Inground pool cost in State College, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $37,600 – $117,500
- Per sq ft
- $83 – $260
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #101
- 1 = most expensive
An inground pool in State College, PA usually costs $37,600 to $117,500 for 450 sq ft. That works out to about $83 to $260 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $3,000 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $25.68 an hour in the State College area, 13% above the US median of $22.66.
Estimate your inground pool cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in State College, PA, standard level
$61,500 to $93,400
About $136 to $207 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $28,400 | $43,200 |
| Labor | $33,000 | $49,900 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $230 |
| Total | $61,500 | $93,400 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in State College, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $17,200 | $35,800 | $54,400 | 46% |
| Labor | $20,200 | $41,400 | $62,600 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $290 | 0% |
| Total | $37,600 | $77,400 | $117,500 | 100% |
Why State College prices look the way they do
Labor is 54% 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 State College the blended ratio comes out at 1.07.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. State College is at 100.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $35,800 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.8: $95 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 State College. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in State College
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 State College the blend is 1.07.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $25.68 an hour, which is 13% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.13 and $30.00 an hour. BLS counts 620 of them working in the area, 90.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $29.11 an hour, in line with the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.42 and $37.55 an hour. About 460 work in the metro. That is 66.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the State College metro, so we used the Pennsylvania statewide median: $33.44 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $28.58 and $41.79 an hour.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $27.67 an hour, 10% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.72 and $30.90 an hour. About 130 work in the metro. That is 18.9 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 $2,950 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $2,450. That is a swing of roughly 3.1% to 3.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
State College has 68,840 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 263rd 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% | $22.13 | $25.68 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.13 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.42 | $29.11 | $37.55 | $28.78 | 1.01 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $28.58 | $33.44 | $41.79 | $29.87 | 1.12 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $22.72 | $27.67 | $30.90 | $30.67 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
State College 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, State College (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in State College are May through October: 6 of 12. Outside them, 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.
State College gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 44 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, August and September (4.2 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.5 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 34 | 21 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 22 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 28 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Apr | 59 | 39 | 3.5 | Cold |
| May | 69 | 50 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 59 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 63 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 62 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 54 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 43 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 34 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 38 | 26 | 3.2 | Cold |
Related projects, priced for State College
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same State College wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (+6%) and wood deck lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,850 – $11,500 | +1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,750 | +6% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | +4% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,450 – $15,000 | −1% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $610 – $2,150 | +2% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,500 – $14,000 | +5% |
State College: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to State College. 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
$37,600 to $69,500
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$61,500 to $93,400
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$85,400 to $117,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $33,400 – $61,800 | $54,700 – $83,000 | $75,900 – $104,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $42,700 – $79,000 | $69,900 – $106,000 | $97,100 – $133,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $66,700 – $123,500 | $109,000 – $166,000 | $151,500 – $208,500 |
How State College compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 450 sq ft range from $68,700 to $77,400 across State College and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PAthis page | $37,600 – $117,500 | $77,400 | |
| Altoona, PA35 miles | $36,900 – $115,000 | $76,100 | −2% |
| Harrisburg, PA60 miles | $37,400 – $117,000 | $77,200 | level |
| Chambersburg, PA70 miles | $36,400 – $114,000 | $75,100 | −3% |
| York, PA90 miles | $36,800 – $115,000 | $75,900 | −2% |
| Hagerstown, MD95 miles | $33,300 – $104,000 | $68,700 | −11% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $37,000 – $115,500 | $76,300 | −1% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, State College ranks #101 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, State College is 2% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $38,700 – $120,500 | $79,700 | +3% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $38,100 – $119,000 | $78,500 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $36,900 – $115,500 | $76,100 | −2% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $37,400 – $117,000 | $77,200 | level |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $36,700 – $114,500 | $75,700 | −2% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $36,600 – $114,500 | $75,500 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is State College against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $34,000 – $106,000 | $70,100 | −9% |
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $36,400 – $114,000 | $75,100 | −3% |
| Wausau, WI | 69,530 jobs | $40,600 – $126,500 | $83,700 | +8% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $34,300 – $107,500 | $70,800 | −9% |
Specs and site conditions that change a State College bid
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.
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 $61,500 to $93,400 for State College, PA is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the inground pool numbers for State College, PA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 State College: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in State College?
For 450 sq ft, expect $37,600 to $117,500 in the State College area. A standard-spec job lands at $61,500 to $93,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in State College?
About $83 to $260 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $95 to $290 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in State College or Altoona?
Altoona is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $76,100, which is 2% less than State College ($77,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in State College?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $41,400 out of $77,400. Materials are 46% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in State College?
$42,700 to $133,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in State College?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $95 to $290 for fees in the State College area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is State College expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
State College is 2% above 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 State College?
The BLS median is $25.68 an hour in the State College area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.13 to $30.00.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in State College?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $37,600 to $69,500 and premium work $85,400 to $117,500. 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 State College?
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 State College
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.