Inground pool cost in Houma, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $31,800 – $99,400
- Per sq ft
- $70.50 – $220
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #272
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install an inground pool in Houma, plan on $31,800 to $99,400 for 450 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $70.50 to $220 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.74 an hour in the Houma area, 22% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Houma, LA, standard level
$52,100 to $79,100
About $115 to $175 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,200 |
| Labor | $25,600 | $38,700 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $200 |
| Total | $52,100 | $79,100 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Houma, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,600 | 51% |
| Labor | $15,700 | $32,100 | $48,600 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $170 | $260 | 0% |
| Total | $31,800 | $65,600 | $99,400 | 100% |
Why Houma prices look the way they do
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, Houma wages are 0.83 times the national level. Labor makes up about 49% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Houma metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $33,300, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (85.1) and land at $85 to $260.
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 Houma. The wage table below marks each row.
Houma against nearby metros and the rest of Louisiana
Same job, same size (450 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Baton Rouge is the priciest of the group at $69,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houma, LAthis page | $31,800 – $99,400 | $65,600 | |
| New Orleans, LA75 miles | $33,300 – $104,000 | $68,700 | +5% |
| Baton Rouge, LA85 miles | $33,500 – $104,500 | $69,100 | +5% |
| Lafayette, LA90 miles | $32,200 – $101,000 | $66,500 | +1% |
| Slidell, LA90 miles | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,600 | +2% |
| Gulfport, MS135 miles | $32,200 – $101,000 | $66,500 | +1% |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,100 | +2% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +13% |
Across 300 US metros, Houma comes in at #272 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Houma is 2% below the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $33,300 – $104,000 | $68,700 | +5% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $33,500 – $104,500 | $69,100 | +5% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $32,200 – $101,000 | $66,500 | +1% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $32,400 – $101,000 | $66,800 | +2% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $33,500 – $105,000 | $69,200 | +5% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,600 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Houma's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Houma against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $39,500 – $123,000 | $81,300 | +24% |
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $34,500 – $108,000 | $71,200 | +8% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $39,700 – $124,000 | $81,700 | +25% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $33,300 – $104,000 | $68,700 | +5% |
Inground pool: what moves the price in Houma
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.
Houma: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Houma 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
$31,800 to $58,800
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$52,100 to $79,100
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$72,400 to $99,400
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $28,300 – $52,300 | $46,300 – $70,400 | $64,300 – $88,400 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $36,200 – $66,900 | $59,200 – $90,000 | $82,300 – $113,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $56,500 – $104,500 | $92,500 – $140,500 | $128,500 – $176,500 |
Houma 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 Houma is 0.83 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $17.74 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.80 and $21.44 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 105.5 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 $23.55 an hour, which is 18% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.25 and $28.47 an hour. BLS counts 710 of them working in the area, 85.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Houma 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.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $26.56 an hour, which is 13% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.84 and $28.79 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the area, 55.1 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 ($21.44 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $2,550. At the 25th percentile ($16.80) it shrinks by about $640. The total moves by 3.9% or 1.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 83,440 jobs in the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux area. That makes it the 230th 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% | $16.80 | $17.74 | $21.44 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.25 | $23.55 | $28.47 | $28.78 | 0.82 | 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% | $22.84 | $26.56 | $28.79 | $30.67 | 0.87 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Houma
Because every project leans on different trades, Houma's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, retaining wall runs −10% and concrete patio −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,350 – $10,200 | −11% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,650 – $4,750 | −12% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,450 | −13% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,600 – $13,200 | −13% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $530 – $1,850 | −12% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,300 – $12,200 | −10% |
Climate in Houma: timing your inground pool job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Houma (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Houma (9 of 12 months). 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.
Houma gets about 65 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (9.1 inches in July). Inside the workable window, April and December are the driest, at 4.0 and 4.2 inches. The station averages about 76 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 | 64 | 44 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 48 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 54 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| May | 85 | 67 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 73 | 8.4 | Hot |
| Jul | 91 | 74 | 9.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 75 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 71 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 82 | 61 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 52 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 66 | 46 | 4.2 | Workable |
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Inground pool in Houma: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Houma?
For 450 sq ft, expect $31,800 to $99,400 in the Houma area. A standard-spec job lands at $52,100 to $79,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Houma?
About $70.50 to $220 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $85 to $260 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Houma or New Orleans?
New Orleans is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $68,700, which is 5% more than Houma ($65,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Houma?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $32,100 out of $65,600. Materials are 51% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Houma?
$36,200 to $113,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Houma?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $85 to $260 for fees in the Houma area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Houma expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Houma is 2% below 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 Houma?
The BLS median is $17.74 an hour in the Houma area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.80 to $21.44.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Houma?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $31,800 to $58,800 and premium work $72,400 to $99,400. 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 Houma?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. April and December 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 Houma
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.