Inground pool cost in Dover, DE
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $34,300 – $107,500
- Per sq ft
- $76 – $238
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #183
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install an inground pool in Dover, plan on $34,300 to $107,500 for 450 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $76 to $238 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 5% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.02 an hour in the Dover area, 3% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Dover, DE, standard level
$56,200 to $85,400
About $125 to $189 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 51% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,100 | $41,400 |
| Labor | $28,900 | $43,800 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $230 |
| Total | $56,200 | $85,400 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Dover, DE
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $34,300 | $52,000 | 48% |
| Labor | $17,800 | $36,400 | $55,000 | 51% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $200 | $290 | 0% |
| Total | $34,300 | $70,800 | $107,500 | 100% |
Where the Dover price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 40% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.02 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Dover is 0.94 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 51% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dover metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $34,300, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (97.5) and land at $100 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 Dover. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Dover
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dover 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
$34,300 to $63,500
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$56,200 to $85,400
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$78,100 to $107,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $30,500 – $56,500 | $50,000 – $75,900 | $69,500 – $95,400 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $39,000 – $72,200 | $63,900 – $97,100 | $88,800 – $122,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $61,000 – $113,000 | $99,800 – $151,500 | $138,500 – $190,500 |
Inground pool: what moves the price in Dover
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.
Dover labor market for inground pool
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 Dover is 0.94 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $22.02 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.50 and $24.63 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 58.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.49 an hour, which is 18% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.38 and $28.71 an hour. BLS counts 190 of them working in the area, 27.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dover metro, so we used the Delaware statewide median: $32.00 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $26.93 and $40.12 an hour.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.08 an hour, which is 8% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.22 and $36.70 an hour. BLS counts 90 of them working in the area, 13.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($24.63 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,800. At the 25th percentile ($18.50) it shrinks by about $2,400. The total moves by 2.5% or 3.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 68,080 jobs in the Dover area. That makes it the 265th 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% | $18.50 | $22.02 | $24.63 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.38 | $23.49 | $28.71 | $28.78 | 0.82 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $26.93 | $32.00 | $40.12 | $29.87 | 1.07 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $24.22 | $28.08 | $36.70 | $30.67 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Is Dover cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (450 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Vineland is the priciest of the group at $92,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DEthis page | $34,300 – $107,500 | $70,800 | |
| Vineland, NJ25 miles | $44,800 – $140,000 | $92,300 | +30% |
| Atlantic City, NJ45 miles | $39,800 – $124,500 | $82,100 | +16% |
| Philadelphia, PA55 miles | $38,700 – $120,500 | $79,700 | +13% |
| Baltimore, MD60 miles | $36,200 – $113,000 | $74,700 | +5% |
| Lancaster, PA75 miles | $36,600 – $114,500 | $75,500 | +7% |
| Delaware (statewide) | $35,300 – $110,500 | $72,800 | +3% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Dover comes in at #183 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Dover is 3% below the Delaware figure.
Dover is the only Delaware metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Dover's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dover against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $36,400 – $114,000 | $75,100 | +6% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $33,000 – $103,000 | $68,100 | −4% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $37,600 – $117,500 | $77,400 | +9% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,600 | −3% |
Climate in Dover: timing your inground pool job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dover (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Dover (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, 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.
Dover gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 13 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.9 inches in August). Inside the workable window, April and May are the driest, at 3.7 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 25 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 | 44 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 47 | 29 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 55 | 35 | 4.2 | Cold |
| Apr | 66 | 45 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 54 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 64 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 69 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 67 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 61 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 50 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 39 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 49 | 32 | 4.0 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Dover
Because every project leans on different trades, Dover's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs −2% and wood deck −7%.
| 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 – $3,750 | −6% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,000 – $14,100 | −7% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $580 – $2,050 | −3% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,900 – $13,100 | −2% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Inground pool in Dover: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Dover?
For 450 sq ft, expect $34,300 to $107,500 in the Dover area. A standard-spec job lands at $56,200 to $85,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Dover?
About $76 to $238 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $100 to $290 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Dover or Vineland?
Vineland is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $92,300, which is 30% more than Dover ($70,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dover?
About 51% at the midpoint, or $36,400 out of $70,800. Materials are 48% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Dover?
$39,000 to $122,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Dover?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $100 to $290 for fees in the Dover area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dover expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Delaware?
Dover is 3% below the Delaware statewide estimate ($72,800 at the midpoint).
+What do construction laborers earn in Dover?
The BLS median is $22.02 an hour in the Dover area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.50 to $24.63.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Dover?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $34,300 to $63,500 and premium work $78,100 to $107,500. 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 Dover?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April and May 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 Dover
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.