Inground pool cost in Dalton, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $30,600 – $95,700
- Per sq ft
- $67.50 – $212
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −15%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #298
- 1 = most expensive
An inground pool in Dalton, GA usually costs $30,600 to $95,700 for 450 sq ft. That works out to about $67.50 to $212 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $11,300 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $16.98 an hour in the Dalton area, 25% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Dalton, GA, standard level
$50,100 to $76,100
About $111 to $169 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,100 | $41,300 |
| Labor | $22,800 | $34,600 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $220 |
| Total | $50,100 | $76,100 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Dalton, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $34,200 | $52,000 | 54% |
| Labor | $14,000 | $28,700 | $43,400 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $270 | 0% |
| Total | $30,600 | $63,100 | $95,700 | 100% |
Why Dalton prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 4 trades: construction laborers at 40%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, brickmasons and blockmasons at 20%, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 10%. Weighted together, Dalton wages are 0.74 times the national level. Labor makes up about 45% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Dalton is at 96.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $34,200 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 89.8: $90 to $270.
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 Dalton. The wage table below marks each row.
Dalton: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Dalton. 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
$30,600 to $56,600
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$50,100 to $76,100
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$69,600 to $95,700
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $27,200 – $50,300 | $44,500 – $67,700 | $61,900 – $85,100 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $34,800 – $64,400 | $57,000 – $86,600 | $79,200 – $109,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $54,300 – $100,500 | $88,900 – $135,000 | $123,500 – $170,000 |
What local crews earn in Dalton
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 Dalton the blend is 0.74.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $16.98 an hour, which is 25% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $12.27 and $20.63 an hour. BLS counts 240 of them working in the area, 36.8 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 $19.65 an hour, 32% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.28 and $23.07 an hour. About 200 work in the metro. That is 30.6 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 Dalton metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median: $24.35 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.00 and $32.90 an hour.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $22.77 an hour, 26% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $18.51 and $29.23 an hour. About 90 work in the metro. That is 13.8 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 $2,500 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $3,200. That is a swing of roughly 5.1% to 4.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Dalton has 65,300 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 276th 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% | $12.27 | $16.98 | $20.63 | $22.66 | 0.75 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $18.28 | $19.65 | $23.07 | $28.78 | 0.68 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $18.00 | $24.35 | $32.90 | $29.87 | 0.82 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $18.51 | $22.77 | $29.23 | $30.67 | 0.74 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.74 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Dalton
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Dalton wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, aluminum fence comes out highest (−11%) and wood deck lowest (−15%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,350 – $10,200 | −11% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,700 | −14% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,400 | −14% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,450 – $12,900 | −15% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,800 | −14% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $5,950 – $11,900 | −13% |
How Dalton compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Dalton. Gainesville comes closest at about $65,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, GAthis page | $30,600 – $95,700 | $63,100 | |
| Chattanooga, TN35 miles | $34,200 – $107,000 | $70,500 | +12% |
| Gainesville, GA70 miles | $31,900 – $99,700 | $65,800 | +4% |
| Atlanta, GA80 miles | $33,900 – $106,000 | $69,900 | +11% |
| Knoxville, TN95 miles | $34,200 – $107,000 | $70,600 | +12% |
| Huntsville, AL105 miles | $32,000 – $99,900 | $65,900 | +4% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $32,600 – $102,000 | $67,200 | +7% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +18% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Dalton ranks #298 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Dalton is 6% below the Georgia figure.
Elsewhere in Georgia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $33,900 – $106,000 | $69,900 | +11% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $32,000 – $100,000 | $66,100 | +5% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $32,100 – $100,500 | $66,200 | +5% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $31,200 – $97,600 | $64,400 | +2% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $31,900 – $99,700 | $65,800 | +4% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $31,500 – $98,500 | $65,000 | +3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dalton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $39,400 – $123,000 | $81,300 | +29% |
| Terre Haute, IN | 65,120 jobs | $36,500 – $114,000 | $75,200 | +19% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,500 | +9% |
| Muskegon, MI | 62,340 jobs | $35,400 – $110,500 | $73,000 | +16% |
Inground pool: what moves the price in Dalton
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.
Dalton 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, Chattanooga Lovell Ap (20 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 Dalton are March through June and September through October: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below, and 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.
Dalton gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.3 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 58 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 | 51 | 32 | 5.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 56 | 36 | 5.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 64 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 40 | 4.8 | Cold |
| Dec | 53 | 35 | 5.3 | Cold |
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Inground pool in Dalton: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Dalton?
For 450 sq ft, expect $30,600 to $95,700 in the Dalton area. A standard-spec job lands at $50,100 to $76,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Dalton?
About $67.50 to $212 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $90 to $270 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Dalton or Chattanooga?
Chattanooga is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $70,500, which is 12% more than Dalton ($63,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dalton?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $28,700 out of $63,100. Materials are 54% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Dalton?
$34,800 to $109,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Dalton?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $90 to $270 for fees in the Dalton area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dalton expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Georgia?
Dalton is 6% below the Georgia statewide estimate ($67,200 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Georgia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Dalton?
The BLS median is $16.98 an hour in the Dalton area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $12.27 to $20.63.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Dalton?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $30,600 to $56,600 and premium work $69,600 to $95,700. 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 Dalton?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through June and September through October. May 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 Dalton
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.