Inground pool cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $35,700 – $111,500
- Per sq ft
- $79 – $247
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 7
What does it cost to install an inground pool in Iowa? Plan on $35,700 to $111,500 for 450 sq ft. Wages (1.04x the US blend), materials (price index 93.7) and permit costs (87.8) put the state below the national midpoint by 1%.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $73,400 (Iowa City) to $81,300 (Waterloo) 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 Iowa (statewide), standard level
$58,500 to $88,800
About $130 to $197 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,200 |
| Labor | $31,900 | $48,400 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $210 |
| Total | $58,500 | $88,800 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,600 | 45% |
| Labor | $19,600 | $40,200 | $60,700 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $260 | 0% |
| Total | $35,700 | $73,600 | $111,500 | 100% |
Related projects, priced for Iowa
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Iowa wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (level) and wood deck lowest (−5%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,650 – $10,900 | −4% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,000 – $5,450 | level |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,900 | −3% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,200 – $14,400 | −5% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,100 | −1% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,150 – $13,300 | level |
Quality levels and sizes in Iowa
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Iowa wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$35,700 to $66,100
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$58,500 to $88,800
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$81,200 to $111,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $31,800 – $58,700 | $52,000 – $79,000 | $72,200 – $99,200 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $40,600 – $75,100 | $66,500 – $101,000 | $92,400 – $127,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $63,400 – $117,500 | $104,000 – $157,500 | $144,500 – $198,000 |
Iowa versus the states around it
Iowa ranks 26 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. Iowa sits at $73,600. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 190 miles away | $34,800 – $109,000 | $71,800 | −3% |
| Missouri | 220 miles away | $37,800 – $118,000 | $77,900 | +6% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $39,600 – $123,500 | $81,600 | +11% |
| Minnesota | 240 miles away | $43,000 – $134,500 | $88,700 | +20% |
| Illinois | 240 miles away | $45,300 – $141,500 | $93,300 | +27% |
Wages behind the Iowa number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 4 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.04 for Iowa.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.31 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $28.11 an hour. About 13,780 work in the state. That is 88.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $29.01 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.77 and $34.93 an hour. BLS counts 5,530 of them working in the state, 35.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 20% of the weighting: a median of $33.38 an hour, 12% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $25.77 and $36.59 an hour. About 290 work in the state. That is 1.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.72 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.95 and $41.02 an hour. BLS counts 5,730 of them working in the state, 36.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($28.11 an hour) would add about $3,300 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.90) would take off about $960. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.90 | $23.31 | $28.11 | $22.66 | 1.03 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $25.77 | $29.01 | $34.93 | $28.78 | 1.01 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $25.77 | $33.38 | $36.59 | $29.87 | 1.12 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $24.95 | $30.72 | $41.02 | $30.67 | 1.00 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Iowa seasons and inground pool
Season matters for inground pool. For each Iowa metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Des Moines has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Iowa at 7 months (April through October); Dubuque has the shortest at 5 (May through September). Rainfall runs from 29 inches a year in Sioux City to 38 inches in Dubuque.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 14 | 86 | 37 | 7: April through October |
| Davenport | 14 | 84 | 36 | 6: May through October |
| Cedar Rapids | 11 | 83 | 36 | 5: May through September |
| Iowa City | 15 | 86 | 36 | 6: May through October |
| Waterloo | 11 | 85 | 36 | 5: May through September |
| Sioux City | 10 | 85 | 29 | 5: May through September |
| Dubuque | 11 | 82 | 38 | 5: May through September |
Inground pool: what moves the price in Iowa
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.
Inground pool cost by metro in Iowa
4 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $73,600, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IA | $39,500 – $123,000 | $81,300 | +10% |
| Davenport, IA | $37,500 – $117,000 | $77,400 | +5% |
| Des Moines, IA | $36,900 – $115,000 | $76,100 | +3% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $36,600 – $114,500 | $75,500 | +2% |
| Dubuque, IA | $35,900 – $112,000 | $74,000 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | $35,600 – $111,000 | $73,400 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | $35,600 – $111,000 | $73,400 | level |
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Detailed inground pool report for Iowa, $9
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Inground pool in Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Iowa?
$35,700 to $111,500 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for inground pool?
Iowa City at about $73,400 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Waterloo at $81,300.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 1% cheaper: $73,600 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 55% ($40,200). Materials are 45%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.04x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $23.31 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.90 to $28.11.
+Where does Iowa rank for inground pool costs?
26th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $73,600 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Iowa?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $35,700 to $66,100 and premium work $81,200 to $111,500. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in Iowa?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Iowa metros we cover, Des Moines 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 Iowa
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.