Inground pool cost in Hilton Head, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $33,300 – $104,000
- Per sq ft
- $74 – $231
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #211
- 1 = most expensive
Hilton Head homeowners pay roughly $33,300 to $104,000 to install an inground pool at 450 sq ft, or $74 to $231 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Hilton Head is 8% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.99 an hour in the Hilton Head area, 3% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Hilton Head, SC, standard level
$54,600 to $82,900
About $121 to $184 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,100 | $41,400 |
| Labor | $27,300 | $41,300 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $240 |
| Total | $54,600 | $82,900 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Hilton Head, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $34,200 | $52,000 | 50% |
| Labor | $16,700 | $34,300 | $51,800 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $200 | $290 | 0% |
| Total | $33,300 | $68,700 | $104,000 | 100% |
Why Hilton Head prices look the way they do
Labor is 50% 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 Hilton Head the blended ratio comes out at 0.89.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Hilton Head metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $34,200, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.0) and land at $100 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 Hilton Head. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Hilton Head 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.
Hilton Head: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Hilton Head 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
$33,300 to $61,700
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$54,600 to $82,900
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$75,800 to $104,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $29,600 – $54,800 | $48,500 – $73,700 | $67,400 – $92,600 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $37,900 – $70,100 | $62,100 – $94,300 | $86,200 – $118,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $59,200 – $109,500 | $96,900 – $147,000 | $134,500 – $185,000 |
Planning more than one job in Hilton Head?
Because every project leans on different trades, Hilton Head's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs −6% and wood deck −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,600 | −7% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,100 | −7% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,700 | −7% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,850 – $13,800 | −9% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $560 – $2,000 | −6% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,350 – $12,400 | −9% |
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 Hilton Head is 0.89 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $21.99 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.13 and $25.12 an hour. About 910 work in the metro. That is 111.1 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 $24.39 an hour, which is 15% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.23 and $28.60 an hour. BLS counts 320 of them working in the area, 39.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Hilton Head metro, so we used the South Carolina statewide median: $23.56 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.85 and $29.66 an hour.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $26.38 an hour, which is 14% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.22 and $32.61 an hour. BLS counts 210 of them working in the area, 25.6 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 ($25.12 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $2,150. At the 25th percentile ($18.13) it shrinks by about $2,650. The total moves by 3.1% or 3.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 81,920 jobs in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal area. That makes it the 232nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.13 | $21.99 | $25.12 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.23 | $24.39 | $28.60 | $28.78 | 0.85 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $21.85 | $23.56 | $29.66 | $29.87 | 0.79 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $22.22 | $26.38 | $32.61 | $30.67 | 0.86 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
When to schedule inground pool in Hilton Head
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Beaufort Mcas (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through June and September through December are the stretches where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Hilton Head (9 of 12 months). January has an average overnight low of 40°F or below; July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
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.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Hilton Head gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (6.5 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and November are the driest, at 2.5 and 2.5 inches. The station averages about 73 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 | 60 | 40 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 64 | 43 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 49 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 56 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 64 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 71 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 75 | 5.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 74 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 70 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 78 | 59 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 69 | 48 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 63 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
Hilton Head against nearby metros and the rest of South Carolina
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Hilton Head. Augusta is the lowest at about $66,100 (midpoint, 450 sq ft), 100 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head, SCthis page | $33,300 – $104,000 | $68,700 | |
| Savannah, GA30 miles | $32,100 – $100,500 | $66,200 | −4% |
| Charleston, SC65 miles | $33,000 – $103,500 | $68,200 | −1% |
| Augusta, GA100 miles | $32,000 – $100,000 | $66,100 | −4% |
| Columbia, SC115 miles | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,000 | −2% |
| Florence, SC135 miles | $33,000 – $103,000 | $68,100 | −1% |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $32,700 – $102,000 | $67,400 | −2% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Hilton Head comes in at #211 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Hilton Head is 2% above the South Carolina figure.
Other South Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $32,900 – $102,500 | $67,800 | −1% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,000 | −2% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $33,000 – $103,500 | $68,200 | −1% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $32,400 – $101,500 | $67,000 | −3% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $31,500 – $98,400 | $64,900 | −6% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $33,000 – $103,000 | $68,100 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Hilton Head's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hilton Head against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $34,500 – $108,000 | $71,200 | +4% |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $35,700 – $111,500 | $73,600 | +7% |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $31,800 – $99,400 | $65,600 | −5% |
| Johnson City, TN | 81,690 jobs | $33,000 – $103,000 | $68,000 | −1% |
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 $54,600 to $82,900 for Hilton Head, SC is attached.
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Inground pool in Hilton Head: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Hilton Head?
For 450 sq ft, expect $33,300 to $104,000 in the Hilton Head area. A standard-spec job lands at $54,600 to $82,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Hilton Head?
About $74 to $231 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $100 to $290 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Hilton Head or Savannah?
Savannah is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $66,200, which is 4% less than Hilton Head ($68,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hilton Head?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $34,300 out of $68,700. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Hilton Head?
$37,900 to $118,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Hilton Head?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $100 to $290 for fees in the Hilton Head area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hilton Head expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Hilton Head is 2% above the South Carolina statewide estimate ($67,400 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Hilton Head?
The BLS median is $21.99 an hour in the Hilton Head area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.13 to $25.12.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Hilton Head?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $33,300 to $61,700 and premium work $75,800 to $104,000. 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 Hilton Head?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through June and September through December. May and November 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 Hilton Head
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.