Retaining wall cost in St. George, UT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,550 – $12,600
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $32.50 – $61
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #196
- 1 = most expensive
St. George homeowners pay roughly $6,550 to $12,600 to build a retaining wall at 200 sq ft of wall face, or $32.50 to $61 per sq ft of wall face (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, St. George is 6% lower. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $24.87 an hour in the St. George area, 17% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in St. George, UT, standard level
$8,350 to $10,800
About $41 to $52.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,100 |
| Labor | $4,050 | $4,400 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $320 |
| Total | $8,350 | $10,800 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in St. George, UT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 53% |
| Labor | $3,800 | $4,250 | $4,700 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $240 | $440 | 3% |
| Total | $6,550 | $9,600 | $12,600 | 100% |
Where the St. George price comes from
Labor is 44% 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 St. George the blended ratio comes out at 0.90.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the St. George metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,100, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.3) and land at $50 to $440.
What nearby projects cost in St. George
Because every project leans on different trades, St. George's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs −2% and concrete driveway −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,050 | −2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,150 | −6% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,350 – $8,350 | −9% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,450 – $3,200 | −3% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,800 – $9,500 | −5% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $34,200 – $107,000 | −5% |
St. George against nearby metros and the rest of Utah
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 $10,100 across St. George and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. George, UTthis page | $6,550 – $12,600 | $9,600 | |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ110 miles | $6,600 – $12,700 | $9,700 | +1% |
| Las Vegas, NV110 miles | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +3% |
| Flagstaff, AZ135 miles | $6,750 – $12,900 | $9,850 | +3% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ190 miles | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +3% |
| Provo, UT190 miles | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +5% |
| Utah (statewide) | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +4% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, St. George comes in at #196 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $13,500; the cheapest is El Paso, TX at $8,850 (midpoints, 200 sq ft of wall face). Statewide, St. George is 4% below the Utah figure.
Other Utah metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,000 | +5% |
| Provo, UT | 304,660 jobs | $6,950 – $13,200 | $10,100 | +5% |
| Ogden, UT | 271,370 jobs | $6,900 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +4% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like St. George's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is St. George against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama City, FL | 90,610 jobs | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,400 | −2% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $7,900 – $14,700 | $11,300 | +18% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $8,650 – $15,700 | $12,200 | +27% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | −3% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in St. George
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for St. George wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$6,550 to $9,000
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,350 to $10,800
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$10,200 to $12,600
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $3,300 – $4,600 | $4,250 – $5,550 | $5,250 – $6,550 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,650 – $3,700 | $3,450 – $4,500 | $4,250 – $5,300 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,250 – $7,200 | $6,750 – $8,700 | $8,200 – $10,200 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,850 – $10,700 | $10,000 – $12,900 | $12,200 – $15,100 |
When to schedule retaining wall in St. George
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for St George (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through May and October through November are the stretches where digging, grading and setting material in the ground runs into the fewest weather problems in St. George (5 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F); June, July, August and September 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 63 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
St. George gets about 9 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 1 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, February and August (1.4 inches in February). Inside the workable window, April and May are the driest, at 0.7 and 0.3 inches. The station averages about 128 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | 28 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 59 | 32 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 68 | 39 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 46 | 0.7 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 56 | 0.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 96 | 65 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Jul | 102 | 72 | 0.5 | Hot |
| Aug | 100 | 70 | 1.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 92 | 61 | 0.7 | Hot |
| Oct | 79 | 47 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 35 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 28 | 0.9 | Cold |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for St. George is 0.90 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $24.87 an hour, 17% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $22.59 and $28.45 an hour. About 180 work in the metro. That is 19.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.96 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.37 and $23.78 an hour. About 1,500 work in the metro. That is 165.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $27.84 an hour, which is 3% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.59 and $29.54 an hour. BLS counts 670 of them working in the area, 74.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the brickmasons and blockmasons on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.45 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $280. At the 25th percentile ($22.59) it shrinks by about $180. The total moves by 2.9% or 1.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 90,500 jobs in the St. George area. That makes it the 219th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $22.59 | $24.87 | $28.45 | $29.87 | 0.83 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.37 | $21.96 | $23.78 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $23.59 | $27.84 | $29.54 | $28.78 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Why two St. George quotes can differ
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
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $8,350 to $10,800 for St. George, UT is attached.
Detailed retaining wall report for St. George, UT, $9
Multi-page report for St. George, UT: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Retaining wall in St. George: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in St. George?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,550 to $12,600 in the St. George area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,350 to $10,800. 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 St. George?
About $32.50 to $61 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $50 to $440 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in St. George or Lake Havasu City?
Lake Havasu City is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,700, which is 1% more than St. George ($9,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in St. George?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $4,250 out of $9,600. 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 St. George?
$5,250 to $10,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in St. George?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $50 to $440 for fees in the St. George area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is St. George expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Utah?
St. George is 4% below 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 St. George?
The BLS median is $24.87 an hour in the St. George area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.59 to $28.45.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in St. George?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,550 to $9,000 and premium work $10,200 to $12,600. 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 St. George?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through May and October through November. April and May 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 St. George
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.