Inground pool cost in Baton Rouge, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $33,500 – $104,500
- Per sq ft
- $74.50 – $232
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #204
- 1 = most expensive
An inground pool in Baton Rouge, LA usually costs $33,500 to $104,500 for 450 sq ft. That works out to about $74.50 to $232 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $5,300 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.58 an hour in the Baton Rouge area, 18% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Baton Rouge, LA, standard level
$54,900 to $83,400
About $122 to $185 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,200 |
| Labor | $28,300 | $42,900 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $54,900 | $83,400 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Baton Rouge, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,600 | 48% |
| Labor | $17,400 | $35,600 | $53,900 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $270 | 0% |
| Total | $33,500 | $69,100 | $104,500 | 100% |
Where the Baton Rouge price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 4 trades: construction laborers at 40%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, brickmasons and blockmasons at 20%, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 10%. Weighted together, Baton Rouge wages are 0.92 times the national level. Labor makes up about 52% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Baton Rouge is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $33,300 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 90.8: $90 to $270.
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 Baton Rouge. The wage table below marks each row.
Related projects, priced for Baton Rouge
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Baton Rouge wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, concrete patio comes out highest (−5%) and paver patio lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,450 – $10,400 | −9% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,900 | −10% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,200 – $3,800 | −5% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,950 – $13,900 | −8% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,900 | −9% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,450 – $12,400 | −8% |
What local crews earn in Baton Rouge
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 4 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Baton Rouge the blend is 0.92.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $18.58 an hour, which is 18% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.59 and $22.72 an hour. BLS counts 6,300 of them working in the area, 153.8 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 $27.99 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.59 and $31.00 an hour. About 2,260 work in the metro. That is 55.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Baton Rouge metro, so we used the Louisiana statewide median: $27.62 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $29.23 an hour.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $35.69 an hour, 16% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $30.03 and $37.19 an hour. About 2,790 work in the metro. That is 68.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $2,850 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,350. That is a swing of roughly 2.0% to 4.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Baton Rouge has 409,690 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 60th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $16.59 | $18.58 | $22.72 | $22.66 | 0.82 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.59 | $27.99 | $31.00 | $28.78 | 0.97 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $23.05 | $27.62 | $29.23 | $29.87 | 0.92 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $30.03 | $35.69 | $37.19 | $30.67 | 1.16 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Baton Rouge weather and the inground pool calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Baton Rouge Ryan Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in Baton Rouge are September through May: 9 of 12. Outside them, June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in June, July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Baton Rouge gets about 62 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, June and August (6.5 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and November are the driest, at 4.4 and 3.9 inches. The station averages about 96 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 42 | 6.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 45 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 51 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 57 | 5.1 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 65 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 72 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 6.4 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 69 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 81 | 58 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 48 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 43 | 5.3 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: inground pool pricing in Baton Rouge
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Baton Rouge. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small pool (400 sq ft) to large (800 sq ft).
Basic
$33,500 to $62,000
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$54,900 to $83,400
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$76,300 to $104,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $29,800 – $55,100 | $48,800 – $74,100 | $67,800 – $93,100 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $38,100 – $70,500 | $62,400 – $94,800 | $86,700 – $119,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $59,500 – $110,000 | $97,500 – $148,000 | $135,500 – $186,000 |
How Baton Rouge compares
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Baton Rouge. Hattiesburg is the lowest at about $64,300 (midpoint, 450 sq ft), 120 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LAthis page | $33,500 – $104,500 | $69,100 | |
| Lafayette, LA70 miles | $32,200 – $101,000 | $66,500 | −4% |
| Slidell, LA70 miles | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,600 | −4% |
| Houma, LA85 miles | $31,800 – $99,400 | $65,600 | −5% |
| Alexandria, LA100 miles | $31,500 – $98,300 | $64,900 | −6% |
| Hattiesburg, MS120 miles | $31,200 – $97,500 | $64,300 | −7% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,100 | −3% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Baton Rouge ranks #204 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Baton Rouge is 3% above the Louisiana figure.
Elsewhere in Louisiana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $33,300 – $104,000 | $68,700 | −1% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $32,200 – $101,000 | $66,500 | −4% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $32,400 – $101,000 | $66,800 | −3% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $33,500 – $105,000 | $69,200 | level |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,600 | −4% |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $31,400 – $98,100 | $64,700 | −6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Baton Rouge against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $34,200 – $107,000 | $70,600 | +2% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $40,700 – $127,000 | $83,800 | +21% |
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $32,900 – $102,500 | $67,800 | −2% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $32,400 – $101,500 | $66,900 | −3% |
Why two Baton Rouge 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.
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Inground pool in Baton Rouge: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Baton Rouge?
For 450 sq ft, expect $33,500 to $104,500 in the Baton Rouge area. A standard-spec job lands at $54,900 to $83,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Baton Rouge?
About $74.50 to $232 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $90 to $270 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Baton Rouge or Lafayette?
Lafayette is 70 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $66,500, which is 4% less than Baton Rouge ($69,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Baton Rouge?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $35,600 out of $69,100. Materials are 48% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Baton Rouge?
$38,100 to $119,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Baton Rouge?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $90 to $270 for fees in the Baton Rouge area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Baton Rouge expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Baton Rouge is 3% above the Louisiana statewide estimate ($67,100 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Baton Rouge?
The BLS median is $18.58 an hour in the Baton Rouge area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.59 to $22.72.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Baton Rouge?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $33,500 to $62,000 and premium work $76,300 to $104,500. 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 Baton Rouge?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. September and November 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 Baton Rouge
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.