Retaining wall cost in Salt Lake City, UT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,950 – $13,200
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $34.50 – $63.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #154
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Salt Lake City area: $6,950 to $13,200 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 lands close to the US figure. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.4).
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Salt Lake City, UT, standard level
$8,800 to $11,300
About $43 to $55 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,100 |
| Labor | $4,500 | $4,850 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $330 |
| Total | $8,800 | $11,300 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Salt Lake City, UT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 51% |
| Labor | $4,200 | $4,700 | $5,150 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $250 | $450 | 3% |
| Total | $6,950 | $10,000 | $13,200 | 100% |
Where the Salt Lake City price comes from
Labor is 47% of the midpoint bill here, against 46% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is brickmasons and blockmasons (50%), construction laborers (30%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Salt Lake City the blended ratio comes out at 0.99.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Salt Lake City is at 96.4 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 100.9: $50 to $450.
How Salt Lake City compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 200 sq ft of wall face range from $9,600 to $10,300 across Salt Lake City and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UTthis page | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,000 | |
| Provo, UT60 miles | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,100 | level |
| Ogden, UT70 miles | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | −1% |
| Logan, UT110 miles | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −1% |
| Idaho Falls, ID210 miles | $7,200 – $13,400 | $10,300 | +3% |
| St. George, UT230 miles | $6,550 – $12,600 | $9,600 | −5% |
| Utah (statewide) | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | level |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Salt Lake City ranks #154 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Salt Lake City is 0% above the Utah figure.
Elsewhere in Utah
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provo, UT | 304,660 jobs | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,100 | level |
| Ogden, UT | 271,370 jobs | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | −1% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $6,550 – $12,600 | $9,600 | −5% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Salt Lake City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OH | 1,031,130 jobs | $7,850 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +10% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $8,550 – $15,100 | $11,800 | +18% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $8,400 – $15,400 | $11,900 | +18% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $6,550 – $12,700 | $9,650 | −4% |
Who does the work: Salt Lake 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 Salt Lake City the blend is 0.99.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $29.06 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $30.46 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 6.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $22.82 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.03 and $27.96 an hour. BLS counts 7,790 of them working in the area, 94.3 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 $29.69 an hour, 3% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.70 and $32.13 an hour. About 2,570 work in the metro. That is 31.1 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 $110 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $470. That is a swing of roughly 4.7% to 1.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Salt Lake City-Murray has 826,210 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 37th 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% | $23.05 | $29.06 | $30.46 | $29.87 | 0.97 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $19.03 | $22.82 | $27.96 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $27.70 | $29.69 | $32.13 | $28.78 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Salt Lake City
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Salt Lake City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sod installation comes out highest (+3%) and inground pool lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | level |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,450 | level |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,700 – $9,350 | +1% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,400 | +3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,950 – $9,900 | −1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $35,700 – $111,500 | −1% |
The best months for retaining wall in Salt Lake City
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Salt Lake City Intl Ap (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 Salt Lake City 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 112 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Salt Lake City gets about 16 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 52 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and May (2.2 inches in April). Inside the workable window, June and September are the driest, at 0.9 and 1.1 inches. The station averages about 62 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 | 39 | 24 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 29 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 36 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 62 | 42 | 2.2 | Workable |
| May | 73 | 50 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 59 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 94 | 68 | 0.5 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 67 | 0.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 81 | 56 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 33 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 39 | 25 | 1.4 | Cold |
Retaining wall: what moves the price in Salt Lake City
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.
Drainage
Every wall needs drainage behind it. A French drain adds $10-$85+ per linear foot.
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in Salt Lake City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Salt Lake 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
$6,950 to $9,400
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,800 to $11,300
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,700 to $13,200
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,500 – $4,800 | $4,500 – $5,800 | $5,500 – $6,800 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,800 – $3,900 | $3,600 – $4,700 | $4,450 – $5,550 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,550 – $7,600 | $7,050 – $9,100 | $8,600 – $10,600 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $8,300 – $11,300 | $10,500 – $13,500 | $12,700 – $15,700 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Retaining wall in Salt Lake City: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Salt Lake City?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,950 to $13,200 in the Salt Lake City area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,800 to $11,300. 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 Salt Lake City?
About $34.50 to $63.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Salt Lake City or Provo?
Provo is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,100, which is 0% more than Salt Lake City ($10,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Salt Lake City?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $4,700 out of $10,000. Materials are 51% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Salt Lake City?
$5,550 to $10,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Salt Lake City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $450 for fees in the Salt Lake City area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Salt Lake City expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Utah?
Salt Lake City is 0% above the Utah statewide estimate ($10,000 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Utah; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Salt Lake City?
The BLS median is $29.06 an hour in the Salt Lake City area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.05 to $30.46.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Salt Lake City?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,950 to $9,400 and premium work $10,700 to $13,200. 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 Salt Lake City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and September through November. June and September 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 Salt Lake 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.