Inground pool cost in Austin, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $33,500 – $105,000
- Per sq ft
- $74.50 – $232
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #202
- 1 = most expensive
An inground pool in Austin, TX usually costs $33,500 to $105,000 for 450 sq ft. That works out to about $74.50 to $232 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $5,250 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.16 an hour in the Austin area, 7% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Austin, TX, standard level
$54,900 to $83,400
About $122 to $185 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,200 |
| Labor | $28,400 | $43,000 |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $240 |
| Total | $54,900 | $83,400 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Austin, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,600 | 48% |
| Labor | $17,400 | $35,700 | $53,900 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $200 | $290 | 0% |
| Total | $33,500 | $69,200 | $105,000 | 100% |
Where the Austin price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 4 trades: construction laborers at 40%, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators at 30%, brickmasons and blockmasons at 20%, plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters at 10%. Weighted together, Austin wages are 0.92 times the national level. Labor makes up about 52% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Austin is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $33,300 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.1: $100 to $290.
Planning more than one job in Austin?
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Austin wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, paver patio comes out highest (−5%) and wood deck lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,600 | −7% |
| 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 | $560 – $1,950 | −7% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,600 – $12,600 | −6% |
How Austin 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 $64,100 to $70,200 across Austin and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TXthis page | $33,500 – $105,000 | $69,200 | |
| Killeen, TX65 miles | $31,800 – $99,400 | $65,600 | −5% |
| College Station, TX75 miles | $31,000 – $97,100 | $64,100 | −7% |
| San Antonio, TX80 miles | $32,200 – $101,000 | $66,500 | −4% |
| Waco, TX95 miles | $31,800 – $99,500 | $65,600 | −5% |
| Houston, TX140 miles | $34,000 – $106,500 | $70,200 | +1% |
| Texas (statewide) | $33,400 – $104,500 | $68,800 | level |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Austin ranks #202 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Austin is 0% above the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $35,000 – $109,500 | $72,300 | +4% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $34,000 – $106,500 | $70,200 | +1% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $32,200 – $101,000 | $66,500 | −4% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $30,700 – $96,100 | $63,400 | −8% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $30,200 – $94,300 | $62,300 | −10% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $32,700 – $102,000 | $67,500 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Austin against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $42,300 – $132,000 | $87,200 | +26% |
| Portland, OR | 1,208,410 jobs | $42,200 – $132,000 | $87,100 | +26% |
| Baltimore, MD | 1,356,680 jobs | $36,200 – $113,000 | $74,700 | +8% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $35,500 – $111,000 | $73,200 | +6% |
Cost by quality level and size in Austin
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Austin. 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
$33,500 to $62,100
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$54,900 to $83,400
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$76,300 to $105,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $29,800 – $55,200 | $48,800 – $74,200 | $67,900 – $93,200 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $38,200 – $70,600 | $62,500 – $94,900 | $86,800 – $119,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $59,600 – $110,000 | $97,500 – $148,000 | $135,500 – $186,000 |
Inground pool: what moves the price in Austin
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 local crews earn in Austin
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 Austin the blend is 0.92.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $21.16 an hour, which is 7% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.34 and $23.12 an hour. BLS counts 11,140 of them working in the area, 86.1 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 $24.50 an hour, 15% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $23.09 and $29.38 an hour. About 5,010 work in the metro. That is 38.7 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 $28.98 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $24.39 and $29.32 an hour. BLS counts 370 of them working in the area, 2.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 3.4), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $30.20 an hour, in line with the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $23.44 and $38.32 an hour. About 5,260 work in the metro. That is 40.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,350 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,950. That is a swing of roughly 2.8% to 1.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos has 1,293,690 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 24th 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% | $18.34 | $21.16 | $23.12 | $22.66 | 0.93 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $23.09 | $24.50 | $29.38 | $28.78 | 0.85 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $24.39 | $28.98 | $29.32 | $29.87 | 0.97 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $23.44 | $30.20 | $38.32 | $30.67 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Austin 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, Austin-Camp Mabry (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in Austin are October through May: 8 of 12. Outside them, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Heat matters for concrete as well. With average highs of 90°F or more in June, July, August and September, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
Austin gets about 36 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and October (5.0 inches in May). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 1.9 and 2.4 inches. The station averages about 123 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 | 63 | 42 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 46 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 52 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 80 | 59 | 2.4 | Workable |
| May | 87 | 67 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jun | 93 | 73 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Jul | 97 | 75 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 98 | 75 | 2.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 70 | 3.5 | Hot |
| Oct | 83 | 61 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 51 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 43 | 2.7 | Workable |
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Inground pool in Austin: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Austin?
For 450 sq ft, expect $33,500 to $105,000 in the Austin area. A standard-spec job lands at $54,900 to $83,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Austin?
About $74.50 to $232 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 Austin or Killeen?
Killeen is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $65,600, which is 5% less than Austin ($69,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Austin?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $35,700 out of $69,200. Materials are 48% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Austin?
$38,200 to $119,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Austin?
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 Austin area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Austin expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Texas?
Austin is 0% above the Texas statewide estimate ($68,800 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Austin?
The BLS median is $21.16 an hour in the Austin area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.34 to $23.12.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Austin?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $33,500 to $62,100 and premium work $76,300 to $105,000. 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 Austin?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. February and April 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 Austin
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.