus Christi gets about 35 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, September and October (6.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and December are the driest, at 1.6 and 1.5 inches. The station averages about 96 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 | 68 | 52 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 71 | 56 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 76 | 62 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 82 | 68 | 2.5 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 75 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 79 | 3.5 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 80 | 2.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 80 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 77 | 6.2 | Hot |
| Oct | 85 | 71 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 77 | 61 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 70 | 54 | 1.5 | Workable |
Corpus Christi: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Corpus Christi. 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
$6,400 to $8,750
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,150 to $10,600
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,950 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 | $3,200 – $4,500 | $4,150 – $5,450 | $5,100 – $6,400 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,600 – $3,600 | $3,350 – $4,400 | $4,150 – $5,200 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,100 – $7,050 | $6,550 – $8,500 | $8,000 – $9,950 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,650 – $10,500 | $9,800 – $12,600 | $11,900 – $14,700 |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Corpus Christi
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.
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Retaining wall in Corpus Christi: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Corpus Christi?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,400 to $12,300 in the Corpus Christi area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,150 to $10,600. 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 Corpus Christi?
About $31.50 to $59.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $420 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Corpus Christi or McAllen?
McAllen is 115 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $8,950, which is 4% less than Corpus Christi ($9,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Corpus Christi?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $4,150 out of $9,350. 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 Corpus Christi?
$5,100 to $9,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Corpus Christi?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $420 for fees in the Corpus Christi area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Corpus Christi expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Texas?
Corpus Christi is 2% below the Texas statewide estimate ($9,600 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Corpus Christi?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $27.12 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.31 to $28.57.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Corpus Christi?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,400 to $8,750 and premium work $9,950 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 Corpus Christi?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. February and December 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 Corpus Christi
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.