Inground pool cost in Anchorage, AK
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $41,300 – $129,000
- Per sq ft
- $91.50 – $286
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #36
- 1 = most expensive
An inground pool in Anchorage, AK usually costs $41,300 to $129,000 for 450 sq ft. That works out to about $91.50 to $286 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $10,600 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $27.00 an hour in the Anchorage area, 19% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Anchorage, AK, standard level
$67,600 to $102,500
About $150 to $227 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $30,200 | $46,100 |
| Labor | $37,100 | $56,300 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $250 |
| Total | $67,600 | $102,500 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Anchorage, AK
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,400 | $38,200 | $58,000 | 45% |
| Labor | $22,800 | $46,700 | $70,600 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $110 | $210 | $320 | 0% |
| Total | $41,300 | $85,100 | $129,000 | 100% |
Why Anchorage prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 4 trades: construction laborers at 40%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, brickmasons and blockmasons at 20%, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 10%. Weighted together, Anchorage wages are 1.21 times the national level. Labor makes up about 55% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Anchorage is at 107.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $38,200 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.4: $110 to $320.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a national median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Anchorage. The wage table below marks each row.
Anchorage weather and the inground pool calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Eagle Rvr Nature Ctr (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 Anchorage are June through August: 3 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, May, September, October, November 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.
Anchorage gets about 23 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are August, September and October (3.6 inches in September). Inside the workable window, June and July are the driest, at 1.3 and 1.7 inches.
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 | 21 | 6 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 28 | 12 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 35 | 15 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 47 | 27 | 0.8 | Cold |
| May | 58 | 36 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Jun | 65 | 44 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 67 | 48 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 65 | 45 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 56 | 37 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Oct | 42 | 26 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Nov | 26 | 13 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 23 | 9 | 2.0 | Cold |
Why two Anchorage 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.
Cost by quality level and size in Anchorage
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Anchorage. 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
$41,300 to $76,300
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$67,600 to $102,500
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$93,800 to $129,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $36,700 – $67,900 | $60,100 – $91,200 | $83,400 – $114,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $46,900 – $86,800 | $76,800 – $116,500 | $106,500 – $146,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $73,300 – $135,500 | $120,000 – $182,000 | $166,500 – $229,000 |
What local crews earn in Anchorage
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 Anchorage the blend is 1.21.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $27.00 an hour, which is 19% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.90 and $34.85 an hour. BLS counts 1,860 of them working in the area, 105.1 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 $36.79 an hour, 28% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $32.05 and $46.54 an hour. About 980 work in the metro. That is 55.4 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 Anchorage metro, so we used the national median: $29.87 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $24.57 and $38.15 an hour.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $45.00 an hour, 47% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $34.73 and $49.08 an hour. About 640 work in the metro. That is 36.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $5,350 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $2,800. That is a swing of roughly 3.3% to 6.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Anchorage has 177,050 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 131st 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% | $22.90 | $27.00 | $34.85 | $22.66 | 1.19 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $32.05 | $36.79 | $46.54 | $28.78 | 1.28 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $24.57 | $29.87 | $38.15 | $29.87 | 1.00 | US |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $34.73 | $45.00 | $49.08 | $30.67 | 1.47 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.21 | |||||
How Anchorage compares
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 450 sq ft range from $82,900 to $93,300 across Anchorage and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AKthis page | $41,300 – $129,000 | $85,100 | |
| Bellingham, WA1410 miles | $44,200 – $138,000 | $91,100 | +7% |
| Bremerton, WA1450 miles | $41,700 – $130,500 | $86,000 | +1% |
| Seattle, WA1480 miles | $45,300 – $141,500 | $93,300 | +10% |
| Olympia, WA1485 miles | $43,800 – $136,500 | $90,200 | +6% |
| Spokane, WA1570 miles | $40,200 – $125,500 | $82,900 | −3% |
| Alaska (statewide) | $41,500 – $129,500 | $85,600 | +1% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Anchorage ranks #36 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Anchorage is 1% below the Alaska figure.
Anchorage is the only Alaska metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Anchorage against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $35,100 – $109,500 | $72,300 | −15% |
| Reading, PA | 174,670 jobs | $37,100 – $116,000 | $76,600 | −10% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $32,200 – $101,000 | $66,500 | −22% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,600 | −5% |
Planning more than one job in Anchorage?
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Anchorage wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete patio comes out highest (+25%) and retaining wall lowest (+9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $13,000 | +14% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,350 – $6,050 | +11% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,500 – $5,050 | +25% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,500 – $17,100 | +13% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $680 – $2,350 | +13% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,750 – $14,600 | +9% |
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 $67,600 to $102,500 for Anchorage, AK is attached.
Detailed inground pool report for Anchorage, AK, $9
Multi-page report for Anchorage, AK: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Inground pool in Anchorage: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Anchorage?
For 450 sq ft, expect $41,300 to $129,000 in the Anchorage area. A standard-spec job lands at $67,600 to $102,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Anchorage?
About $91.50 to $286 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $110 to $320 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Anchorage or Bellingham?
Bellingham is 1410 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $91,100, which is 7% more than Anchorage ($85,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Anchorage?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $46,700 out of $85,100. Materials are 45% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Anchorage?
$46,900 to $146,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Anchorage?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $110 to $320 for fees in the Anchorage area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Anchorage expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Alaska?
Anchorage is 1% below the Alaska statewide estimate ($85,600 at the midpoint).
+What do construction laborers earn in Anchorage?
The BLS median is $27.00 an hour in the Anchorage area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.90 to $34.85.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Anchorage?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $41,300 to $76,300 and premium work $93,800 to $129,000. 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 Anchorage?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are June through August. June and July 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 Anchorage
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.