Retaining wall cost in Huntington, WV
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,300 – $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
- #228
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Huntington area: $6,300 to $12,300 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 9% lower than the US figure. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $22.16 an hour in the Huntington area, 26% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Huntington, WV, standard level
$8,100 to $10,500
About $40 to $51 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $3,850 | $4,150 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $290 |
| Total | $8,100 | $10,500 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Huntington, WV
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 55% |
| Labor | $3,550 | $4,000 | $4,400 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $220 | $400 | 2% |
| Total | $6,300 | $9,300 | $12,300 | 100% |
What is behind the Huntington number
Labor is 43% 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 Huntington the blended ratio comes out at 0.85.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Huntington is at 96.3 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 88.4: $45 to $400.
Specs and site conditions that change a Huntington bid
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.
How Huntington compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Huntington. Charleston comes closest at about $9,550.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WVthis page | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | |
| Charleston, WV60 miles | $6,500 – $12,600 | $9,550 | +2% |
| Lexington, KY100 miles | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | +6% |
| Columbus, OH110 miles | $7,900 – $14,200 | $11,000 | +18% |
| Cincinnati, OH115 miles | $7,450 – $13,700 | $10,600 | +13% |
| Kingsport, TN120 miles | $6,700 – $12,800 | $9,750 | +4% |
| West Virginia (statewide) | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −1% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Huntington ranks #228 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Huntington is 1% above the West Virginia figure.
Elsewhere in West Virginia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $6,500 – $12,600 | $9,550 | +2% |
| Morgantown, WV | 67,370 jobs | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,250 | −1% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,400 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Huntington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | 144,130 jobs | $8,350 – $15,300 | $11,800 | +27% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $7,200 – $13,300 | $10,300 | +10% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $6,000 – $12,000 | $9,000 | −3% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $8,250 – $14,600 | $11,400 | +23% |
Related projects, priced for Huntington
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Huntington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (−2%) and paver patio lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,050 | −2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,900 | −10% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,500 – $8,850 | −4% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $3,000 | −10% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,850 – $9,650 | −4% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,900 – $106,000 | −6% |
Cost by quality level and size in Huntington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Huntington. 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
$6,300 to $8,700
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,100 to $10,500
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,900 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 – $4,450 | $4,150 – $5,400 | $5,100 – $6,350 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,550 – $3,600 | $3,350 – $4,400 | $4,100 – $5,150 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,050 – $7,000 | $6,500 – $8,500 | $8,000 – $9,950 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,550 – $10,400 | $9,700 – $12,600 | $11,900 – $14,700 |
The best months for retaining wall in Huntington
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Huntington Tri State 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 Huntington are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
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 90 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Huntington gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 20 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.1 inches in July). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.0 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 25 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 | 43 | 26 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 29 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 57 | 36 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 69 | 46 | 3.9 | Workable |
| May | 76 | 54 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 65 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 58 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 46 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 57 | 37 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 30 | 3.6 | Cold |
Who does the work: Huntington 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 Huntington the blend is 0.85.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $22.16 an hour, which is 26% below the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $18.66 and $29.57 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 3.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is about average.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $21.72 an hour, which is 4% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.76 and $28.49 an hour. BLS counts 1,580 of them working in the area, 112.3 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 $27.56 an hour, 4% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.17 and $37.01 an hour. About 1,040 work in the metro. That is 73.9 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 $580 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $280. That is a swing of roughly 3.0% to 6.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Huntington-Ashland has 140,740 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 159th 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% | $18.66 | $22.16 | $29.57 | $29.87 | 0.74 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.76 | $21.72 | $28.49 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $22.17 | $27.56 | $37.01 | $28.78 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
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Retaining wall in Huntington: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Huntington?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,300 to $12,300 in the Huntington area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,100 to $10,500. 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 Huntington?
About $31.50 to $59.50 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $400 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Huntington or Charleston?
Charleston is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,550, which is 2% more than Huntington ($9,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Huntington?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $4,000 out of $9,300. Materials are 55% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Huntington?
$5,050 to $9,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Huntington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $400 for fees in the Huntington area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Huntington expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of West Virginia?
Huntington is 1% above the West Virginia statewide estimate ($9,200 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in West Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Huntington?
The BLS median is $22.16 an hour in the Huntington area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.66 to $29.57.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Huntington?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,300 to $8,700 and premium work $9,900 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 Huntington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. October and November 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 Huntington
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.