Inground pool cost in Texas
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $33,400 – $104,500
- Per sq ft
- $74 – $231
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 21
Across Texas, an inground pool costs about $33,400 to $104,500 for 450 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 8% below the US figure of $74,500. Construction laborers earn a median $19.53 an hour in Texas (US: $22.66).
Inside Texas, the metros we cover range from $62,300 (McAllen) to $72,300 (Dallas) 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 Texas (statewide), standard level
$54,700 to $83,000
About $121 to $184 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,600 | $42,100 |
| Labor | $26,900 | $40,700 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $230 |
| Total | $54,700 | $83,000 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Texas
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,800 | $34,900 | $53,000 | 51% |
| Labor | $16,500 | $33,800 | $51,100 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $290 | 0% |
| Total | $33,400 | $68,800 | $104,500 | 100% |
Texas against its neighbors
Texas ranks 41 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. Texas sits at $68,800. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 330 miles away | $31,800 – $99,400 | $65,600 | −5% |
| Louisiana | 360 miles away | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,100 | −3% |
| Arkansas | 390 miles away | $31,100 – $97,400 | $64,300 | −7% |
| Mississippi | 450 miles away | $31,700 – $99,100 | $65,400 | −5% |
| Kansas | 490 miles away | $33,800 – $105,500 | $69,700 | +1% |
Why two Texas 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.
Inground pool cost by metro in Texas
3 of the 21 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $68,800, and the top-to-bottom gap is 16%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | $35,000 – $109,500 | $72,300 | +5% |
| Houston, TX | $34,000 – $106,500 | $70,200 | +2% |
| Beaumont, TX | $33,900 – $106,000 | $69,900 | +1% |
| Austin, TX | $33,500 – $105,000 | $69,200 | level |
| Midland, TX | $33,200 – $103,500 | $68,400 | −1% |
| Odessa, TX | $32,800 – $102,500 | $67,700 | −2% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $32,700 – $102,000 | $67,500 | −2% |
| San Antonio, TX | $32,200 – $101,000 | $66,500 | −3% |
| Amarillo, TX | $32,000 – $99,900 | $65,900 | −4% |
| Abilene, TX | $31,900 – $99,700 | $65,800 | −4% |
| Waco, TX | $31,800 – $99,500 | $65,600 | −5% |
| Killeen, TX | $31,800 – $99,400 | $65,600 | −5% |
| Longview, TX | $31,800 – $99,400 | $65,600 | −5% |
| Tyler, TX | $31,500 – $98,400 | $65,000 | −6% |
| Texarkana, TX | $31,200 – $97,700 | $64,500 | −6% |
| College Station, TX | $31,000 – $97,100 | $64,100 | −7% |
| Lubbock, TX | $30,900 – $96,700 | $63,800 | −7% |
| El Paso, TX | $30,700 – $96,100 | $63,400 | −8% |
| Laredo, TX | $30,700 – $96,000 | $63,400 | −8% |
| Brownsville, TX | $30,400 – $95,000 | $62,700 | −9% |
| McAllen, TX | $30,200 – $94,300 | $62,300 | −10% |
Other Texas jobs that often go with inground pool
Each project weights the trades differently, so Texas's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, retaining wall is −7% and concrete patio −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,700 | −7% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,800 – $5,050 | −7% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,600 | −9% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,850 – $13,800 | −9% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $550 – $1,950 | −8% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,500 – $12,700 | −7% |
Weather windows across Texas
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and Texas 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.
