Inground pool cost in Auburn, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $31,400 – $98,100
- Per sq ft
- $69.50 – $217
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #285
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for an inground pool in the Auburn area: $31,400 to $98,100 for 450 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 13% lower than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.36 an hour in the Auburn area, 23% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Auburn, AL, standard level
$51,400 to $78,100
About $114 to $173 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,200 | $41,400 |
| Labor | $24,100 | $36,500 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $210 |
| Total | $51,400 | $78,100 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Auburn, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $34,300 | $52,100 | 53% |
| Labor | $14,800 | $30,300 | $45,800 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $260 | 0% |
| Total | $31,400 | $64,700 | $98,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Auburn number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 40% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $17.36 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Auburn is 0.78 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 47% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Auburn is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $34,300 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 87.9: $90 to $260.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Auburn. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: inground pool pricing in Auburn
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Auburn. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small pool (400 sq ft) to large (800 sq ft).
Basic
$31,400 to $58,100
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$51,400 to $78,100
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$71,400 to $98,100
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $27,900 – $51,600 | $45,700 – $69,400 | $63,500 – $87,200 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $35,700 – $66,000 | $58,500 – $88,800 | $81,200 – $111,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $55,700 – $103,000 | $91,300 – $138,500 | $127,000 – $174,000 |
The best months for inground pool in Auburn
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Auburn No.2 (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in Auburn are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below.
The 40°F line is a deliberately cautious stand-in. The American Concrete Institute's cold-weather guide (ACI 306R-16) defines cold-weather concreting around an average daily air temperature below 40°F, which is colder than our test of an average overnight low at or below 40°F, so we flag a few extra shoulder months. In cold weather crews may need heated enclosures, insulating blankets or accelerated mixes, and those measures can raise a quote.
Auburn gets about 56 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, June and December (5.7 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 49 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 | 56 | 35 | 5.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 61 | 39 | 5.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 68 | 45 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 51 | 4.8 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 68 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 89 | 71 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 88 | 71 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 84 | 66 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 75 | 54 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 65 | 43 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 58 | 38 | 5.6 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Auburn
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Auburn wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, aluminum fence comes out highest (−10%) and concrete patio lowest (−14%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,350 – $10,300 | −10% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,700 | −14% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,400 | −14% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,650 – $13,400 | −12% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −12% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,050 – $12,000 | −12% |
Why two Auburn quotes can differ
Pool type
Vinyl pools are $25,000-$65,000, fiberglass $45,000-$100,000, and concrete or gunite $50,000-$120,000 (HomeGuide).
Maintenance
Pool maintenance is $80-$150 a month; concrete pools also need an acid wash every 3-5 years at $300-$1,000.
Permit
A building permit for a pool is $100-$300 and contractors often include it. Many cities add plumbing and electrical permits.
Is Auburn cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Auburn. Dothan is the lowest at about $63,300 (midpoint, 450 sq ft), 85 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auburn, ALthis page | $31,400 – $98,100 | $64,700 | |
| Columbus, GA40 miles | $31,200 – $97,600 | $64,400 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL50 miles | $31,400 – $98,300 | $64,900 | level |
| Dothan, AL85 miles | $30,600 – $95,900 | $63,300 | −2% |
| Birmingham, AL100 miles | $32,700 – $102,000 | $67,500 | +4% |
| Albany, GA100 miles | $31,100 – $97,300 | $64,200 | −1% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $31,800 – $99,300 | $65,500 | +1% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +15% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Auburn ranks #285 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Auburn is 1% below the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $32,700 – $102,000 | $67,500 | +4% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $32,000 – $99,900 | $65,900 | +2% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $31,800 – $99,300 | $65,500 | +1% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $31,400 – $98,300 | $64,900 | level |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $31,700 – $99,200 | $65,500 | +1% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $31,900 – $99,800 | $65,800 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Auburn against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, IN | 73,240 jobs | $37,200 – $116,500 | $76,800 | +19% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $35,100 – $109,500 | $72,300 | +12% |
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $50,900 – $159,000 | $105,000 | +62% |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 72,280 jobs | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +15% |
Who does the work: Auburn trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 4 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 Auburn the blend is 0.78.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $17.36 an hour, which is 23% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $13.70 and $21.30 an hour. BLS counts 670 of them working in the area, 92.1 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), 30% of the weighting: a median of $22.60 an hour, 21% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.46 and $24.74 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 49.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Auburn metro, so we used the Alabama statewide median: $23.90 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.98 and $27.55 an hour.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $24.79 an hour, 19% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $21.03 and $29.26 an hour. About 200 work in the metro. That is 27.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $2,700 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $2,500. That is a swing of roughly 3.9% to 4.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Auburn-Opelika has 72,710 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 252nd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $13.70 | $17.36 | $21.30 | $22.66 | 0.77 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $18.46 | $22.60 | $24.74 | $28.78 | 0.79 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $18.98 | $23.90 | $27.55 | $29.87 | 0.80 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $21.03 | $24.79 | $29.26 | $30.67 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.78 | |||||
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Detailed inground pool report for Auburn, AL, $9
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Inground pool in Auburn: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Auburn?
For 450 sq ft, expect $31,400 to $98,100 in the Auburn area. A standard-spec job lands at $51,400 to $78,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Auburn?
About $69.50 to $217 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $90 to $260 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Auburn or Columbus?
Columbus is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $64,400, which is 1% less than Auburn ($64,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Auburn?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $30,300 out of $64,700. Materials are 53% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Auburn?
$35,700 to $111,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Auburn?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $90 to $260 for fees in the Auburn area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Auburn expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Alabama?
Auburn is 1% below the Alabama statewide estimate ($65,500 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Auburn?
The BLS median is $17.36 an hour in the Auburn area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $13.70 to $21.30.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Auburn?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $31,400 to $58,100 and premium work $71,400 to $98,100. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+When is the best time to install an inground pool in Auburn?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. 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.
Inground pool near Auburn
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 An Inground Pool Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (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 = 48% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Outdoor Living' category split. It is a category average, not a pool-specific one, so read the pool materials line loosely.