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Inground pool cost in Jonesboro, AR

Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.

Typical range (450 sq ft)
$30,900 – $96,500
Per sq ft
$68.50 – $214
before permit
Versus US midpoint
−14%
US $74,500
Rank of 300 metros
#293
1 = most expensive

Local price for an inground pool in the Jonesboro area: $30,900 to $96,500 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 14% lower than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.26 an hour in the Jonesboro area, 19% below the US median of $22.66.

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Quality level

Fiberglass pool, standard size

Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Jonesboro, AR, standard level

$50,600 to $76,800

About $112 to $170 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.

Cost breakdown
PartLowHigh
Materials$26,400$40,200
Labor$24,100$36,500
Permits and fees$140$210
Total$50,600$76,800
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Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Jonesboro, AR

Part of the jobLowMidpointHighShare
Materials$16,000$33,300$50,50052%
Labor$14,800$30,300$45,70048%
Permits and fees$85$170$2600%
Total$30,900$63,700$96,500100%

Why Jonesboro prices look the way they do

Labor is 48% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (40%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), brickmasons and blockmasons (20%), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Jonesboro the blended ratio comes out at 0.78.

Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Jonesboro is at 93.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $33,300 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 85.9: $85 to $260.

Pick a size, pick a tier: inground pool pricing in Jonesboro

The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Jonesboro. 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

$30,900 to $57,100

Vinyl-liner pool, small size

Standard

$50,600 to $76,800

Fiberglass pool, standard size

Premium

$70,300 to $96,500

Concrete or gunite, large with custom features

Cost by size and quality level
SizeBasicStandardPremium
small pool (400 sq ft)$27,400 – $50,800$45,000 – $68,300$62,500 – $85,800
average (512 sq ft)$35,100 – $65,000$57,500 – $87,400$79,900 – $110,000
large (800 sq ft)$54,800 – $101,500$89,800 – $136,500$125,000 – $171,500

Related projects, priced for Jonesboro

Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Jonesboro wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, aluminum fence comes out highest (−13%) and concrete patio lowest (−18%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.

Related projects with local prices
ProjectSizeRangevs. US
Aluminum fence150 linear ft$3,250 – $9,950−13%
Paver patio300 sq ft$2,600 – $4,700−13%
Concrete patio300 sq ft$1,050 – $3,250−18%
Wood deck300 sq ft$6,400 – $12,900−15%
French drain60 linear ft$510 – $1,800−14%
Retaining wall200 sq ft of wall face$5,950 – $11,800−13%

Is Jonesboro cheap or dear? The local comparison

Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Jonesboro. Little Rock comes closest at about $64,900.

Comparison with nearby areas
AreaRangeMidpointvs. here
Jonesboro, ARthis page$30,900 – $96,500$63,700
Memphis, TN65 miles$34,600 – $108,000$71,300+12%
Jackson, TN100 miles$33,600 – $105,000$69,300+9%
Little Rock, AR120 miles$31,500 – $98,400$64,900+2%
Springfield, MO180 miles$34,400 – $107,500$71,000+11%
Clarksville, TN180 miles$33,700 – $105,500$69,600+9%
Arkansas (statewide)$31,100 – $97,400$64,300+1%
United States$36,100 – $113,000$74,500+17%

Out of the 300 metros we cover, Jonesboro ranks #293 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Jonesboro is 1% below the Arkansas figure.

Elsewhere in Arkansas

Arkansas metros compared with Jonesboro
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
Little Rock, AR358,210 jobs$31,500 – $98,400$64,900+2%
Fayetteville, AR275,180 jobs$32,300 – $101,000$66,700+5%
Fort Smith, AR95,560 jobs$30,800 – $96,200$63,500level

Metros of a similar size

Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Jonesboro against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.

Metros closest to this one by total employment
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
Sheboygan, WI60,630 jobs$38,900 – $121,500$80,100+26%
Chambersburg, PA60,280 jobs$36,400 – $114,000$75,100+18%
Dothan, AL60,720 jobs$30,600 – $95,900$63,300−1%
Alexandria, LA60,000 jobs$31,500 – $98,300$64,900+2%

Why two Jonesboro 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.

Who does the work: Jonesboro 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 Jonesboro the blend is 0.78.

For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $18.26 an hour, which is 19% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.23 and $20.53 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 64.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.

Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $21.92 an hour, 24% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.23 and $23.12 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 39.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.

For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 20%) the local median is $23.50 an hour, which is 21% below the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $22.07 and $27.75 an hour. BLS counts 30 of them working in the area, 4.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is deeper than average.

Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.61 an hour, 26% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $18.48 and $28.22 an hour. About 160 work in the metro. That is 26.4 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 $1,550 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,400. That is a swing of roughly 2.2% to 2.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.

Jonesboro has 60,620 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 286th by size among the 300 metros on this site.

Median hourly wages behind the labor line (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
TradeWeight25th pctMedian75th pctUS medianRatioLevel used
Construction laborers (47-2061)40%$16.23$18.26$20.53$22.660.81metro
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073)30%$18.23$21.92$23.12$28.780.76metro
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021)20%$22.07$23.50$27.75$29.870.79metro
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152)10%$18.48$22.61$28.22$30.670.74metro
Blended100%0.78

The best months for inground pool in Jonesboro

Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Jonesboro Muni Ap (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 Jonesboro are March through May and September through October: 5 of 12. Outside them, January, February, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below, and June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.

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.

Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in June, July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.

Jonesboro gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are March, April and May (5.2 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.8 inches. The station averages about 66 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.

Monthly normals, Jonesboro Muni Ap (NOAA, 1991-2020)
MonthAvg high °FAvg low °FPrecip (in)For this job
Jan47313.5Cold
Feb52343.8Cold
Mar61414.7Workable
Apr71505.2Workable
May81605.2Workable
Jun90683.0Hot
Jul91723.7Hot
Aug90703.4Hot
Sep84623.3Workable
Oct74513.8Workable
Nov60404.4Cold
Dec50334.5Cold

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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 $50,600 to $76,800 for Jonesboro, AR is attached.

Detailed inground pool report for Jonesboro, AR, $9

Multi-page report for Jonesboro, AR: 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 Jonesboro: your questions

+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Jonesboro?

For 450 sq ft, expect $30,900 to $96,500 in the Jonesboro area. A standard-spec job lands at $50,600 to $76,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.

+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Jonesboro?

About $68.50 to $214 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $85 to $260 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.

+Is inground pool cheaper in Jonesboro or Memphis?

Memphis is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $71,300, which is 12% more than Jonesboro ($63,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.

+How much of the bill is labor in Jonesboro?

About 48% at the midpoint, or $30,300 out of $63,700. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.

+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Jonesboro?

$35,100 to $110,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.

+Does inground pool need a permit in Jonesboro?

Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $85 to $260 for fees in the Jonesboro area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).

+Is Jonesboro expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Arkansas?

Jonesboro is 1% below the Arkansas statewide estimate ($64,300 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.

+What do construction laborers earn in Jonesboro?

The BLS median is $18.26 an hour in the Jonesboro area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.23 to $20.53.

+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Jonesboro?

For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $30,900 to $57,100 and premium work $70,300 to $96,500. 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 Jonesboro?

Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through May and September 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.

Inground pool near Jonesboro

Inground pool: all pricesInground pool in ArkansasAll projects in JonesboroArkansas cost hub

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.

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.