Inground pool cost in Chico, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $40,300 – $126,000
- Per sq ft
- $89.50 – $279
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #60
- 1 = most expensive
An inground pool in Chico, CA usually costs $40,300 to $126,000 for 450 sq ft. That works out to about $89.50 to $279 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $8,750 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.31 an hour in the Chico area, 16% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Chico, CA, standard level
$66,000 to $100,500
About $146 to $222 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $29,600 | $45,100 |
| Labor | $36,300 | $54,900 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $240 |
| Total | $66,000 | $100,500 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Chico, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,000 | $37,400 | $56,800 | 45% |
| Labor | $22,300 | $45,600 | $68,900 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $200 | $300 | 0% |
| Total | $40,300 | $83,200 | $126,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Chico 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 $26.31 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Chico is 1.18 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 55% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chico is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $37,400 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.2: $100 to $300.
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 Chico. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Chico 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.
How Chico compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Chico. Redding comes closest at about $83,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chico, CAthis page | $40,300 – $126,000 | $83,200 | |
| Sacramento, CA70 miles | $42,900 – $134,000 | $88,400 | +6% |
| Redding, CA80 miles | $40,400 – $126,000 | $83,200 | level |
| Napa, CA90 miles | $42,400 – $132,000 | $87,300 | +5% |
| Vallejo, CA100 miles | $43,400 – $135,500 | $89,500 | +8% |
| Santa Rosa, CA105 miles | $44,200 – $138,000 | $91,000 | +9% |
| California (statewide) | $42,500 – $133,000 | $87,700 | +5% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −10% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chico ranks #60 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chico is 5% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $42,500 – $133,000 | $87,700 | +5% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $49,100 – $153,000 | $101,000 | +22% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $40,200 – $125,500 | $82,900 | level |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $41,700 – $130,000 | $85,900 | +3% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $48,700 – $151,500 | $100,000 | +20% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $42,900 – $134,000 | $88,400 | +6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chico against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | 79,510 jobs | $39,900 – $124,500 | $82,200 | −1% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $42,400 – $132,000 | $87,300 | +5% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $35,900 – $112,000 | $74,000 | −11% |
| Racine, WI | 76,280 jobs | $40,600 – $126,500 | $83,500 | level |
Chico: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chico. 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
$40,300 to $74,600
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$66,000 to $100,500
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$91,700 to $126,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $35,900 – $66,300 | $58,700 – $89,200 | $81,600 – $112,000 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $45,900 – $84,900 | $75,100 – $114,000 | $104,500 – $143,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $71,700 – $132,500 | $117,500 – $178,000 | $163,000 – $224,000 |
Chico 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, Chico Univ Farm (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 Chico are March through June and October: 5 of 12. Outside them, January, February, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below, and July, August and September 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 July, August and September, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Chico gets about 27 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (5.1 inches in February). Inside the workable window, May and June are the driest, at 1.4 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 99 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 | 36 | 5.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 62 | 38 | 5.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 67 | 42 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 45 | 1.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 52 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 57 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 59 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 55 | 0.3 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 47 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 65 | 40 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 57 | 36 | 5.0 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Chico
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chico wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+17%) and concrete patio lowest (+9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,200 – $12,500 | +10% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,300 – $6,000 | +11% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,350 – $4,350 | +9% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,400 – $16,800 | +11% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +17% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,900 – $14,700 | +10% |
What local crews earn in Chico
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 Chico the blend is 1.18.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $26.31 an hour, which is 16% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $34.60 an hour. BLS counts 480 of them working in the area, 61.4 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 $38.00 an hour, 32% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $30.40 and $59.81 an hour. About 230 work in the metro. That is 29.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Chico metro, so we used the California statewide median: $33.20 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $28.24 and $38.26 an hour.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $29.20 an hour, 5% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.06 and $39.29 an hour. About 180 work in the metro. That is 23.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $5,650 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $2,850. That is a swing of roughly 3.4% to 6.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chico has 78,220 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 241st 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% | $22.14 | $26.31 | $34.60 | $22.66 | 1.16 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $30.40 | $38.00 | $59.81 | $28.78 | 1.32 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $28.24 | $33.20 | $38.26 | $29.87 | 1.11 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $24.06 | $29.20 | $39.29 | $30.67 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.18 | |||||
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Inground pool in Chico: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Chico?
For 450 sq ft, expect $40,300 to $126,000 in the Chico area. A standard-spec job lands at $66,000 to $100,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Chico?
About $89.50 to $279 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $100 to $300 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Chico or Sacramento?
Sacramento is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $88,400, which is 6% more than Chico ($83,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chico?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $45,600 out of $83,200. Materials are 45% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Chico?
$45,900 to $143,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Chico?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $100 to $300 for fees in the Chico area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chico expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of California?
Chico is 5% below the California statewide estimate ($87,700 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Chico?
The BLS median is $26.31 an hour in the Chico area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.14 to $34.60.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Chico?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $40,300 to $74,600 and premium work $91,700 to $126,000. 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 Chico?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and October. May and June 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 Chico
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.