Inground pool cost in Winston, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $32,300 – $101,000
- Per sq ft
- $71.50 – $224
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #252
- 1 = most expensive
Winston homeowners pay roughly $32,300 to $101,000 to install an inground pool at 450 sq ft, or $71.50 to $224 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Winston is 11% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.29 an hour in the Winston area, 10% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Winston, NC, standard level
$52,900 to $80,300
About $117 to $178 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,200 | $41,500 |
| Labor | $25,500 | $38,600 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $52,900 | $80,300 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Winston, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $34,300 | $52,200 | 52% |
| Labor | $15,600 | $32,000 | $48,400 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $280 | 0% |
| Total | $32,300 | $66,600 | $101,000 | 100% |
Where the Winston price comes from
Labor is 48% 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 Winston the blended ratio comes out at 0.83.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Winston 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 (92.0) and land at $90 to $280.
When to schedule inground pool in Winston
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Winston Salem Rynlds Ap (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 Winston (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.
Winston gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (4.5 inches in August). Inside the workable window, June and October are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.3 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 | 49 | 31 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 71 | 48 | 3.7 | Workable |
| May | 78 | 57 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 85 | 65 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 69 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 68 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 71 | 49 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 39 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Dec | 52 | 34 | 3.3 | Cold |
How Winston compares
Same job, same size (450 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Durham is the priciest of the group at $69,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winston, NCthis page | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,600 | |
| Greensboro, NC30 miles | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,000 | +1% |
| Burlington, NC55 miles | $33,000 – $103,000 | $68,100 | +2% |
| Hickory, NC65 miles | $32,800 – $102,500 | $67,700 | +2% |
| Charlotte, NC70 miles | $33,700 – $105,500 | $69,600 | +4% |
| Durham, NC70 miles | $33,700 – $105,500 | $69,600 | +4% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,500 | +3% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Winston comes in at #252 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Winston is 3% 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 | +4% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $33,600 – $105,000 | $69,300 | +4% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,000 | +1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $33,700 – $105,500 | $69,600 | +4% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $33,200 – $103,500 | $68,400 | +3% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $33,500 – $104,500 | $69,100 | +4% |
Cities with a workforce like Winston's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Winston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,700 | level |
| Ogden, UT | 271,370 jobs | $35,300 – $110,500 | $72,900 | +9% |
| Reno, NV | 275,680 jobs | $37,700 – $117,500 | $77,700 | +17% |
| Jackson, MS | 270,730 jobs | $31,800 – $99,300 | $65,500 | −2% |
Cost by quality level and size in Winston
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Winston 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
$32,300 to $59,700
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$52,900 to $80,300
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$73,400 to $101,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $28,700 – $53,100 | $47,000 – $71,400 | $65,300 – $89,700 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $36,700 – $67,900 | $60,100 – $91,300 | $83,500 – $115,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $57,300 – $106,000 | $93,800 – $142,500 | $130,500 – $179,000 |
Inground pool: what moves the price in Winston
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.
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 Winston is 0.83 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $20.29 an hour, 10% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.01 and $22.76 an hour. About 2,000 work in the metro. That is 73.5 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 $22.88 an hour, which is 21% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.65 and $24.80 an hour. BLS counts 770 of them working in the area, 28.3 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 $23.03 an hour, 23% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $21.91 and $27.46 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 5.1 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 $23.67 an hour, which is 23% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.12 and $29.07 an hour. BLS counts 860 of them working in the area, 31.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.76 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,700. At the 25th percentile ($18.01) it shrinks by about $1,550. The total moves by 2.5% or 2.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 271,980 jobs in the Winston-Salem area. That makes it the 94th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.17% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.01 | $20.29 | $22.76 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.65 | $22.88 | $24.80 | $28.78 | 0.79 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $21.91 | $23.03 | $27.46 | $29.87 | 0.77 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $22.12 | $23.67 | $29.07 | $30.67 | 0.77 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Winston
Because every project leans on different trades, Winston's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, aluminum fence runs −8% and concrete patio −11%.
| 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 – $3,500 | −11% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,850 – $13,800 | −9% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,150 – $12,200 | −11% |
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 $52,900 to $80,300 for Winston, NC is attached.
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Multi-page report for Winston, 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 Winston: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Winston?
For 450 sq ft, expect $32,300 to $101,000 in the Winston area. A standard-spec job lands at $52,900 to $80,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Winston?
About $71.50 to $224 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 Winston or Greensboro?
Greensboro is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $67,000, which is 1% more than Winston ($66,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Winston?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $32,000 out of $66,600. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Winston?
$36,700 to $115,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Winston?
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 Winston area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Winston expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Winston is 3% 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 Winston?
The BLS median is $20.29 an hour in the Winston area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.01 to $22.76.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Winston?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $32,300 to $59,700 and premium work $73,400 to $101,000. 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 Winston?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. June 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 Winston
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.