Inground pool cost in the District of Columbia
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $40,300 – $126,000
- Per sq ft
- $89.50 – $279
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 1
Across the District of Columbia, an inground pool costs about $40,300 to $126,000 for 450 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 12% above the US figure of $74,500. Construction laborers earn a median $24.05 an hour in the District of Columbia (US: $22.66).
District of Columbia has one metro in our dataset, Washington, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Estimate your inground pool cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in District of Columbia (statewide), standard level
$66,000 to $100,500
About $146 to $222 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $30,000 | $45,700 |
| Labor | $35,800 | $54,300 |
| Permits and fees | $180 | $260 |
| Total | $66,000 | $100,500 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in District of Columbia
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,200 | $37,900 | $57,500 | 46% |
| Labor | $22,000 | $45,100 | $68,100 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $110 | $220 | $330 | 0% |
| Total | $40,300 | $83,100 | $126,000 | 100% |
Related projects, priced for the District of Columbia
Each project weights the trades differently, so District of Columbia's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, French drain is +10% and wood deck +5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,000 – $12,000 | +5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,250 – $5,900 | +8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,350 – $4,300 | +8% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,900 – $15,900 | +5% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $660 – $2,300 | +10% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,600 – $14,500 | +8% |
Why two District of Columbia 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.
Wages behind the District of Columbia number
District of Columbia's labor line is priced from 4 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.16 times the national level.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $24.05 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.80 and $28.41 an hour. BLS counts 2,090 of them working in the state, 29.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $35.87 an hour, 25% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $31.47 and $41.48 an hour. About 620 work in the state. That is 8.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 20%) the local median is $30.98 an hour, which is 4% above the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $30.75 and $40.27 an hour. BLS counts 200 of them working in the state, 2.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $48.57 an hour, 58% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $35.88 and $55.00 an hour. About 1,010 work in the state. That is 14.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($28.41 an hour) would add about $3,000 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($20.80) would take off about $2,200. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 701,920 jobs across the District of Columbia (May 2025), which is 0.5% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $20.80 | $24.05 | $28.41 | $22.66 | 1.06 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $31.47 | $35.87 | $41.48 | $28.78 | 1.25 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $30.75 | $30.98 | $40.27 | $29.87 | 1.04 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $35.88 | $48.57 | $55.00 | $30.67 | 1.58 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
When District of Columbia weather lets you install
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and District of Columbia is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Washington has 7 comfortable months (April through June and August through November), with about 42 inches of precipitation a year.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 30 | 90 | 42 | 7: April through June and August through November |
How District of Columbia compares with nearby states
District of Columbia ranks 11 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. District of Columbia sits at $83,100. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 50 miles away | $36,500 – $114,000 | $75,300 | −9% |
| Virginia | 110 miles away | $34,800 – $108,500 | $71,800 | −14% |
| Pennsylvania | 110 miles away | $37,000 – $115,500 | $76,300 | −8% |
| Delaware | 110 miles away | $35,300 – $110,500 | $72,800 | −12% |
| New Jersey | 160 miles away | $44,200 – $138,000 | $91,100 | +10% |
Basic, standard or premium: District of Columbia prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid 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 | $81,500 – $112,000 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $45,900 – $84,800 | $75,100 – $114,000 | $104,500 – $143,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $71,600 – $132,500 | $117,000 – $178,000 | $163,000 – $223,500 |
District of Columbia metro-by-metro prices
District of Columbia has one metro in our dataset, Washington, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $37,300 – $116,500 | $76,900 | −7% |
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 $66,000 to $100,500 for District of Columbia is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the inground pool numbers for District of Columbia 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 the District of Columbia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in the District of Columbia?
$40,300 to $126,000 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside the District of Columbia can sit above or below that.
+Which city in the District of Columbia is cheapest for inground pool?
Washington at about $76,900 (midpoint, 450 sq ft).
+Is inground pool cheaper in the District of Columbia than the US average?
It is 12% more expensive: $83,100 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in the District of Columbia?
About 54% ($45,100). Materials are 46%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.16x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in the District of Columbia?
The BLS statewide median is $24.05 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.80 to $28.41.
+Where does District of Columbia rank for inground pool costs?
11th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $83,100 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in the District of Columbia?
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.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in the District of Columbia?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the District of Columbia metros we cover, Washington 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 the District of Columbia
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.