Retaining wall cost in Madison, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (200 sq ft of wall face)
- $8,150 – $14,500
- Per sq ft of wall face
- $40.50 – $70.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +11%
- US $10,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #49
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a retaining wall in the Madison area: $8,150 to $14,500 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 11% higher than the US figure. Brickmasons and blockmasons earn a median of $39.62 an hour in the Madison area, 33% above the US median of $29.87.
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Estimated cost for 200 sq ft of wall face in Madison, WI, standard level
$10,100 to $12,600
About $49.50 to $61.50 per sq ft of wall face before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $5,900 |
| Labor | $5,850 | $6,400 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $320 |
| Total | $10,100 | $12,600 |
Cost breakdown for 200 sq ft of wall face in Madison, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,650 | $4,950 | $7,300 | 44% |
| Labor | $5,450 | $6,150 | $6,800 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $50 | $240 | $440 | 2% |
| Total | $8,150 | $11,300 | $14,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Madison number
Labor is 54% 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 Madison the blended ratio comes out at 1.30.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Madison is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $5,300 nationally becomes $4,950 here (midpoint, 200 sq ft of wall face). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.3: $50 to $440.
Cost by quality level and size in Madison
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Madison. 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
$8,150 to $10,700
Short block wall, easy access
Standard
$10,100 to $12,600
Standard segmental block wall with drainage
Premium
$12,000 to $14,500
Tall or stone wall, engineered, hard access
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| short garden wall (4x25 ft), 100 sq ft of wall face | $4,100 – $5,450 | $5,100 – $6,450 | $6,150 – $7,500 |
| 20 ft x 4 ft (80 sq ft of wall face) | $3,300 – $4,400 | $4,100 – $5,250 | $4,950 – $6,100 |
| 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) | $6,550 – $8,600 | $8,100 – $10,200 | $9,650 – $11,700 |
| 40 ft x 6 ft (240 sq ft of wall face) | $9,750 – $12,800 | $12,000 – $15,100 | $14,300 – $17,300 |
Who does the work: Madison 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 Madison the blend is 1.30.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 50%) the local median is $39.62 an hour, which is 33% above the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $29.34 and $46.79 an hour. BLS counts 150 of them working in the area, 3.7 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 $27.40 an hour, which is 21% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.70 and $31.94 an hour. BLS counts 2,370 of them working in the area, 58.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 20% of the weighting: a median of $39.93 an hour, 39% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $31.65 and $47.46 an hour. About 680 work in the metro. That is 16.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer 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 $560 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $810. That is a swing of roughly 7.1% to 5.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Madison has 408,070 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 61st 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% | $29.34 | $39.62 | $46.79 | $29.87 | 1.33 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.70 | $27.40 | $31.94 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 20% | $31.65 | $39.93 | $47.46 | $28.78 | 1.39 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.30 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Madison
Jobs that often go together with retaining wall are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Madison wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+17%) and sod installation lowest (+4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +17% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,350 – $6,100 | +12% |
| Concrete driveway | 600 sq ft | $3,950 – $10,300 | +11% |
| Sod installation | 1,500 sq ft | $1,550 – $3,400 | +4% |
| Sprinkler system | 4,000 sq ft of lawn | $4,500 – $11,200 | +12% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,700 – $127,000 | +13% |
The best months for retaining wall in Madison
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Madison Dane Rgnl 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 Madison are April through October: 7 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low at or below freezing (32°F).
In January, February, March, November 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 147 days a year with a low at or below 32°F at this station.
Madison gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 52 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.4 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 27 | 12 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 15 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 25 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 47 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 51 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 29 | 2.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 32 | 18 | 1.6 | Cold |
Is Madison cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $10,200 to $11,400 across Madison and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WIthis page | $8,150 – $14,500 | $11,300 | |
| Janesville, WI40 miles | $7,800 – $14,100 | $10,900 | −4% |
| Rockford, IL60 miles | $8,250 – $14,600 | $11,400 | +1% |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $7,200 – $13,300 | $10,200 | −10% |
| Oshkosh, WI85 miles | $7,850 – $14,100 | $11,000 | −3% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $7,950 – $14,300 | $11,100 | −2% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $7,950 – $14,300 | $11,100 | −2% |
| United States | $7,050 – $13,500 | $10,300 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Madison ranks #49 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Madison is 2% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $8,550 – $15,100 | $11,800 | +4% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $7,600 – $13,800 | $10,700 | −6% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $8,100 – $14,500 | $11,300 | level |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $7,850 – $14,100 | $11,000 | −3% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $8,050 – $14,400 | $11,200 | −1% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $7,950 – $14,300 | $11,100 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Madison against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $6,450 – $12,400 | $9,450 | −17% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $6,000 – $12,000 | $9,000 | −21% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $6,800 – $13,000 | $9,900 | −13% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $7,500 – $13,900 | $10,700 | −6% |
Why two Madison 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 $10,100 to $12,600 for Madison, WI is attached.
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Retaining wall in Madison: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a retaining wall in Madison?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, expect $8,150 to $14,500 in the Madison area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,100 to $12,600. 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 Madison?
About $40.50 to $70.50 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 Madison or Janesville?
Janesville is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 200 sq ft of wall face there is $10,900, which is 4% less than Madison ($11,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Madison?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $6,150 out of $11,300. Materials are 44% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 46%.
+What would 40 ft x 4 ft (160 sq ft of wall face) cost in Madison?
$6,550 to $11,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does retaining wall need a permit in Madison?
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 Madison area (our national range of $50 to $450 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Madison expensive for retaining wall compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Madison is 2% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($11,100 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do brickmasons and blockmasons earn in Madison?
The BLS median is $39.62 an hour in the Madison area, compared with $29.87 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.34 to $46.79.
+What do basic and premium retaining wall work cost in Madison?
For 200 sq ft of wall face, basic work runs $8,150 to $10,700 and premium work $12,000 to $14,500. 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 Madison?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September and October 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 Madison
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.