Houston has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Texas at 9 months (September through May); Amarillo has the shortest at 4 (April through May and September through October). Rainfall runs from 9 inches a year in El Paso to 65 inches in Beaumont.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 38 | 97 | 38 | 6: February through May and October through November |
| Houston | 46 | 93 | 56 | 9: September through May |
| Austin | 42 | 97 | 36 | 8: October through May |
| San Antonio | 41 | 95 | 32 | 8: October through May |
| El Paso | 35 | 96 | 9 | 6: March through May and September through November |
| McAllen | 53 | 99 | 22 | 7: October through April |
| Corpus Christi | 52 | 92 | 35 | 8: October through May |
| Lubbock | 30 | 93 | 19 | 4: April through May and September through October |
| Beaumont | 43 | 92 | 65 | 9: September through May |
| Brownsville | 53 | 95 | 27 | 7: October through April |
| Killeen | 36 | 96 | 35 | 5: March through May and October through November |
| College Station | 41 | 95 | 42 | 8: October through May |
| Waco | 36 | 97 | 36 | 5: March through May and October through November |
| Amarillo | 25 | 93 | 20 | 4: April through May and September through October |
| Midland | 33 | 96 | 14 | 6: March through May and September through November |
| Longview | 36 | 95 | 51 | 5: March through May and October through November |
| Tyler | 39 | 93 | 48 | 7: February through May and September through November |
| Laredo | 47 | 100 | 20 | 7: October through April |
| Odessa | 32 | 94 | 12 | 6: March through May and September through November |
| Abilene | 34 | 96 | 25 | 6: March through May and September through November |
| Texarkana | 33 | 93 | 52 | 7: March through June and September through November |
Basic, standard or premium: Texas 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
$33,400 to $61,800
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$54,700 to $83,000
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$75,900 to $104,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $29,700 – $54,900 | $48,600 – $73,800 | $67,500 – $92,800 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $38,000 – $70,200 | $62,200 – $94,400 | $86,400 – $118,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $59,200 – $109,500 | $97,000 – $147,500 | $135,000 – $185,000 |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in Texas
Texas'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 0.87 times the national level.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $19.53 an hour, which is 14% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.66 and $22.57 an hour. BLS counts 123,250 of them working in the state, 87.6 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 $24.26 an hour, 16% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.17 and $28.84 an hour. About 55,540 work in the state. That is 39.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 20%) the local median is $27.12 an hour, which is 9% below the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $23.31 and $28.57 an hour. BLS counts 4,300 of them working in the state, 3.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is about average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.77 an hour, 6% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.78 and $35.63 an hour. About 44,090 work in the state. That is 31.3 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 ($22.57 an hour) would add about $2,100 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($17.66) would take off about $1,300. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 14,071,160 jobs across Texas (May 2025), which is 9.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $17.66 | $19.53 | $22.57 | $22.66 | 0.86 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.17 | $24.26 | $28.84 | $28.78 | 0.84 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $23.31 | $27.12 | $28.57 | $29.87 | 0.91 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $22.78 | $28.77 | $35.63 | $30.67 | 0.94 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
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Inground pool in Texas: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Texas?
$33,400 to $104,500 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Texas can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Texas is cheapest for inground pool?
McAllen at about $62,300 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Dallas at $72,300.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Texas than the US average?
It is 8% cheaper: $68,800 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Texas?
About 49% ($33,800). Materials are 51%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.87x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Texas?
The BLS statewide median is $19.53 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.66 to $22.57.
+Where does Texas rank for inground pool costs?
41st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $68,800 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Texas?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $33,400 to $61,800 and premium work $75,900 to $104,500. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in Texas?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Texas metros we cover, Houston has the most comfortable months (9 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 Texas
- Dallas, TX$72,300 midpoint
- Houston, TX$70,200 midpoint
- Beaumont, TX$69,900 midpoint
- Austin, TX$69,200 midpoint
- Midland, TX$68,400 midpoint
- Odessa, TX$67,700 midpoint
- Corpus Christi, TX$67,500 midpoint
- San Antonio, TX$66,500 midpoint
- Amarillo, TX$65,900 midpoint
- Abilene, TX$65,800 midpoint
- Waco, TX$65,600 midpoint
- Killeen, TX$65,600 midpoint
- Longview, TX$65,600 midpoint
- Tyler, TX$65,000 midpoint
- Texarkana, TX$64,500 midpoint
- College Station, TX$64,100 midpoint
- Lubbock, TX$63,800 midpoint
- El Paso, TX$63,400 midpoint
- Laredo, TX$63,400 midpoint
- Brownsville, TX$62,700 midpoint
- McAllen, TX$62,300 midpoint
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.