Inground pool cost in Allentown, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $36,900 – $115,500
- Per sq ft
- $82 – $255
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #115
- 1 = most expensive
Allentown homeowners pay roughly $36,900 to $115,500 to install an inground pool at 450 sq ft, or $82 to $255 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Allentown is almost level. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.70 an hour in the Allentown area, 5% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Allentown, PA, standard level
$60,400 to $91,800
About $134 to $203 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $28,300 | $43,200 |
| Labor | $31,900 | $48,300 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $240 |
| Total | $60,400 | $91,800 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Allentown, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,200 | $35,800 | $54,300 | 47% |
| Labor | $19,600 | $40,100 | $60,700 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $200 | $300 | 0% |
| Total | $36,900 | $76,100 | $115,500 | 100% |
What is behind the Allentown number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 40% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.70 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Allentown is 1.04 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 53% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Allentown metro is 100.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $35,800, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (100.0) and land at $100 to $300.
Related projects, priced for Allentown
Because every project leans on different trades, Allentown's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, concrete patio runs +4% and wood deck level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,850 – $11,500 | +1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,050 – $5,550 | +2% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | +4% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,550 – $15,200 | level |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $600 – $2,100 | +1% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,200 – $13,600 | +2% |
Why two Allentown 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.
How Allentown compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Allentown. Lancaster is the lowest at about $75,500 (midpoint, 450 sq ft), 70 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown, PAthis page | $36,900 – $115,500 | $76,100 | |
| Reading, PA40 miles | $37,100 – $116,000 | $76,600 | +1% |
| Scranton, PA45 miles | $36,700 – $114,500 | $75,700 | level |
| Trenton, NJ50 miles | $42,300 – $132,000 | $87,100 | +14% |
| Philadelphia, PA60 miles | $38,700 – $120,500 | $79,700 | +5% |
| Lancaster, PA70 miles | $36,600 – $114,500 | $75,500 | −1% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $37,000 – $115,500 | $76,300 | level |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Allentown comes in at #115 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Allentown is 0% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $38,700 – $120,500 | $79,700 | +5% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $38,100 – $119,000 | $78,500 | +3% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $37,400 – $117,000 | $77,200 | +1% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $36,700 – $114,500 | $75,700 | level |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $36,600 – $114,500 | $75,500 | −1% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $36,800 – $115,000 | $75,900 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Allentown's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Allentown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $34,400 – $107,500 | $70,900 | −7% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $36,600 – $114,000 | $75,400 | −1% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $35,400 – $110,500 | $73,100 | −4% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,000 | −12% |
When to schedule inground pool in Allentown
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Allentown Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through October is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Allentown (6 of 12 months). January, February, March, April, 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.
Allentown gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 33 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.3 inches in July). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.6 and 4.1 inches. The station averages about 18 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 | 38 | 22 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 42 | 23 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 51 | 31 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 63 | 40 | 3.7 | Cold |
| May | 74 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 82 | 60 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 65 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 63 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 55 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 34 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 43 | 27 | 3.9 | Cold |
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 Allentown is 1.04 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.70 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.27 and $30.00 an hour. About 1,670 work in the metro. That is 44.3 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 $30.31 an hour, which is 5% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $25.46 and $36.55 an hour. BLS counts 920 of them working in the area, 24.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 20% of the weighting: a median of $30.00 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $27.66 and $39.45 an hour. About 100 work in the metro. That is 2.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $31.22 an hour, which is in line with the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $24.41 and $39.61 an hour. BLS counts 730 of them working in the area, 19.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.00 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $4,300. At the 25th percentile ($22.27) it shrinks by about $980. The total moves by 5.7% or 1.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 377,180 jobs in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton area. That makes it the 69th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.24% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.27 | $23.70 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $25.46 | $30.31 | $36.55 | $28.78 | 1.05 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $27.66 | $30.00 | $39.45 | $29.87 | 1.00 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $24.41 | $31.22 | $39.61 | $30.67 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Allentown
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Allentown 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
$36,900 to $68,200
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$60,400 to $91,800
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$83,900 to $115,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $32,800 – $60,700 | $53,700 – $81,600 | $74,600 – $102,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $42,000 – $77,600 | $68,700 – $104,500 | $95,500 – $131,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $65,500 – $121,000 | $107,500 – $163,000 | $149,000 – $204,500 |
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 $60,400 to $91,800 for Allentown, PA is attached.
Detailed inground pool report for Allentown, PA, $9
Multi-page report for Allentown, PA: 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 Allentown: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Allentown?
For 450 sq ft, expect $36,900 to $115,500 in the Allentown area. A standard-spec job lands at $60,400 to $91,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Allentown?
About $82 to $255 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $100 to $300 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Allentown or Reading?
Reading is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $76,600, which is 1% more than Allentown ($76,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Allentown?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $40,100 out of $76,100. Materials are 47% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Allentown?
$42,000 to $131,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Allentown?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $100 to $300 for fees in the Allentown area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Allentown expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Allentown is 0% below the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($76,300 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Allentown?
The BLS median is $23.70 an hour in the Allentown area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.27 to $30.00.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Allentown?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $36,900 to $68,200 and premium work $83,900 to $115,500. 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 Allentown?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May 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 Allentown
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.