Inground pool cost in Grand Junction, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $35,000 – $109,000
- Per sq ft
- $77.50 – $242
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #168
- 1 = most expensive
Grand Junction homeowners pay roughly $35,000 to $109,000 to install an inground pool at 450 sq ft, or $77.50 to $242 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Grand Junction is 3% lower. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.1).
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Grand Junction, CO, standard level
$57,200 to $86,900
About $127 to $193 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,100 | $41,200 |
| Labor | $30,000 | $45,500 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $230 |
| Total | $57,200 | $86,900 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Grand Junction, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,400 | $34,100 | $51,900 | 47% |
| Labor | $18,400 | $37,700 | $57,000 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $290 | 0% |
| Total | $35,000 | $72,100 | $109,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Grand Junction 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 $21.51 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Grand Junction is 0.98 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 52% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Grand Junction metro is 96.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $34,100, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (95.5) and land at $95 to $290.
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 Grand Junction. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Grand Junction 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.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 4 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Grand Junction is 0.98 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $21.51 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.55 and $24.79 an hour. About 570 work in the metro. That is 84.9 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 $27.74 an hour, which is 4% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.56 and $30.03 an hour. BLS counts 390 of them working in the area, 58.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Grand Junction metro, so we used the Colorado statewide median: $31.37 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $24.63 and $36.12 an hour.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.53 an hour, which is 4% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.65 and $35.99 an hour. BLS counts 300 of them working in the area, 44.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($24.79 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $2,250. At the 25th percentile ($18.55) it shrinks by about $2,000. The total moves by 3.1% or 2.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 67,170 jobs in the Grand Junction area. That makes it the 269th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.55 | $21.51 | $24.79 | $22.66 | 0.95 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.56 | $27.74 | $30.03 | $28.78 | 0.96 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $24.63 | $31.37 | $36.12 | $29.87 | 1.05 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $23.65 | $29.53 | $35.99 | $30.67 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.98 | |||||
Grand Junction: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Grand Junction wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$35,000 to $64,700
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$57,200 to $86,900
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$79,500 to $109,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $31,100 – $57,500 | $50,900 – $77,300 | $70,700 – $97,100 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $39,800 – $73,500 | $65,100 – $98,900 | $90,400 – $124,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $62,100 – $115,000 | $101,500 – $154,500 | $141,000 – $194,000 |
How Grand Junction compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Grand Junction. Provo comes closest at about $72,700.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction, COthis page | $35,000 – $109,000 | $72,100 | |
| Boulder, CO180 miles | $36,800 – $115,000 | $76,000 | +5% |
| Denver, CO195 miles | $37,700 – $118,000 | $77,800 | +8% |
| Fort Collins, CO195 miles | $36,200 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +3% |
| Colorado Springs, CO205 miles | $35,600 – $111,000 | $73,400 | +2% |
| Provo, UT215 miles | $35,200 – $110,000 | $72,700 | +1% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $36,400 – $114,000 | $75,100 | +4% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Grand Junction comes in at #168 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Grand Junction is 4% below the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $37,700 – $118,000 | $77,800 | +8% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $35,600 – $111,000 | $73,400 | +2% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $36,800 – $115,000 | $76,000 | +5% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $36,200 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +3% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $35,300 – $110,000 | $72,700 | +1% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $35,500 – $111,000 | $73,200 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Grand Junction's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Grand Junction against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WV | 67,370 jobs | $33,300 – $104,000 | $68,600 | −5% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $36,400 – $113,500 | $75,000 | +4% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,600 | −5% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $34,900 – $109,000 | $71,900 | level |
Related projects, priced for Grand Junction
Because every project leans on different trades, Grand Junction's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs −2% and aluminum fence −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,600 – $10,900 | −5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,950 – $5,350 | −2% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,850 | −4% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,350 – $14,700 | −3% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,050 | −2% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,950 – $13,100 | −2% |
When to schedule inground pool in Grand Junction
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Grand Junction Walker Fld (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through June and September are the stretches where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Grand Junction (3 of 12 months). January, February, March, April, October, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below; 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 July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Grand Junction gets about 9 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 18 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, September and October (1.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, May and June are the driest, at 0.8 and 0.4 inches. The station averages about 68 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 38 | 17 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 46 | 24 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 58 | 32 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 66 | 38 | 1.0 | Cold |
| May | 77 | 47 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 57 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 95 | 64 | 0.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 62 | 0.9 | Hot |
| Sep | 82 | 53 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 67 | 40 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Nov | 52 | 28 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Dec | 39 | 18 | 0.6 | Cold |
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 $57,200 to $86,900 for Grand Junction, CO is attached.
Detailed inground pool report for Grand Junction, CO, $9
The report lays out the inground pool numbers for Grand Junction, CO line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Grand Junction: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Grand Junction?
For 450 sq ft, expect $35,000 to $109,000 in the Grand Junction area. A standard-spec job lands at $57,200 to $86,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Grand Junction?
About $77.50 to $242 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $95 to $290 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Grand Junction or Boulder?
Boulder is 180 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $76,000, which is 5% more than Grand Junction ($72,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Grand Junction?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $37,700 out of $72,100. Materials are 47% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Grand Junction?
$39,800 to $124,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Grand Junction?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $95 to $290 for fees in the Grand Junction area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Grand Junction expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Colorado?
Grand Junction is 4% below the Colorado statewide estimate ($75,100 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Grand Junction?
The BLS median is $21.51 an hour in the Grand Junction area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.55 to $24.79.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Grand Junction?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $35,000 to $64,700 and premium work $79,500 to $109,000. 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 Grand Junction?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through June and September. 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 Grand Junction
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.