Inground pool cost in Illinois
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $45,300 – $141,500
- Per sq ft
- $100 – $313
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +25%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 6
Across Illinois, an inground pool costs about $45,300 to $141,500 for 450 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 25% above the US figure of $74,500. Construction laborers earn a median $29.18 an hour in Illinois (US: $22.66).
Inside Illinois, the metros we cover range from $87,000 (Rockford) to $95,800 (Chicago) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Illinois (statewide), standard level
$74,100 to $112,500
About $164 to $249 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $29,200 | $44,600 |
| Labor | $44,700 | $67,700 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $240 |
| Total | $74,100 | $112,500 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Illinois
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,800 | $36,900 | $56,100 | 40% |
| Labor | $27,400 | $56,200 | $84,900 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $200 | $300 | 0% |
| Total | $45,300 | $93,300 | $141,500 | 100% |
Related projects, priced for Illinois
Each project weights the trades differently, so Illinois's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, retaining wall is +22% and aluminum fence +13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $12,900 | +13% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,600 – $6,500 | +20% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,450 – $4,850 | +20% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,700 – $17,500 | +15% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $720 – $2,500 | +19% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $9,000 – $16,000 | +22% |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in Illinois
Illinois'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 1.45 times the national level.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $29.18 an hour, which is 29% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $45.79 an hour. BLS counts 35,940 of them working in the state, 58.9 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 $46.99 an hour, 63% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $33.28 and $52.56 an hour. About 12,290 work in the state. That is 20.2 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 $43.26 an hour, which is 45% above the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $30.02 and $49.16 an hour. BLS counts 2,490 of them working in the state, 4.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $48.05 an hour, 57% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $34.65 and $57.72 an hour. About 16,750 work in the state. That is 27.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($45.79 an hour) would add about $11,300 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.14) would take off about $4,800. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,098,130 jobs across Illinois (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.14 | $29.18 | $45.79 | $22.66 | 1.29 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $33.28 | $46.99 | $52.56 | $28.78 | 1.63 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $30.02 | $43.26 | $49.16 | $29.87 | 1.45 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $34.65 | $48.05 | $57.72 | $30.67 | 1.57 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.45 | |||||
How Illinois compares with nearby states
Illinois ranks 2 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. Illinois sits at $93,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 120 miles away | $39,600 – $123,500 | $81,600 | −12% |
| Indiana | 140 miles away | $38,700 – $121,000 | $79,800 | −14% |
| Michigan | 220 miles away | $36,600 – $114,500 | $75,500 | −19% |
| Iowa | 240 miles away | $35,700 – $111,500 | $73,600 | −21% |
| Kentucky | 280 miles away | $34,800 – $109,000 | $71,900 | −23% |
Basic, standard or premium: Illinois 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
$45,300 to $83,700
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$74,100 to $112,500
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$103,000 to $141,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $40,300 – $74,400 | $65,900 – $100,000 | $91,500 – $125,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $51,500 – $95,200 | $84,300 – $128,000 | $117,000 – $160,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $80,400 – $148,500 | $131,500 – $200,000 | $182,500 – $251,000 |
Why two Illinois 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.
Illinois seasons and inground pool
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and Illinois 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.
Chicago has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Illinois at 7 months (April through October); Bloomington has the shortest at 6 (May through October). Rainfall runs from 34 inches a year in Chicago to 40 inches in Springfield.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 19 | 85 | 34 | 7: April through October |
| Peoria | 18 | 86 | 38 | 7: April through October |
| Rockford | 15 | 84 | 37 | 6: May through October |
| Champaign | 18 | 85 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Springfield | 19 | 86 | 40 | 7: April through October |
| Bloomington | 16 | 86 | 39 | 6: May through October |
Which Illinois city is cheapest for inground pool?
1 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $93,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 10%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $46,500 – $145,000 | $95,800 | +3% |
| Springfield, IL | $43,300 – $135,000 | $89,100 | −5% |
| Bloomington, IL | $42,700 – $133,000 | $88,000 | −6% |
| Peoria, IL | $42,400 – $132,000 | $87,300 | −6% |
| Champaign, IL | $42,300 – $132,000 | $87,200 | −7% |
| Rockford, IL | $42,200 – $131,500 | $87,000 | −7% |
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Detailed inground pool report for Illinois, $9
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Inground pool in Illinois: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Illinois?
$45,300 to $141,500 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Illinois can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Illinois is cheapest for inground pool?
Rockford at about $87,000 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Chicago at $95,800.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Illinois than the US average?
It is 25% more expensive: $93,300 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Illinois?
About 60% ($56,200). Materials are 40%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.45x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Illinois?
The BLS statewide median is $29.18 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.14 to $45.79.
+Where does Illinois rank for inground pool costs?
2nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $93,300 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Illinois?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $45,300 to $83,700 and premium work $103,000 to $141,500. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in Illinois?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Illinois metros we cover, Chicago 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 Illinois
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.