Inground pool cost in Louisiana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $32,500 – $101,500
- Per sq ft
- $72 – $225
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 9
Across Louisiana, an inground pool costs about $32,500 to $101,500 for 450 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 10% below the US figure of $74,500. Construction laborers earn a median $18.38 an hour in Louisiana (US: $22.66).
Inside Louisiana, the metros we cover range from $64,700 (Monroe) to $69,200 (Lake Charles) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your inground pool cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Louisiana (statewide), standard level
$53,300 to $80,900
About $118 to $179 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,200 |
| Labor | $26,700 | $40,500 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $210 |
| Total | $53,300 | $80,900 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Louisiana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,600 | 50% |
| Labor | $16,400 | $33,600 | $50,800 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $260 | 0% |
| Total | $32,500 | $67,100 | $101,500 | 100% |
Wages behind the Louisiana number
Louisiana'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 0.87 times the national level.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $18.38 an hour, which is 19% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.59 and $22.74 an hour. BLS counts 22,100 of them working in the state, 114.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $24.86 an hour, 14% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.33 and $29.92 an hour. About 7,860 work in the state. That is 40.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 20%) the local median is $27.62 an hour, which is 8% below the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $29.23 an hour. BLS counts 240 of them working in the state, 1.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.62 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.40 and $35.99 an hour. About 8,360 work in the state. That is 43.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($22.74 an hour) would add about $3,000 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($16.59) would take off about $1,200. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,934,900 jobs across Louisiana (May 2025), which is 1.2% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $16.59 | $18.38 | $22.74 | $22.66 | 0.81 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.33 | $24.86 | $29.92 | $28.78 | 0.86 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $23.05 | $27.62 | $29.23 | $29.87 | 0.92 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $24.40 | $30.62 | $35.99 | $30.67 | 1.00 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: Louisiana 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
$32,500 to $60,200
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$53,300 to $80,900
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$74,000 to $101,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $28,900 – $53,500 | $47,400 – $72,000 | $65,800 – $90,400 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $37,000 – $68,400 | $60,600 – $92,000 | $84,200 – $115,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $57,700 – $107,000 | $94,600 – $143,500 | $131,500 – $180,500 |
Why two Louisiana 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.
If you are planning more than one job in Louisiana
Each project weights the trades differently, so Louisiana's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, retaining wall is −9% and concrete patio −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,350 – $10,200 | −11% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,850 | −11% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,500 | −12% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,700 – $13,400 | −11% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −11% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,350 – $12,300 | −9% |
Louisiana against its neighbors
Louisiana ranks 46 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. Louisiana sits at $67,100. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 130 miles away | $31,700 – $99,100 | $65,400 | −3% |
| Alabama | 310 miles away | $31,800 – $99,300 | $65,500 | −2% |
| Texas | 360 miles away | $33,400 – $104,500 | $68,800 | +3% |
| Arkansas | 360 miles away | $31,100 – $97,400 | $64,300 | −4% |
| Tennessee | 460 miles away | $34,300 – $107,000 | $70,800 | +5% |
When Louisiana weather lets you install
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and Louisiana 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.
New Orleans has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Louisiana at 10 months (September through June); Monroe has the shortest at 6 (March through May and September through November). Rainfall runs from 51 inches a year in Shreveport to 66 inches in Slidell.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 47 | 91 | 60 | 10: September through June |
| Baton Rouge | 42 | 92 | 62 | 9: September through May |
| Lafayette | 44 | 92 | 63 | 9: September through May |
| Shreveport | 37 | 94 | 51 | 6: February through May and October through November |
| Lake Charles | 43 | 92 | 60 | 9: September through May |
| Slidell | 42 | 90 | 66 | 10: September through June |
| Monroe | 37 | 93 | 55 | 6: March through May and September through November |
| Houma | 44 | 91 | 65 | 9: September through May |
| Alexandria | 39 | 92 | 61 | 8: February through June and September through November |
Louisiana metro-by-metro prices
3 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $67,100, and the top-to-bottom gap is 7%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | $33,500 – $105,000 | $69,200 | +3% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $33,500 – $104,500 | $69,100 | +3% |
| New Orleans, LA | $33,300 – $104,000 | $68,700 | +2% |
| Shreveport, LA | $32,400 – $101,000 | $66,800 | level |
| Slidell, LA | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,600 | −1% |
| Lafayette, LA | $32,200 – $101,000 | $66,500 | −1% |
| Houma, LA | $31,800 – $99,400 | $65,600 | −2% |
| Alexandria, LA | $31,500 – $98,300 | $64,900 | −3% |
| Monroe, LA | $31,400 – $98,100 | $64,700 | −4% |
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 $53,300 to $80,900 for Louisiana is attached.
Detailed inground pool report for Louisiana, $9
The report lays out the inground pool numbers for Louisiana line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Louisiana: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Louisiana?
$32,500 to $101,500 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Louisiana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Louisiana is cheapest for inground pool?
Monroe at about $64,700 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Lake Charles at $69,200.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Louisiana than the US average?
It is 10% cheaper: $67,100 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Louisiana?
About 50% ($33,600). Materials are 50%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.87x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Louisiana?
The BLS statewide median is $18.38 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.59 to $22.74.
+Where does Louisiana rank for inground pool costs?
46th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $67,100 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Louisiana?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $32,500 to $60,200 and premium work $74,000 to $101,500. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in Louisiana?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Louisiana metros we cover, New Orleans has the most comfortable months (10 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 Louisiana
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.