Inground pool cost in Minnesota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $43,000 – $134,500
- Per sq ft
- $95.50 – $298
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +19%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 4
Across Minnesota, an inground pool costs about $43,000 to $134,500 for 450 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 19% above the US figure of $74,500. Construction laborers earn a median $28.97 an hour in Minnesota (US: $22.66).
Inside Minnesota, the metros we cover range from $84,000 (Duluth) to $91,700 (Minneapolis) 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 Minnesota (statewide), standard level
$70,400 to $107,000
About $156 to $237 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $28,300 | $43,200 |
| Labor | $41,900 | $63,500 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $240 |
| Total | $70,400 | $107,000 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Minnesota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,200 | $35,700 | $54,300 | 40% |
| Labor | $25,800 | $52,700 | $79,700 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $200 | $300 | 0% |
| Total | $43,000 | $88,700 | $134,500 | 100% |
Which Minnesota city is cheapest for inground pool?
1 of the 4 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $88,700, and the top-to-bottom gap is 9%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | $44,500 – $139,000 | $91,700 | +3% |
| Rochester, MN | $41,700 – $130,000 | $85,800 | −3% |
| St. Cloud, MN | $41,100 – $128,000 | $84,600 | −5% |
| Duluth, MN | $40,800 – $127,000 | $84,000 | −5% |
Inground pool: what moves the price in Minnesota
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.
Quality levels and sizes in Minnesota
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Minnesota wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$43,000 to $79,500
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$70,400 to $107,000
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$97,800 to $134,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $38,300 – $70,700 | $62,600 – $95,100 | $86,900 – $119,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $49,000 – $90,500 | $80,100 – $121,500 | $111,000 – $152,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $76,400 – $141,500 | $125,000 – $190,000 | $173,500 – $238,500 |
Wages behind the Minnesota 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 1.36 for Minnesota.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $28.97 an hour, 28% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.28 and $38.32 an hour. About 28,530 work in the state. That is 96.7 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 $38.04 an hour, which is 32% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $30.44 and $46.03 an hour. BLS counts 8,590 of them working in the state, 29.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 20% of the weighting: a median of $45.78 an hour, 53% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $40.81 and $47.51 an hour. About 1,040 work in the state. That is 3.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $45.39 an hour, which is 48% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.40 and $52.29 an hour. BLS counts 10,720 of them working in the state, 36.3 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 ($38.32 an hour) would add about $6,400 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.28) would take off about $3,900. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,949,820 jobs across Minnesota (May 2025), which is 1.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $23.28 | $28.97 | $38.32 | $22.66 | 1.28 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $30.44 | $38.04 | $46.03 | $28.78 | 1.32 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $40.81 | $45.78 | $47.51 | $29.87 | 1.53 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $29.40 | $45.39 | $52.29 | $30.67 | 1.48 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.36 | |||||
If you are planning more than one job in Minnesota
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Minnesota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+20%) and wood deck lowest (+5%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,050 – $12,100 | +6% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,600 – $6,550 | +20% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,350 – $4,450 | +11% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,950 – $15,900 | +5% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $720 – $2,500 | +20% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,800 – $15,600 | +19% |
Weather windows across Minnesota
Season matters for inground pool. For each Minnesota metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Minneapolis has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Minnesota at 6 months (May through October); St. Cloud has the shortest at 5 (May through September). Rainfall runs from 28 inches a year in St. Cloud to 35 inches in Rochester.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | 8 | 83 | 34 | 6: May through October |
| Duluth | 2 | 78 | 31 | 5: May through September |
| Rochester | 7 | 80 | 35 | 5: May through September |
| St. Cloud | 3 | 82 | 28 | 5: May through September |
How Minnesota compares with nearby states
Minnesota ranks 4 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. Minnesota sits at $88,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 240 miles away | $35,700 – $111,500 | $73,600 | −17% |
| Wisconsin | 260 miles away | $39,600 – $123,500 | $81,600 | −8% |
| North Dakota | 270 miles away | $37,000 – $115,500 | $76,200 | −14% |
| South Dakota | 290 miles away | $34,600 – $108,000 | $71,300 | −20% |
| Nebraska | 320 miles away | $34,800 – $109,000 | $71,800 | −19% |
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Inground pool in Minnesota: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Minnesota?
$43,000 to $134,500 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Minnesota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Minnesota is cheapest for inground pool?
Duluth at about $84,000 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Minneapolis at $91,700.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Minnesota than the US average?
It is 19% more expensive: $88,700 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Minnesota?
About 59% ($52,700). Materials are 40%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.36x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Minnesota?
The BLS statewide median is $28.97 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.28 to $38.32.
+Where does Minnesota rank for inground pool costs?
4th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $88,700 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Minnesota?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $43,000 to $79,500 and premium work $97,800 to $134,500. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in Minnesota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Minnesota metros we cover, Minneapolis has the most comfortable months (6 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 Minnesota
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.