Inground pool cost in Rochester, NY
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $38,000 – $118,500
- Per sq ft
- $84 – $263
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #93
- 1 = most expensive
An inground pool in Rochester, NY usually costs $38,000 to $118,500 for 450 sq ft. That works out to about $84 to $263 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $3,800 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.70 an hour in the Rochester area, 5% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Rochester, NY, standard level
$62,100 to $94,400
About $138 to $209 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $28,100 | $42,800 |
| Labor | $33,900 | $51,300 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $230 |
| Total | $62,100 | $94,400 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Rochester, NY
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,000 | $35,400 | $53,800 | 45% |
| Labor | $20,800 | $42,600 | $64,400 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $290 | 0% |
| Total | $38,000 | $78,200 | $118,500 | 100% |
Where the Rochester 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, Rochester wages are 1.10 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Rochester is at 99.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $35,400 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.0: $95 to $290.
What nearby projects cost in Rochester
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Rochester wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+7%) and wood deck lowest (level); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,800 – $11,400 | level |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,150 – $5,700 | +5% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | +3% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,500 – $15,100 | level |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $640 – $2,250 | +7% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,600 – $14,100 | +6% |
Rochester 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, Rochester Gtr Intl 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 Rochester are May through October: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, April, 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.
Rochester gets about 35 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 102 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (3.6 inches in July). Inside the workable window, May and September are the driest, at 2.9 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 8 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 | 33 | 19 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 20 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 27 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 37 | 3.0 | Cold |
| May | 69 | 48 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 57 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 83 | 62 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 61 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 54 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 34 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Dec | 39 | 25 | 2.7 | Cold |
Specs and site conditions that change a Rochester 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.
What local crews earn in Rochester
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 Rochester the blend is 1.10.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $23.70 an hour, which is 5% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.93 and $30.93 an hour. BLS counts 2,550 of them working in the area, 51.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $31.60 an hour, 10% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.50 and $44.21 an hour. About 910 work in the metro. That is 18.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 20%) the local median is $35.51 an hour, which is 19% above the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $30.43 and $44.76 an hour. BLS counts 180 of them working in the area, 3.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is about average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $35.38 an hour, 15% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $26.75 and $43.18 an hour. About 1,460 work in the metro. That is 29.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $4,950 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $2,600. That is a swing of roughly 3.3% to 6.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Rochester has 494,280 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 52nd 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% | $19.93 | $23.70 | $30.93 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $25.50 | $31.60 | $44.21 | $28.78 | 1.10 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $30.43 | $35.51 | $44.76 | $29.87 | 1.19 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $26.75 | $35.38 | $43.18 | $30.67 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.10 | |||||
Rochester: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Rochester. 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
$38,000 to $70,200
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$62,100 to $94,400
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$86,300 to $118,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $33,700 – $62,400 | $55,200 – $83,900 | $76,700 – $105,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $43,200 – $79,800 | $70,700 – $107,500 | $98,200 – $135,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $67,400 – $124,500 | $110,500 – $167,500 | $153,000 – $210,500 |
Is Rochester cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (450 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Buffalo is the priciest of the group at $80,500. Erie is the cheapest at $73,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester, NYthis page | $38,000 – $118,500 | $78,200 | |
| Buffalo, NY60 miles | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,500 | +3% |
| Syracuse, NY70 miles | $37,600 – $117,500 | $77,400 | −1% |
| Binghamton, NY105 miles | $38,800 – $121,000 | $80,000 | +2% |
| Utica, NY120 miles | $38,300 – $119,500 | $79,000 | +1% |
| Erie, PA150 miles | $35,800 – $112,000 | $73,800 | −6% |
| New York (statewide) | $42,500 – $133,000 | $87,600 | +12% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Rochester ranks #93 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Rochester is 11% below the New York figure.
Elsewhere in New York
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $45,700 – $143,000 | $94,200 | +20% |
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,500 | +3% |
| Albany, NY | 449,410 jobs | $40,400 – $126,000 | $83,300 | +6% |
| Syracuse, NY | 300,130 jobs | $37,600 – $117,500 | $77,400 | −1% |
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $41,500 – $129,500 | $85,600 | +9% |
| Utica, NY | 118,390 jobs | $38,300 – $119,500 | $79,000 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Rochester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $35,400 – $110,500 | $72,900 | −7% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $40,500 – $126,500 | $83,400 | +7% |
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $32,700 – $102,000 | $67,500 | −14% |
| Tulsa, OK | 458,730 jobs | $32,900 – $103,000 | $67,900 | −13% |
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 $62,100 to $94,400 for Rochester, NY is attached.
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Multi-page report for Rochester, NY: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Inground pool in Rochester: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Rochester?
For 450 sq ft, expect $38,000 to $118,500 in the Rochester area. A standard-spec job lands at $62,100 to $94,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Rochester?
About $84 to $263 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $95 to $290 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Rochester or Buffalo?
Buffalo is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $80,500, which is 3% more than Rochester ($78,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Rochester?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $42,600 out of $78,200. Materials are 45% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Rochester?
$43,200 to $135,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Rochester?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $95 to $290 for fees in the Rochester area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Rochester expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of New York?
Rochester is 11% below the New York statewide estimate ($87,600 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in New York; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Rochester?
The BLS median is $23.70 an hour in the Rochester area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.93 to $30.93.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Rochester?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $38,000 to $70,200 and premium work $86,300 to $118,500. 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 Rochester?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. May and September 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 Rochester
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.