Inground pool cost in South Dakota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $34,600 – $108,000
- Per sq ft
- $76.50 – $240
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 2
Across South Dakota, an inground pool costs about $34,600 to $108,000 for 450 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 4% below the US figure of $74,500. Construction laborers earn a median $21.98 an hour in South Dakota (US: $22.66).
Inside South Dakota, the metros we cover range from $71,800 (Rapid City) to $72,300 (Sioux Falls) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in South Dakota (statewide), standard level
$56,600 to $86,000
About $126 to $191 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,900 | $41,000 |
| Labor | $29,600 | $44,800 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $210 |
| Total | $56,600 | $86,000 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in South Dakota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,300 | $33,900 | $51,600 | 48% |
| Labor | $18,200 | $37,200 | $56,200 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $270 | 0% |
| Total | $34,600 | $71,300 | $108,000 | 100% |
Inground pool: what moves the price in South 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.
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in South Dakota
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 0.96 for South Dakota.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $21.98 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.42 and $23.14 an hour. About 1,780 work in the state. That is 38.9 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 $28.61 an hour, which is in line with the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $24.37 and $30.51 an hour. BLS counts 2,050 of them working in the state, 44.8 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 $29.03 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $22.65 and $31.77 an hour. About 320 work in the state. That is 7.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $24.82 an hour, which is 19% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.18 and $29.83 an hour. BLS counts 1,760 of them working in the state, 38.5 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 ($23.14 an hour) would add about $790 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.42) would take off about $2,450. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 457,380 jobs across South Dakota (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $18.42 | $21.98 | $23.14 | $22.66 | 0.97 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $24.37 | $28.61 | $30.51 | $28.78 | 0.99 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $22.65 | $29.03 | $31.77 | $29.87 | 0.97 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $22.18 | $24.82 | $29.83 | $30.67 | 0.81 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.96 | |||||
South Dakota against its neighbors
South Dakota ranks 36 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. South Dakota sits at $71,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 220 miles away | $34,800 – $109,000 | $71,800 | +1% |
| North Dakota | 220 miles away | $37,000 – $115,500 | $76,200 | +7% |
| Minnesota | 290 miles away | $43,000 – $134,500 | $88,700 | +24% |
| Iowa | 330 miles away | $35,700 – $111,500 | $73,600 | +3% |
| Wyoming | 350 miles away | $35,300 – $110,000 | $72,700 | +2% |
Inground pool cost by metro in South Dakota
2 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $71,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 1%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | $35,100 – $109,500 | $72,300 | +1% |
| Rapid City, SD | $34,800 – $109,000 | $71,800 | +1% |
Other South Dakota jobs that often go with inground pool
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide South Dakota wages and prices. Against national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (−3%) and wood deck lowest (−10%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,450 – $10,500 | −8% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,850 – $5,200 | −5% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,650 | −9% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,800 – $13,600 | −10% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $580 – $2,050 | −3% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,800 – $12,900 | −4% |
When South Dakota weather lets you install
Season matters for inground pool. For each South Dakota metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for pouring concrete.
Every South Dakota metro on the list has 5 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 20 inches a year in Rapid City to 28 in Sioux Falls.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | 9 | 85 | 28 | 5: May through September |
| Rapid City | 16 | 84 | 20 | 5: May through September |
Quality levels and sizes in South Dakota
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide South Dakota wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$34,600 to $64,000
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$56,600 to $86,000
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$78,700 to $108,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $30,800 – $56,900 | $50,400 – $76,500 | $70,000 – $96,100 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $39,300 – $72,800 | $64,400 – $97,800 | $89,500 – $123,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $61,400 – $113,500 | $100,500 – $153,000 | $139,500 – $192,000 |
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Detailed inground pool report for South Dakota, $9
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Inground pool in South Dakota: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in South Dakota?
$34,600 to $108,000 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside South Dakota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in South Dakota is cheapest for inground pool?
Rapid City at about $71,800 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Sioux Falls at $72,300.
+Is inground pool cheaper in South Dakota than the US average?
It is 4% cheaper: $71,300 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in South Dakota?
About 52% ($37,200). Materials are 48%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.96x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in South Dakota?
The BLS statewide median is $21.98 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.42 to $23.14.
+Where does South Dakota rank for inground pool costs?
36th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $71,300 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in South Dakota?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $34,600 to $64,000 and premium work $78,700 to $108,000. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in South Dakota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the South Dakota metros we cover, Sioux Falls 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 South Dakota
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.