Inground pool cost in Durham, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $33,700 – $105,500
- Per sq ft
- $74.50 – $234
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #195
- 1 = most expensive
An inground pool in Durham, NC usually costs $33,700 to $105,500 for 450 sq ft. That works out to about $74.50 to $234 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $4,900 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.38 an hour in the Durham area, 1% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Durham, NC, standard level
$55,200 to $83,900
About $122 to $186 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,200 | $41,500 |
| Labor | $27,900 | $42,200 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $230 |
| Total | $55,200 | $83,900 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Durham, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $34,300 | $52,200 | 49% |
| Labor | $17,100 | $35,000 | $52,900 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $200 | $290 | 0% |
| Total | $33,700 | $69,600 | $105,500 | 100% |
Where the Durham price comes from
Labor is 50% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (40%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), brickmasons and blockmasons (20%), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Durham the blended ratio comes out at 0.90.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Durham is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $34,300 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.6: $100 to $290.
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 Durham. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Durham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Durham. 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
$33,700 to $62,400
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$55,200 to $83,900
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$76,700 to $105,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $30,000 – $55,500 | $49,100 – $74,600 | $68,200 – $93,700 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $38,400 – $71,000 | $62,800 – $95,400 | $87,300 – $120,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $59,900 – $111,000 | $98,100 – $149,000 | $136,000 – $187,000 |
Durham against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Durham. Winston is the lowest at about $66,600 (midpoint, 450 sq ft), 70 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | $33,700 – $105,500 | $69,600 | |
| Burlington, NC15 miles | $33,000 – $103,000 | $68,100 | −2% |
| Greensboro, NC40 miles | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,000 | −4% |
| Raleigh, NC40 miles | $33,600 – $105,000 | $69,300 | level |
| Fayetteville, NC65 miles | $32,800 – $102,500 | $67,600 | −3% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,600 | −4% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,500 | −2% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Durham ranks #195 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Durham is 2% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $33,700 – $105,500 | $69,600 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $33,600 – $105,000 | $69,300 | level |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,000 | −4% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,600 | −4% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $33,200 – $103,500 | $68,400 | −2% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $33,500 – $104,500 | $69,100 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Durham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $41,000 – $128,000 | $84,400 | +21% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $33,500 – $104,500 | $69,000 | −1% |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $31,500 – $98,400 | $64,900 | −7% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $30,700 – $96,100 | $63,400 | −9% |
Durham 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, Raleigh Durham Intl Ap (10 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 Durham are April through June and August through October: 6 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below, and 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.
Durham gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 52 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 | 52 | 32 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 56 | 34 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 63 | 40 | 4.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 5.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 69 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 63 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 50 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 55 | 34 | 3.4 | Cold |
Inground pool: what moves the price in Durham
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 Durham
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 Durham the blend is 0.90.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $22.38 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.03 and $25.15 an hour. BLS counts 1,120 of them working in the area, 32.6 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 $24.44 an hour, 15% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.61 and $29.62 an hour. About 480 work in the metro. That is 14.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Durham 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.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.90 an hour, 6% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.25 and $31.27 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 18.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,900 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $2,300. That is a swing of roughly 3.3% to 2.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Durham-Chapel Hill has 344,020 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 74th 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% | $19.03 | $22.38 | $25.15 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.61 | $24.44 | $29.62 | $28.78 | 0.85 | 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% | $23.25 | $28.90 | $31.27 | $30.67 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Durham
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Durham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (−5%) and concrete patio lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,550 – $10,700 | −6% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,150 | −5% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −9% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,000 – $14,100 | −7% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $570 – $2,000 | −5% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,400 – $12,500 | −8% |
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Inground pool in Durham: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Durham?
For 450 sq ft, expect $33,700 to $105,500 in the Durham area. A standard-spec job lands at $55,200 to $83,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Durham?
About $74.50 to $234 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $100 to $290 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Durham or Burlington?
Burlington is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $68,100, which is 2% less than Durham ($69,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Durham?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $35,000 out of $69,600. Materials are 49% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Durham?
$38,400 to $120,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Durham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $100 to $290 for fees in the Durham area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Durham expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Durham is 2% above 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 Durham?
The BLS median is $22.38 an hour in the Durham area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.03 to $25.15.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Durham?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $33,700 to $62,400 and premium work $76,700 to $105,500. 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 Durham?
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 Durham
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.