Inground pool cost in Bloomington, IN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $37,200 – $116,500
- Per sq ft
- $82.50 – $258
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #111
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install an inground pool in Bloomington, plan on $37,200 to $116,500 for 450 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $82.50 to $258 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 3% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.42 an hour in the Bloomington area, 3% above the US median of $22.66.
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Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Bloomington, IN, standard level
$61,000 to $92,600
About $135 to $205 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,600 | $40,500 |
| Labor | $34,200 | $51,800 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $230 |
| Total | $61,000 | $92,600 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Bloomington, IN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,100 | $33,500 | $50,900 | 44% |
| Labor | $21,000 | $43,000 | $65,100 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $290 | 0% |
| Total | $37,200 | $76,800 | $116,500 | 100% |
Why Bloomington prices look the way they do
Labor is 56% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (40%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), brickmasons and blockmasons (20%), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Bloomington the blended ratio comes out at 1.11.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bloomington metro is 94.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $33,500, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (95.1) and land at $95 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 Bloomington. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Bloomington 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.
Related projects, priced for Bloomington
Because every project leans on different trades, Bloomington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +4% and aluminum fence −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,100 | −3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,550 | +2% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | +2% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,350 – $14,800 | −2% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $620 – $2,200 | +4% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,350 – $13,500 | +2% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: inground pool pricing in Bloomington
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bloomington 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
$37,200 to $68,900
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$61,000 to $92,600
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$84,700 to $116,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $33,100 – $61,200 | $54,200 – $82,300 | $75,300 – $103,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $42,400 – $78,300 | $69,300 – $105,500 | $96,300 – $132,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $66,100 – $122,500 | $108,000 – $164,500 | $150,500 – $206,500 |
Climate in Bloomington: timing your inground pool job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Bloomington Indiana Univ (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 Bloomington (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.
Bloomington gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 18 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (5.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, August and September are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.8 inches. The station averages about 21 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 | 37 | 21 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 42 | 23 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 32 | 3.7 | Cold |
| Apr | 64 | 42 | 5.2 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 53 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 62 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 65 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 64 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 56 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 34 | 3.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 41 | 26 | 3.5 | Cold |
Bloomington 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 Bloomington is 1.11 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.42 an hour, 3% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.28 and $30.52 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 49.2 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 $29.87 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.64 and $42.78 an hour. BLS counts 230 of them working in the area, 31.4 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 Bloomington metro, so we used the Indiana statewide median: $35.15 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.39 and $38.56 an hour.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $46.63 an hour, which is 52% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $30.76 and $47.47 an hour. BLS counts 320 of them working in the area, 43.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.52 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $4,850. At the 25th percentile ($19.28) it shrinks by about $2,850. The total moves by 6.3% or 3.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 73,240 jobs in the Bloomington area. That makes it the 251st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $19.28 | $23.42 | $30.52 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.64 | $29.87 | $42.78 | $28.78 | 1.04 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $27.39 | $35.15 | $38.56 | $29.87 | 1.18 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $30.76 | $46.63 | $47.47 | $30.67 | 1.52 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
Is Bloomington cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Bloomington. Louisville is the lowest at about $74,100 (midpoint, 450 sq ft), 90 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bloomington, INthis page | $37,200 – $116,500 | $76,800 | |
| Terre Haute, IN40 miles | $36,500 – $114,000 | $75,200 | −2% |
| Indianapolis, IN50 miles | $38,900 – $121,500 | $80,200 | +4% |
| Louisville, KY90 miles | $35,900 – $112,500 | $74,100 | −3% |
| Lafayette, IN90 miles | $37,700 – $117,500 | $77,600 | +1% |
| Evansville, IN95 miles | $38,800 – $121,000 | $80,000 | +4% |
| Indiana (statewide) | $38,700 – $121,000 | $79,800 | +4% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −3% |
Across 300 US metros, Bloomington comes in at #111 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Bloomington is 4% below the Indiana figure.
Other Indiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 1,105,170 jobs | $38,900 – $121,500 | $80,200 | +4% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | 225,520 jobs | $37,400 – $116,500 | $77,000 | level |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $38,800 – $121,000 | $80,000 | +4% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $38,700 – $120,500 | $79,700 | +4% |
| Elkhart, IN | 127,730 jobs | $36,100 – $112,500 | $74,400 | −3% |
| Lafayette, IN | 102,200 jobs | $37,700 – $117,500 | $77,600 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Bloomington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bloomington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $50,900 – $159,000 | $105,000 | +37% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $31,400 – $98,100 | $64,700 | −16% |
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $34,800 – $109,000 | $71,800 | −6% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $35,100 – $109,500 | $72,300 | −6% |
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 $61,000 to $92,600 for Bloomington, IN is attached.
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Inground pool in Bloomington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Bloomington?
For 450 sq ft, expect $37,200 to $116,500 in the Bloomington area. A standard-spec job lands at $61,000 to $92,600. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Bloomington?
About $82.50 to $258 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $95 to $290 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Bloomington or Terre Haute?
Terre Haute is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $75,200, which is 2% less than Bloomington ($76,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bloomington?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $43,000 out of $76,800. Materials are 44% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Bloomington?
$42,400 to $132,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Bloomington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $95 to $290 for fees in the Bloomington area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bloomington expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Indiana?
Bloomington is 4% below the Indiana statewide estimate ($79,800 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Indiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Bloomington?
The BLS median is $23.42 an hour in the Bloomington area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.28 to $30.52.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Bloomington?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $37,200 to $68,900 and premium work $84,700 to $116,500. 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 Bloomington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. August and September 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 Bloomington
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.