Inground pool cost in New Mexico
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $32,200 – $100,500
- Per sq ft
- $71.50 – $223
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 3
Across New Mexico, an inground pool costs about $32,200 to $100,500 for 450 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 11% below the US figure of $74,500. Construction laborers earn a median $18.46 an hour in New Mexico (US: $22.66).
Inside New Mexico, the metros we cover range from $65,700 (Las Cruces) to $66,900 (Albuquerque) 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 New Mexico (statewide), standard level
$52,700 to $80,100
About $117 to $177 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,100 | $41,300 |
| Labor | $25,500 | $38,600 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $52,700 | $80,100 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in New Mexico
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,400 | $34,200 | $51,900 | 51% |
| Labor | $15,600 | $32,000 | $48,400 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $280 | 0% |
| Total | $32,200 | $66,400 | $100,500 | 100% |
Related projects, priced for New Mexico
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide New Mexico wages and prices. Against national midpoints, wood deck comes out highest (−4%) and paver patio lowest (−13%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,550 – $10,700 | −6% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,600 – $4,750 | −13% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −9% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,200 – $14,500 | −4% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $540 – $1,900 | −9% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,000 – $12,000 | −12% |
How New Mexico compares with nearby states
New Mexico ranks 47 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. New Mexico sits at $66,400. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 340 miles away | $36,400 – $114,000 | $75,100 | +13% |
| Arizona | 340 miles away | $35,100 – $109,500 | $72,300 | +9% |
| Wyoming | 460 miles away | $35,300 – $110,000 | $72,700 | +9% |
| Utah | 520 miles away | $35,300 – $110,500 | $72,800 | +10% |
| Oklahoma | 540 miles away | $31,800 – $99,400 | $65,600 | −1% |
Inground pool: what moves the price in New Mexico
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.
New Mexico seasons and inground pool
Season matters for inground pool. For each New Mexico metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Albuquerque has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in New Mexico at 5 months (April through May and August through October); Las Cruces has the shortest at 4 (April through May and September through October). Rainfall runs from 9 inches a year in Albuquerque to 13 inches in Santa Fe.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | 26 | 91 | 9 | 5: April through May and August through October |
| Las Cruces | 30 | 96 | 9 | 4: April through May and September through October |
| Santa Fe | 18 | 86 | 13 | 5: May through September |
Quality levels and sizes in New Mexico
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide New Mexico wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$32,200 to $59,500
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$52,700 to $80,100
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$73,200 to $100,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $28,600 – $53,000 | $46,900 – $71,200 | $65,100 – $89,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $36,600 – $67,700 | $59,900 – $91,100 | $83,300 – $114,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $57,100 – $105,500 | $93,600 – $142,000 | $130,000 – $178,500 |
Inground pool cost by metro in New Mexico
2 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $66,400, and the top-to-bottom gap is 2%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | $32,400 – $101,500 | $66,900 | +1% |
| Santa Fe, NM | $32,400 – $101,500 | $66,900 | +1% |
| Las Cruces, NM | $31,800 – $99,600 | $65,700 | −1% |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in New Mexico
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 0.83 for New Mexico.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $18.46 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.07 and $22.26 an hour. About 12,470 work in the state. That is 143.2 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 $25.00 an hour, which is 13% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.82 and $28.89 an hour. BLS counts 5,520 of them working in the state, 63.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 20% of the weighting: a median of $21.63 an hour, 28% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $19.11 and $23.90 an hour. About 270 work in the state. That is 3.1 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 $29.54 an hour, which is 4% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $21.72 and $37.60 an hour. BLS counts 2,830 of them working in the state, 32.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($22.26 an hour) would add about $2,600 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($17.07) would take off about $950. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 870,970 jobs across New Mexico (May 2025), which is 0.6% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $17.07 | $18.46 | $22.26 | $22.66 | 0.81 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.82 | $25.00 | $28.89 | $28.78 | 0.87 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $19.11 | $21.63 | $23.90 | $29.87 | 0.72 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $21.72 | $29.54 | $37.60 | $30.67 | 0.96 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
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Inground pool in New Mexico: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in New Mexico?
$32,200 to $100,500 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside New Mexico can sit above or below that.
+Which city in New Mexico is cheapest for inground pool?
Las Cruces at about $65,700 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Albuquerque at $66,900.
+Is inground pool cheaper in New Mexico than the US average?
It is 11% cheaper: $66,400 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in New Mexico?
About 48% ($32,000). Materials are 51%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.83x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in New Mexico?
The BLS statewide median is $18.46 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.07 to $22.26.
+Where does New Mexico rank for inground pool costs?
47th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $66,400 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in New Mexico?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $32,200 to $59,500 and premium work $73,200 to $100,500. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in New Mexico?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the New Mexico metros we cover, Albuquerque has the most comfortable months (5 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 New Mexico
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.