Inground pool cost in Ohio
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $37,400 – $117,000
- Per sq ft
- $83 – $259
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 8
Ohio prices for inground pool: $37,400 to $117,000 for 450 sq ft, or $83 to $259 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 4% above the national one. Local wages for construction laborers are $26.96 an hour.
Inside Ohio, the metros we cover range from $72,200 (Youngstown) to $81,700 (Columbus) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Ohio (statewide), standard level
$61,300 to $93,100
About $136 to $206 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,200 |
| Labor | $34,800 | $52,600 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $61,300 | $93,100 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Ohio
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,600 | 43% |
| Labor | $21,300 | $43,700 | $66,000 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $280 | 0% |
| Total | $37,400 | $77,200 | $117,000 | 100% |
Ohio metro-by-metro prices
3 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $77,200, and the top-to-bottom gap is 13%. 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.
| Metro | Range (450 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | $39,600 – $123,500 | $81,700 | +6% |
| Cleveland, OH | $38,700 – $121,000 | $79,800 | +3% |
| Akron, OH | $37,800 – $118,000 | $77,900 | +1% |
| Cincinnati, OH | $37,500 – $117,000 | $77,300 | level |
| Toledo, OH | $37,000 – $115,500 | $76,200 | −1% |
| Canton, OH | $36,800 – $115,000 | $75,900 | −2% |
| Dayton, OH | $36,600 – $114,000 | $75,400 | −2% |
| Youngstown, OH | $35,000 – $109,500 | $72,200 | −6% |
Ohio versus the states around it
Ohio ranks 17 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. Ohio sits at $77,200. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 130 miles away | $32,800 – $102,500 | $67,700 | −12% |
| Michigan | 180 miles away | $36,600 – $114,500 | $75,500 | −2% |
| Indiana | 180 miles away | $38,700 – $121,000 | $79,800 | +3% |
| Kentucky | 210 miles away | $34,800 – $109,000 | $71,900 | −7% |
| Illinois | 280 miles away | $45,300 – $141,500 | $93,300 | +21% |
Wages behind the Ohio number
Ohio's labor line is priced from 4 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.13 times the national level.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $26.96 an hour, which is 19% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.09 and $35.76 an hour. BLS counts 31,910 of them working in the state, 57.5 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 $31.22 an hour, 8% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $26.17 and $44.68 an hour. About 16,920 work in the state. That is 30.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 20%) the local median is $34.11 an hour, which is 14% above the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $27.56 and $38.39 an hour. BLS counts 2,770 of them working in the state, 5.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.45 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.06 and $40.51 an hour. About 16,390 work in the state. That is 29.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($35.76 an hour) would add about $6,000 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.09) would take off about $3,350. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 5,550,180 jobs across Ohio (May 2025), which is 3.6% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.09 | $26.96 | $35.76 | $22.66 | 1.19 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $26.17 | $31.22 | $44.68 | $28.78 | 1.08 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $27.56 | $34.11 | $38.39 | $29.87 | 1.14 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $24.06 | $30.45 | $40.51 | $30.67 | 0.99 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
Why two Ohio 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.
Other Ohio jobs that often go with inground pool
Each project weights the trades differently, so Ohio's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, French drain is +8% and wood deck −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,800 – $11,400 | level |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,150 – $5,750 | +5% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,150 | +3% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,400 – $14,900 | −2% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $650 – $2,250 | +8% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,500 – $13,700 | +3% |
Basic, standard or premium: Ohio prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small pool (400 sq ft) to large (800 sq ft).
Basic
$37,400 to $69,200
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$61,300 to $93,100
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$85,100 to $117,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $33,300 – $61,600 | $54,500 – $82,800 | $75,700 – $104,000 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $42,600 – $78,700 | $69,700 – $106,000 | $96,800 – $133,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $66,500 – $123,000 | $109,000 – $165,500 | $151,000 – $207,500 |
Ohio seasons and inground pool
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and Ohio is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Columbus has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Ohio at 7 months (April through October); Youngstown has the shortest at 6 (May through October). Rainfall runs from 32 inches a year in Toledo to 43 inches in Cincinnati.
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.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | 22 | 85 | 42 | 7: April through October |
| Cincinnati | 24 | 87 | 43 | 7: April through October |
| Cleveland | 24 | 81 | 33 | 7: April through October |
| Dayton | 20 | 87 | 42 | 7: April through October |
| Akron | 21 | 85 | 33 | 6: May through October |
| Toledo | 20 | 85 | 32 | 6: May through October |
| Canton | 20 | 84 | 42 | 6: May through October |
| Youngstown | 19 | 83 | 41 | 6: May through October |
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Detailed inground pool report for Ohio, $9
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Inground pool in Ohio: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Ohio?
$37,400 to $117,000 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Ohio can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Ohio is cheapest for inground pool?
Youngstown at about $72,200 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Columbus at $81,700.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Ohio than the US average?
It is 4% more expensive: $77,200 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Ohio?
About 57% ($43,700). Materials are 43%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.13x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Ohio?
The BLS statewide median is $26.96 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.09 to $35.76.
+Where does Ohio rank for inground pool costs?
17th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $77,200 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Ohio?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $37,400 to $69,200 and premium work $85,100 to $117,000. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in Ohio?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Ohio metros we cover, Columbus has the most comfortable months (7 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 Ohio
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.