Retaining wall cost in Morgantown, WV
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $6,250 – $12,300
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $31 – $59
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #244
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Morgantown area: $6,250 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 10% lower than the US figure. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $22.40 an hour in the Morgantown area, 25% below the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Morgantown, WV, standard level
$8,050 to $10,500
About $39.50 to $51 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,050 |
| Labor | $3,750 | $4,100 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $310 |
| Total | $8,050 | $10,500 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Morgantown, WV
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,700 | $5,100 | $7,500 | 55% |
| Labor | $3,500 | $3,900 | $4,350 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $230 | $420 | 3% |
| Total | $6,250 | $9,250 | $12,300 | 100% |
Where the Morgantown 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 $22.40 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Morgantown is 0.83 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 42% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the West Virginia statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Morgantown 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 93.3: $45 to $420.
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 Morgantown. The wage table below marks each row.
How Morgantown compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Morgantown. Wheeling comes closest at about $9,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WVthis page | $6,250 – $12,300 | $9,250 | |
| Wheeling, WV65 miles | $6,350 – $12,400 | $9,400 | +1% |
| Pittsburgh, PA65 miles | $7,700 – $14,300 | $11,000 | +19% |
| Winchester, VA75 miles | $6,450 – $12,500 | $9,500 | +3% |
| Harrisonburg, VA85 miles | $6,450 – $12,600 | $9,500 | +3% |
| Hagerstown, MD95 miles | $6,500 – $12,600 | $9,550 | +3% |
| West Virginia (statewide) | $6,200 – $12,200 | $9,200 | −1% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Morgantown ranks #244 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Morgantown is 1% above the West Virginia figure.
Elsewhere in West Virginia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WV | 140,740 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | +1% |
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $6,500 – $12,600 | $9,550 | +3% |
| 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 Morgantown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $6,450 – $12,500 | $9,500 | +3% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $6,950 – $13,100 | $10,000 | +8% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $6,300 – $12,300 | $9,300 | +1% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $6,850 – $13,000 | $9,950 | +7% |
Who does the work: Morgantown 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 Morgantown the blend is 0.83.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 50% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Morgantown metro, so we used the West Virginia statewide median: $22.40 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.92 and $30.00 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $21.32 an hour, which is 6% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.14 and $24.01 an hour. BLS counts 660 of them working in the area, 98.0 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 $25.46 an hour, 12% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.18 and $29.27 an hour. About 530 work in the metro. That is 78.7 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 $600 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $200. That is a swing of roughly 2.1% to 6.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Morgantown has 67,370 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 268th 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% | $19.92 | $22.40 | $30.00 | $29.87 | 0.75 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $17.14 | $21.32 | $24.01 | $22.66 | 0.94 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $22.18 | $25.46 | $29.27 | $28.78 | 0.88 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Morgantown bid
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.
Related projects, priced for Morgantown
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Morgantown wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, sprinkler system comes out highest (−6%) and paver patio lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $560 – $1,950 | −7% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,900 | −10% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,350 – $8,400 | −9% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,350 – $2,950 | −10% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $3,750 – $9,400 | −6% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $33,300 – $104,000 | −8% |
The best months for retaining wall in Morgantown
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Morgantown Hart Fld (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 Morgantown 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 102 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Morgantown gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.9 inches in July). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 3.1 and 3.0 inches. The station averages about 13 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 | 40 | 24 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 44 | 26 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 53 | 33 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 65 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 52 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 60 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 64 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 63 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 56 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 45 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 36 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 44 | 29 | 3.2 | Cold |
Pick a size, pick a tier: retaining wall pricing in Morgantown
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Morgantown. 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
$6,250 to $8,650
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$8,050 to $10,500
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$9,850 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 | $3,150 – $4,400 | $4,100 – $5,400 | $5,050 – $6,350 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $2,550 – $3,600 | $3,300 – $4,350 | $4,100 – $5,150 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $5,000 – $6,950 | $6,450 – $8,450 | $7,950 – $9,900 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $7,500 – $10,300 | $9,650 – $12,500 | $11,800 – $14,600 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Retaining wall in Morgantown: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Morgantown?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $6,250 to $12,300 in the Morgantown area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,050 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 Morgantown?
About $31 to $59 per sq ft of wall face for materials and labor, plus $45 to $420 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $35 to $65.
+Is retaining wall cheaper in Morgantown or Wheeling?
Wheeling is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $9,400, which is 1% more than Morgantown ($9,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Morgantown?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $3,900 out of $9,250. Materials are 55% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Morgantown?
$5,000 to $9,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Morgantown?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $420 for fees in the Morgantown area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Morgantown expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of West Virginia?
Morgantown 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 Morgantown?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $22.40 an hour, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.92 to $30.00.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Morgantown?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $6,250 to $8,650 and premium work $9,850 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 Morgantown?
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 Morgantown
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.