Retaining wall cost in Seattle, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $9,200 – $16,300
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $46 – $79
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +25%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #6
- 1 = most expensive
Seattle homeowners pay roughly $9,200 to $16,300 to build a retaining wall at 200 sq ft of wall face, or $46 to $79 per sq ft of wall face (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Seattle is 25% higher. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $47.04 an hour in the Seattle area, 57% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Seattle, WA, standard level
$11,400 to $14,200
About $56 to $69 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,450 | $6,550 |
| Labor | $6,700 | $7,300 |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $370 |
| Total | $11,400 | $14,200 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Seattle, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,900 | $5,500 | $8,100 | 43% |
| Labor | $6,250 | $7,000 | $7,750 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $55 | $280 | $500 | 2% |
| Total | $9,200 | $12,800 | $16,300 | 100% |
What is behind the Seattle number
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 $47.04 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Seattle is 1.49 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 55% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Seattle metro is 104.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 200 sq ft of wall face comes to $5,500, compared with $5,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (111.1) and land at $55 to $500.
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 Seattle is 1.49 times the national level.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 50% of the weighting: a median of $47.04 an hour, 57% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $38.99 and $51.76 an hour. About 310 work in the metro. That is 1.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $28.72 an hour, 27% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.67 and $37.03 an hour. About 13,040 work in the metro. That is 62.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 20%) the local median is $46.04 an hour, which is 60% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $36.13 and $58.78 an hour. BLS counts 4,860 of them working in the area, 23.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the brickmasons and blockmasons on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($51.76 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $370. At the 25th percentile ($38.99) it shrinks by about $630. The total moves by 2.9% or 5.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,086,210 jobs in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. That makes it the 13th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.34% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 50% | $38.99 | $47.04 | $51.76 | $29.87 | 1.57 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $23.67 | $28.72 | $37.03 | $22.66 | 1.27 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $36.13 | $46.04 | $58.78 | $28.78 | 1.60 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.49 | |||||
Is Seattle cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (200 sq ft of wall face), priced for the nearest metros. Seattle is the priciest of the group. Yakima is the cheapest at $11,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WAthis page | $9,200 – $16,300 | $12,800 | |
| Bremerton, WA40 miles | $8,350 – $15,300 | $11,800 | −7% |
| Olympia, WA60 miles | $8,650 – $15,700 | $12,200 | −5% |
| Yakima, WA90 miles | $8,100 – $15,000 | $11,500 | −10% |
| Bellingham, WA95 miles | $8,650 – $15,700 | $12,200 | −5% |
| Portland, OR135 miles | $8,300 – $15,300 | $11,800 | −8% |
| Washington (statewide) | $8,500 – $15,400 | $12,000 | −6% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −20% |
Across 300 US metros, Seattle comes in at #6 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, Seattle is 7% above the Washington figure.
Other Washington metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $8,050 – $14,900 | $11,500 | −10% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $8,650 – $15,700 | $12,200 | −5% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $8,400 – $15,300 | $11,900 | −7% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $8,100 – $15,000 | $11,500 | −10% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $8,350 – $15,300 | $11,800 | −7% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $8,650 – $15,700 | $12,200 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Seattle's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Seattle against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $9,400 – $16,800 | $13,100 | +2% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $9,100 – $16,100 | $12,600 | −1% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,950 | −22% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $7,450 – $13,900 | $10,700 | −17% |
When to schedule retaining wall in Seattle
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Seattle Sand Pt Wsfo (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for digging, grading and setting material in the ground in Seattle: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F)) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Seattle gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, November and December (5.8 inches in November). The station averages about 2 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 | 47 | 37 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 50 | 37 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 54 | 39 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 59 | 43 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 65 | 48 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 70 | 53 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 77 | 57 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 77 | 57 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 53 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 47 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 52 | 41 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 37 | 5.5 | Workable |
Why two Seattle quotes can differ
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.
What nearby projects cost in Seattle
Because every project leans on different trades, Seattle's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete driveway runs +27% and sod installation +14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $750 – $2,650 | +26% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,700 – $6,750 | +23% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $4,550 – $11,800 | +27% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,700 – $3,750 | +14% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,950 – $12,400 | +24% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $45,300 – $141,500 | +25% |
Seattle: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Seattle 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
$9,200 to $12,100
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$11,400 to $14,200
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$13,500 to $16,300
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $4,650 – $6,150 | $5,750 – $7,300 | $6,900 – $8,400 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,700 – $4,950 | $4,650 – $5,900 | $5,600 – $6,850 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $7,400 – $9,700 | $9,100 – $11,400 | $10,900 – $13,200 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $11,000 – $14,400 | $13,600 – $17,000 | $16,100 – $19,500 |
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 $11,400 to $14,200 for Seattle, WA is attached.
Detailed retaining wall report for Seattle, WA, $9
The report lays out the retaining wall numbers for Seattle, WA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Seattle: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Seattle?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $9,200 to $16,300 in the Seattle area. A standard-spec job lands at $11,400 to $14,200. 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 Seattle?
About $46 to $79 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $55 to $500 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Seattle or Bremerton?
Bremerton is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $11,800, which is 7% less than Seattle ($12,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Seattle?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $7,000 out of $12,800. Materials are 43% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Seattle?
$7,400 to $13,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Seattle?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $55 to $500 for fees in the Seattle area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Seattle expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Washington?
Seattle is 7% above the Washington statewide estimate ($12,000 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Seattle?
The BLS median is $47.04 an hour in the Seattle area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $38.99 to $51.76.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Seattle?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $9,200 to $12,100 and premium work $13,500 to $16,300. Basic means: short block wall, easy access. Premium means: tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access.
+Is there a bad season to build a retaining wall in Seattle?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Retaining wall near Seattle
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.