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Inground pool cost in North Dakota

Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.

Statewide range (450 sq ft)
$37,000 – $115,500
Per sq ft
$82 – $256
before permit
Versus US midpoint
+2%
US $74,500
Metros covered
2

North Dakota prices for inground pool: $37,000 to $115,500 for 450 sq ft, or $82 to $256 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 2% above the national one. Local wages for construction laborers are $23.59 an hour.

Inside North Dakota, the metros we cover range from $73,900 (Fargo) to $76,800 (Bismarck) at the midpoint.

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Quality level

Fiberglass pool, standard size

Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in North Dakota (statewide), standard level

$60,500 to $91,900

About $134 to $204 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.

Cost breakdown
PartLowHigh
Materials$27,000$41,100
Labor$33,400$50,600
Permits and fees$140$210
Total$60,500$91,900
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Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in North Dakota

Part of the jobLowMidpointHighShare
Materials$16,400$34,000$51,70045%
Labor$20,500$42,000$63,50055%
Permits and fees$90$180$2700%
Total$37,000$76,200$115,500100%

Inground pool: what moves the price in North Dakota

  • 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.

Other North Dakota jobs that often go with inground pool

The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide North Dakota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, retaining wall comes out highest (+5%) and wood deck lowest (−4%), because each job leans on different trades.

Related projects with local prices
ProjectSizeRangevs. US
Aluminum fence150 linear ft$3,700 – $11,100−3%
Paver patio300 sq ft$3,150 – $5,700+5%
Concrete patio300 sq ft$1,200 – $3,950−2%
Wood deck300 sq ft$7,250 – $14,600−4%
French drain60 linear ft$600 – $2,100−1%
Retaining wall200 sq ft of wall face$7,600 – $13,900+5%

Quality levels and sizes in North Dakota

The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide North Dakota wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.

Basic

$37,000 to $68,300

Vinyl-liner pool, small size

Standard

$60,500 to $91,900

Fiberglass pool, standard size

Premium

$84,000 to $115,500

Concrete or gunite, large with custom features

Cost by size and quality level
SizeBasicStandardPremium
small pool (400 sq ft)$32,900 – $60,800$53,800 – $81,700$74,700 – $102,500
average (512 sq ft)$42,000 – $77,700$68,800 – $104,500$95,600 – $131,500
large (800 sq ft)$65,600 – $121,500$107,500 – $163,000$149,000 – $205,000

When North Dakota weather lets you install

Season matters for inground pool. For each North Dakota metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.

Every North Dakota metro on the list has 5 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 19 inches a year in Bismarck to 24 in Fargo.

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.

Climate by metro (NOAA 1991-2020 normals)
MetroJan avg low °FJul avg high °FPrecip (in/yr)Comfortable months
Fargo082245: May through September
Bismarck285195: May through September

North Dakota against its neighbors

North Dakota ranks 19 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. North Dakota sits at $76,200. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.

States near North Dakota, same project and size
StateDistanceRangeMidpointvs. here
South Dakota220 miles away$34,600 – $108,000$71,300−6%
Minnesota270 miles away$43,000 – $134,500$88,700+16%
Nebraska410 miles away$34,800 – $109,000$71,800−6%
Iowa450 miles away$35,700 – $111,500$73,600−3%
Wyoming500 miles away$35,300 – $110,000$72,700−5%

Which North Dakota city is cheapest for inground pool?

1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $76,200, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. 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.

MetroRange (450 sq ft)Midpointvs. state
Bismarck, ND$37,300 – $116,500$76,800+1%
Fargo, ND$35,900 – $112,000$73,900−3%

North Dakota labor market for inground pool

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 1.08 for North Dakota.

Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.59 an hour, 4% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.96 and $29.17 an hour. About 5,050 work in the state. That is 117.6 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 $29.88 an hour, which is 4% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $27.97 and $36.75 an hour. BLS counts 4,890 of them working in the state, 113.9 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 $38.43 an hour, 29% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $27.65 and $39.59 an hour. About 150 work in the state. That is 3.5 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 $30.56 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.92 and $36.95 an hour. BLS counts 1,620 of them working in the state, 37.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.

A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($29.17 an hour) would add about $3,800 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.96) would take off about $1,100. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.

BLS counts 429,430 jobs across North Dakota (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.

Median hourly wages behind the labor line (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
TradeWeight25th pctMedian75th pctUS medianRatioLevel used
Construction laborers (47-2061)40%$21.96$23.59$29.17$22.661.04state
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073)30%$27.97$29.88$36.75$28.781.04state
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021)20%$27.65$38.43$39.59$29.871.29state
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152)10%$23.92$30.56$36.95$30.671.00state
Blended100%1.08

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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 $60,500 to $91,900 for North Dakota is attached.

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Multi-page report for North Dakota: 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 North Dakota: your questions

+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in North Dakota?

$37,000 to $115,500 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside North Dakota can sit above or below that.

+Which city in North Dakota is cheapest for inground pool?

Fargo at about $73,900 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Bismarck at $76,800.

+Is inground pool cheaper in North Dakota than the US average?

It is 2% more expensive: $76,200 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.

+What share of the price is labor in North Dakota?

About 55% ($42,000). Materials are 45%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.08x the national wage level.

+What do construction laborers earn in North Dakota?

The BLS statewide median is $23.59 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.96 to $29.17.

+Where does North Dakota rank for inground pool costs?

19th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $76,200 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.

+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in North Dakota?

For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $37,000 to $68,300 and premium work $84,000 to $115,500. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.

+Does the season matter for inground pool in North Dakota?

Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the North Dakota metros we cover, Fargo 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 North Dakota

Inground pool: all pricesNorth Dakota cost hub

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.

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.