Inground pool cost in Omaha, NE
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $35,400 – $110,500
- Per sq ft
- $78.50 – $245
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #155
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install an inground pool in Omaha, plan on $35,400 to $110,500 for 450 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $78.50 to $245 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.1).
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 Omaha, NE, standard level
$57,900 to $88,000
About $128 to $195 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,500 | $40,400 |
| Labor | $31,300 | $47,400 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $57,900 | $88,000 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Omaha, NE
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,100 | $33,400 | $50,800 | 46% |
| Labor | $19,200 | $39,300 | $59,400 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $280 | 0% |
| Total | $35,400 | $72,900 | $110,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Omaha number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 40% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.22 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Omaha is 1.02 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 54% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Omaha metro is 94.1 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $33,400, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.9) and land at $90 to $280.
Pick a size, pick a tier: inground pool pricing in Omaha
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Omaha 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
$35,400 to $65,400
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$57,900 to $88,000
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$80,400 to $110,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $31,500 – $58,200 | $51,500 – $78,200 | $71,500 – $98,200 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $40,200 – $74,400 | $65,900 – $100,000 | $91,500 – $125,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $62,800 – $116,000 | $103,000 – $156,000 | $143,000 – $196,000 |
Omaha 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 Omaha is 1.02 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.22 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.00 and $27.58 an hour. About 3,990 work in the metro. That is 80.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $28.86 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.14 and $31.54 an hour. BLS counts 1,380 of them working in the area, 27.7 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 $30.71 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $26.95 and $32.37 an hour. About 220 work in the metro. That is 4.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.48 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.63 and $44.62 an hour. BLS counts 2,430 of them working in the area, 48.8 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 ($27.58 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $3,000. At the 25th percentile ($20.00) it shrinks by about $2,200. The total moves by 4.1% or 3.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 498,100 jobs in the Omaha area. That makes it the 51st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.32% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $20.00 | $23.22 | $27.58 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.14 | $28.86 | $31.54 | $28.78 | 1.00 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $26.95 | $30.71 | $32.37 | $29.87 | 1.03 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $23.63 | $30.48 | $44.62 | $30.67 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Omaha bid
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.
Climate in Omaha: timing your inground pool job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Omaha Eppley Airfield (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Omaha (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below.
The 40°F line is a deliberately cautious stand-in. The American Concrete Institute's cold-weather guide (ACI 306R-16) defines cold-weather concreting around an average daily air temperature below 40°F, which is colder than our test of an average overnight low at or below 40°F, so we flag a few extra shoulder months. In cold weather crews may need heated enclosures, insulating blankets or accelerated mixes, and those measures can raise a quote.
Omaha gets about 32 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 27 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.7 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.0 and 2.3 inches. The station averages about 33 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 | 34 | 15 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 19 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 30 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 64 | 41 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 53 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 63 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 66 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 56 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 43 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 50 | 30 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 20 | 1.2 | Cold |
Is Omaha cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Omaha. Lincoln is the lowest at about $71,400 (midpoint, 450 sq ft), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NEthis page | $35,400 – $110,500 | $72,900 | |
| Lincoln, NE55 miles | $34,600 – $108,000 | $71,400 | −2% |
| Sioux City, IA85 miles | $35,600 – $111,000 | $73,400 | +1% |
| Des Moines, IA120 miles | $36,900 – $115,000 | $76,100 | +4% |
| Topeka, KS155 miles | $35,000 – $109,500 | $72,200 | −1% |
| Sioux Falls, SD160 miles | $35,100 – $109,500 | $72,300 | −1% |
| Nebraska (statewide) | $34,800 – $109,000 | $71,800 | −2% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +2% |
Across 300 US metros, Omaha comes in at #155 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Omaha is 2% above the Nebraska figure.
Other Nebraska metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln, NE | 182,620 jobs | $34,600 – $108,000 | $71,400 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Omaha's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Omaha against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $32,700 – $102,000 | $67,500 | −7% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $38,000 – $118,500 | $78,200 | +7% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,500 | +10% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $40,500 – $126,500 | $83,400 | +14% |
What nearby projects cost in Omaha
Because every project leans on different trades, Omaha's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, paver patio runs +1% and wood deck −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,650 – $11,000 | −4% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,500 | +1% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,750 | −6% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,950 – $14,000 | −8% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $590 – $2,100 | −1% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,950 – $13,100 | −2% |
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 $57,900 to $88,000 for Omaha, NE is attached.
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Inground pool in Omaha: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Omaha?
For 450 sq ft, expect $35,400 to $110,500 in the Omaha area. A standard-spec job lands at $57,900 to $88,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Omaha?
About $78.50 to $245 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $90 to $280 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Omaha or Lincoln?
Lincoln is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $71,400, which is 2% less than Omaha ($72,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Omaha?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $39,300 out of $72,900. Materials are 46% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Omaha?
$40,200 to $125,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Omaha?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $90 to $280 for fees in the Omaha area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Omaha expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Nebraska?
Omaha is 2% above the Nebraska statewide estimate ($71,800 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Nebraska; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Omaha?
The BLS median is $23.22 an hour in the Omaha area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.00 to $27.58.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Omaha?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $35,400 to $65,400 and premium work $80,400 to $110,500. 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 Omaha?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September and October 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 Omaha
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.