Retaining wall cost in Midland, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,450 – $12,400
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $32 – $60
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #215
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Midland area: $6,450 to $12,400 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 8% lower than the US figure. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $27.12 an hour in the Midland area, 9% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Midland, TX, standard level
$8,250 to $10,600
About $40.50 to $51.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $4,050 | $4,400 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $320 |
| Total | $8,250 | $10,600 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Midland, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,650 | $4,950 | $7,300 | 53% |
| Labor | $3,800 | $4,200 | $4,650 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $240 | $430 | 3% |
| Total | $6,450 | $9,450 | $12,400 | 100% |
Where the Midland price comes from
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 $27.12 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Midland is 0.90 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 45% of the total. 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. Midland 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 95.8: $50 to $430.
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 Midland. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Midland
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Midland wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (−6%) 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 – $1,900 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,950 | −9% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,250 – $8,150 | −11% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,400 – $3,100 | −6% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,700 – $9,250 | −8% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,200 – $103,500 | −8% |
How Midland compares
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Midland is the priciest of the group. El Paso is the cheapest at $8,850.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midland, TXthis page | $6,450 – $12,400 | $9,450 | |
| Odessa, TX35 miles | $6,400 – $12,300 | $9,350 | −1% |
| Lubbock, TX95 miles | $6,000 – $11,800 | $8,900 | −6% |
| Abilene, TX135 miles | $6,300 – $12,200 | $9,250 | −2% |
| El Paso, TX210 miles | $5,900 – $11,700 | $8,850 | −6% |
| Amarillo, TX220 miles | $6,300 – $12,200 | $9,250 | −2% |
| 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, Midland ranks #215 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Midland 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 | +7% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $6,600 – $12,900 | $9,750 | +3% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $6,600 – $12,600 | $9,600 | +2% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | −2% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $5,900 – $11,700 | $8,850 | −6% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $6,050 – $11,900 | $8,950 | −5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Midland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $8,550 – $15,100 | $11,800 | +25% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 122,020 jobs | $8,050 – $15,000 | $11,500 | +22% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $6,300 – $12,200 | $9,250 | −2% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $7,050 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +7% |
Who does the work: Midland 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 Midland the blend is 0.90.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Midland 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 $18.99 an hour, which is 16% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.56 and $22.28 an hour. BLS counts 1,970 of them working in the area, 161.2 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 $27.84 an hour, 3% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.91 and $30.10 an hour. About 1,150 work in the metro. That is 94.1 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.
Midland has 122,180 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 177th 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% | $17.56 | $18.99 | $22.28 | $22.66 | 0.84 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $23.91 | $27.84 | $30.10 | $28.78 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
The best months for retaining wall in Midland
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Midland Odessa (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 Midland are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Midland gets about 14 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (1.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, February and December are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 115 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 | 59 | 33 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Feb | 64 | 37 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 72 | 44 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 81 | 52 | 0.7 | Workable |
| May | 89 | 62 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 95 | 70 | 1.8 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 73 | 1.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 95 | 72 | 1.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 65 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 54 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 42 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 59 | 34 | 0.6 | Workable |
Midland: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Midland. 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
$6,450 to $8,850
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,250 to $10,600
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,000 to $12,400
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,250 – $4,500 | $4,200 – $5,450 | $5,150 – $6,400 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,600 – $3,650 | $3,400 – $4,450 | $4,200 – $5,250 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,150 – $7,100 | $6,600 – $8,550 | $8,100 – $10,000 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,750 – $10,600 | $9,850 – $12,700 | $12,000 – $14,800 |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Midland
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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Detailed retaining wall report for Midland, TX, $9
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Retaining wall in Midland: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Midland?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,450 to $12,400 in the Midland area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,250 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 Midland?
About $32 to $60 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $430 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Midland or Odessa?
Odessa is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,350, which is 1% less than Midland ($9,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Midland?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $4,200 out of $9,450. Materials are 53% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Midland?
$5,150 to $10,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Midland?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $430 for fees in the Midland area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Midland expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Texas?
Midland 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 Midland?
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 Midland?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,450 to $8,850 and premium work $10,000 to $12,400. 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 Midland?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September 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 Midland
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.