Inground pool cost in Chicago, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $46,500 – $145,000
- Per sq ft
- $103 – $322
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +29%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #5
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install an inground pool in Chicago, plan on $46,500 to $145,000 for 450 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $103 to $322 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 29% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $29.27 an hour in the Chicago area, 29% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Chicago, IL, standard level
$76,100 to $115,500
About $169 to $256 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $30,200 | $46,000 |
| Labor | $45,700 | $69,200 |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $250 |
| Total | $76,100 | $115,500 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Chicago, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $18,300 | $38,100 | $57,900 | 40% |
| Labor | $28,100 | $57,500 | $86,900 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $210 | $310 | 0% |
| Total | $46,500 | $95,800 | $145,000 | 100% |
Where the Chicago 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 $29.27 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Chicago is 1.49 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 60% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Chicago metro is 107.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $38,100, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (103.6) and land at $100 to $310.
How Chicago compares
Same job, same size (450 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Chicago is the priciest of the group. Niles is the cheapest at $71,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, ILthis page | $46,500 – $145,000 | $95,800 | |
| Niles, MI55 miles | $34,900 – $109,000 | $71,900 | −25% |
| Kenosha, WI55 miles | $40,400 – $126,000 | $83,300 | −13% |
| Racine, WI70 miles | $40,600 – $126,500 | $83,500 | −13% |
| Rockford, IL75 miles | $42,200 – $131,500 | $87,000 | −9% |
| Milwaukee, WI80 miles | $41,200 – $128,500 | $84,900 | −11% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $45,300 – $141,500 | $93,300 | −3% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −22% |
Across 300 US metros, Chicago comes in at #5 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Chicago is 3% above the Illinois figure.
Other Illinois metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $42,400 – $132,000 | $87,300 | −9% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $42,200 – $131,500 | $87,000 | −9% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $42,300 – $132,000 | $87,200 | −9% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $43,300 – $135,000 | $89,100 | −7% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $42,700 – $133,000 | $88,000 | −8% |
Cities with a workforce like Chicago's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chicago against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $42,500 – $133,000 | $87,700 | −8% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $35,000 – $109,500 | $72,300 | −25% |
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $45,700 – $143,000 | $94,200 | −2% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $34,000 – $106,500 | $70,200 | −27% |
Climate in Chicago: timing your inground pool job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Chicago Midway Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Chicago (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.
Chicago gets about 34 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.1 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 2.8 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 20 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 | 33 | 19 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 23 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 32 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 60 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 52 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 62 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 66 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 59 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 47 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 35 | 2.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 25 | 1.8 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for Chicago
Because every project leans on different trades, Chicago's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs +25% and aluminum fence +17%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,500 – $13,300 | +17% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,650 – $6,600 | +22% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,500 – $5,000 | +24% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,900 – $17,900 | +18% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $740 – $2,600 | +24% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $9,150 – $16,400 | +25% |
Chicago 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 Chicago is 1.49 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $29.27 an hour, 29% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.25 and $48.44 an hour. About 26,690 work in the metro. That is 59.1 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 $49.57 an hour, which is 72% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $37.78 and $56.42 an hour. BLS counts 7,930 of them working in the area, 17.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 20% of the weighting: a median of $43.26 an hour, 45% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $29.78 and $49.31 an hour. About 2,140 work in the metro. That is 4.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $49.70 an hour, which is 62% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $35.72 and $58.91 an hour. BLS counts 12,750 of them working in the area, 28.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($48.44 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $13,100. At the 25th percentile ($22.25) it shrinks by about $4,800. The total moves by 13.7% or 5.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 4,513,280 jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area. That makes it the 3rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 2.90% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.25 | $29.27 | $48.44 | $22.66 | 1.29 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $37.78 | $49.57 | $56.42 | $28.78 | 1.72 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $29.78 | $43.26 | $49.31 | $29.87 | 1.45 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $35.72 | $49.70 | $58.91 | $30.67 | 1.62 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.49 | |||||
Chicago: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Chicago 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
$46,500 to $86,000
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$76,100 to $115,500
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$105,500 to $145,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $41,400 – $76,400 | $67,700 – $102,500 | $94,000 – $129,000 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $52,900 – $97,800 | $86,600 – $131,500 | $120,000 – $165,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $82,600 – $152,500 | $135,000 – $205,000 | $187,500 – $257,500 |
Why two Chicago 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.
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 $76,100 to $115,500 for Chicago, IL is attached.
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Multi-page report for Chicago, IL: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Chicago: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Chicago?
For 450 sq ft, expect $46,500 to $145,000 in the Chicago area. A standard-spec job lands at $76,100 to $115,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Chicago?
About $103 to $322 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $100 to $310 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Chicago or Niles?
Niles is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $71,900, which is 25% less than Chicago ($95,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chicago?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $57,500 out of $95,800. Materials are 40% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Chicago?
$52,900 to $165,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Chicago?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $100 to $310 for fees in the Chicago area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chicago expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Illinois?
Chicago is 3% above the Illinois statewide estimate ($93,300 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Illinois; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Chicago?
The BLS median is $29.27 an hour in the Chicago area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.25 to $48.44.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Chicago?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $46,500 to $86,000 and premium work $105,500 to $145,000. 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 Chicago?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September 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 Chicago
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.