Inground pool cost in Burlington, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $33,000 – $103,000
- Per sq ft
- $73 – $229
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #222
- 1 = most expensive
Burlington homeowners pay roughly $33,000 to $103,000 to install an inground pool at 450 sq ft, or $73 to $229 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Burlington is 9% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.35 an hour in the Burlington area, 10% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Burlington, NC, standard level
$54,100 to $82,100
About $120 to $182 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,200 | $41,500 |
| Labor | $26,700 | $40,400 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $54,100 | $82,100 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Burlington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $34,300 | $52,200 | 50% |
| Labor | $16,400 | $33,600 | $50,800 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $280 | 0% |
| Total | $33,000 | $68,100 | $103,000 | 100% |
Why Burlington 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, Burlington wages are 0.87 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 Burlington metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $34,300, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.2) and land at $95 to $280.
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 Burlington. The wage table below marks each row.
What nearby projects cost in Burlington
Because every project leans on different trades, Burlington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs −7% and concrete patio −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,450 – $10,500 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,750 – $4,950 | −9% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,550 | −10% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,850 – $13,700 | −9% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $560 – $1,950 | −7% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,300 – $12,300 | −9% |
Burlington against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Burlington. Winston is the lowest at about $66,600 (midpoint, 450 sq ft), 55 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NCthis page | $33,000 – $103,000 | $68,100 | |
| Durham, NC15 miles | $33,700 – $105,500 | $69,600 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC20 miles | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,000 | −2% |
| Winston, NC55 miles | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,600 | −2% |
| Raleigh, NC55 miles | $33,600 – $105,000 | $69,300 | +2% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $32,800 – $102,500 | $67,600 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,500 | +1% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Burlington comes in at #222 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Burlington is 1% below the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $33,700 – $105,500 | $69,600 | +2% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $33,600 – $105,000 | $69,300 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,000 | −2% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $33,700 – $105,500 | $69,600 | +2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,600 | −2% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $33,200 – $103,500 | $68,400 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Burlington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Burlington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $34,300 – $107,500 | $70,800 | +4% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,600 | +1% |
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $36,400 – $114,000 | $75,100 | +10% |
| Morgantown, WV | 67,370 jobs | $33,300 – $104,000 | $68,600 | +1% |
Why two Burlington quotes can differ
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.
When to schedule inground pool in Burlington
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Burlington Alamance Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through June and August through October are the stretches where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Burlington (6 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below; July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
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.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in July, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Burlington gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and September (4.7 inches in July). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 48 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 | 52 | 30 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 56 | 33 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 64 | 39 | 3.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 74 | 48 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 57 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 65 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 4.7 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 49 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 38 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 55 | 33 | 3.1 | Cold |
Cost by quality level and size in Burlington
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Burlington 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
$33,000 to $61,100
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$54,100 to $82,100
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$75,100 to $103,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $29,400 – $54,300 | $48,100 – $73,000 | $66,800 – $91,800 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $37,500 – $69,500 | $61,500 – $93,400 | $85,500 – $117,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $58,600 – $108,500 | $96,000 – $146,000 | $133,500 – $183,500 |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Burlington is 0.87 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $20.35 an hour, 10% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.66 and $22.91 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 59.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $24.79 an hour, which is 14% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.20 and $26.13 an hour. BLS counts 200 of them working in the area, 29.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Burlington metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $24.01 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.78 and $27.70 an hour.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $27.35 an hour, which is 11% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.15 and $30.76 an hour. BLS counts 260 of them working in the area, 38.3 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 ($22.91 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,750. At the 25th percentile ($17.66) it shrinks by about $1,850. The total moves by 2.6% or 2.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 67,830 jobs in the Burlington area. That makes it the 266th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $17.66 | $20.35 | $22.91 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.20 | $24.79 | $26.13 | $28.78 | 0.86 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $21.78 | $24.01 | $27.70 | $29.87 | 0.80 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $22.15 | $27.35 | $30.76 | $30.67 | 0.89 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
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 $54,100 to $82,100 for Burlington, NC is attached.
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Multi-page report for Burlington, NC: 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 Burlington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Burlington?
For 450 sq ft, expect $33,000 to $103,000 in the Burlington area. A standard-spec job lands at $54,100 to $82,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Burlington?
About $73 to $229 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $95 to $280 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Burlington or Durham?
Durham is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $69,600, which is 2% more than Burlington ($68,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Burlington?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $33,600 out of $68,100. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Burlington?
$37,500 to $117,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Burlington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $95 to $280 for fees in the Burlington area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Burlington expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Burlington is 1% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($68,500 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Burlington?
The BLS median is $20.35 an hour in the Burlington area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.66 to $22.91.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Burlington?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $33,000 to $61,100 and premium work $75,100 to $103,000. 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 Burlington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through June and August through October. May 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 Burlington
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.