Inground pool cost in Arkansas
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $31,100 – $97,400
- Per sq ft
- $69 – $216
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −14%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 4
Across Arkansas, an inground pool costs about $31,100 to $97,400 for 450 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 14% below the US figure of $74,500. Construction laborers earn a median $18.09 an hour in Arkansas (US: $22.66).
Inside Arkansas, the metros we cover range from $63,500 (Fort Smith) to $66,700 (Fayetteville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Arkansas (statewide), standard level
$51,000 to $77,500
About $113 to $172 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,200 |
| Labor | $24,500 | $37,100 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $210 |
| Total | $51,000 | $77,500 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Arkansas
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,500 | 52% |
| Labor | $15,000 | $30,800 | $46,600 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $170 | $260 | 0% |
| Total | $31,100 | $64,300 | $97,400 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in Arkansas
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Arkansas wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$31,100 to $57,600
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$51,000 to $77,500
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$70,900 to $97,400
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $27,700 – $51,200 | $45,400 – $68,900 | $63,000 – $86,600 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $35,400 – $65,600 | $58,000 – $88,200 | $80,600 – $111,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $55,300 – $102,500 | $90,600 – $137,500 | $126,000 – $173,000 |
Arkansas seasons and inground pool
Season matters for inground pool. For each Arkansas metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Fayetteville has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Arkansas at 7 months (April through October); Jonesboro has the shortest at 5 (March through May and September through October). Rainfall runs from 47 inches a year in Fayetteville to 50 inches in Little Rock.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | 31 | 92 | 50 | 6: March through June and September through October |
| Fayetteville | 25 | 89 | 47 | 7: April through October |
| Fort Smith | 30 | 94 | 47 | 6: March through June and September through October |
| Jonesboro | 31 | 91 | 49 | 5: March through May and September through October |
Which Arkansas city is cheapest for inground pool?
2 of the 4 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $64,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 5%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (450 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,700 | +4% |
| Little Rock, AR | $31,500 – $98,400 | $64,900 | +1% |
| Jonesboro, AR | $30,900 – $96,500 | $63,700 | −1% |
| Fort Smith, AR | $30,800 – $96,200 | $63,500 | −1% |
Arkansas labor market for inground pool
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 4 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.80 for Arkansas.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $18.09 an hour, 20% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.63 and $21.31 an hour. About 10,650 work in the state. That is 81.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $21.41 an hour, which is 26% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.44 and $23.97 an hour. BLS counts 5,800 of them working in the state, 44.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 20% of the weighting: a median of $26.49 an hour, 11% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $28.69 an hour. About 450 work in the state. That is 3.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.39 an hour, which is 24% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $18.82 and $29.12 an hour. BLS counts 3,370 of them working in the state, 25.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($21.31 an hour) would add about $2,200 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($16.63) would take off about $1,000. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,303,630 jobs across Arkansas (May 2025), which is 0.8% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $16.63 | $18.09 | $21.31 | $22.66 | 0.80 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $18.44 | $21.41 | $23.97 | $28.78 | 0.74 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $22.14 | $26.49 | $28.69 | $29.87 | 0.89 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $18.82 | $23.39 | $29.12 | $30.67 | 0.76 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.80 | |||||
Inground pool: what moves the price in Arkansas
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.
Other Arkansas jobs that often go with inground pool
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Arkansas wages and prices. Against national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (−11%) and French drain lowest (−15%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,300 – $10,100 | −12% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,800 | −12% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,400 | −14% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,600 – $13,200 | −13% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $510 – $1,800 | −15% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,150 – $12,000 | −11% |
Arkansas against its neighbors
Arkansas ranks 51 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for inground pool, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $102,500 and the cheapest Arkansas at $64,300, both for 450 sq ft at the midpoint. Arkansas sits at $64,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 220 miles away | $31,800 – $99,400 | $65,600 | +2% |
| Missouri | 230 miles away | $37,800 – $118,000 | $77,900 | +21% |
| Kansas | 280 miles away | $33,800 – $105,500 | $69,700 | +8% |
| Mississippi | 330 miles away | $31,700 – $99,100 | $65,400 | +2% |
| Tennessee | 360 miles away | $34,300 – $107,000 | $70,800 | +10% |
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Detailed inground pool report for Arkansas, $9
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Inground pool in Arkansas: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Arkansas?
$31,100 to $97,400 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Arkansas can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Arkansas is cheapest for inground pool?
Fort Smith at about $63,500 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Fayetteville at $66,700.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Arkansas than the US average?
It is 14% cheaper: $64,300 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Arkansas?
About 48% ($30,800). Materials are 52%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.80x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Arkansas?
The BLS statewide median is $18.09 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.63 to $21.31.
+Where does Arkansas rank for inground pool costs?
51st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $64,300 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Arkansas?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $31,100 to $57,600 and premium work $70,900 to $97,400. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in Arkansas?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Arkansas metros we cover, Fayetteville has the most comfortable months (7 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Inground pool by city in Arkansas
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.