Inground pool cost in College Station, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $31,000 – $97,100
- Per sq ft
- $69 – $215
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −14%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #291
- 1 = most expensive
An inground pool in College Station, TX usually costs $31,000 to $97,100 for 450 sq ft. That works out to about $69 to $215 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $10,400 less. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.88 an hour in the College Station area, 21% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in College Station, TX, standard level
$50,900 to $77,300
About $113 to $171 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,200 |
| Labor | $24,300 | $36,800 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $50,900 | $77,300 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in College Station, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,600 | 52% |
| Labor | $14,900 | $30,600 | $46,200 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $270 | 0% |
| Total | $31,000 | $64,100 | $97,100 | 100% |
Why College Station prices look the way they do
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, College Station wages are 0.79 times the national level. Labor makes up about 48% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. College Station 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 91.0: $90 to $270.
College Station: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to College Station. 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
$31,000 to $57,500
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$50,900 to $77,300
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$70,700 to $97,100
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $27,600 – $51,100 | $45,200 – $68,700 | $62,800 – $86,300 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $35,300 – $65,400 | $57,800 – $87,900 | $80,400 – $110,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $55,100 – $102,000 | $90,300 – $137,000 | $125,500 – $172,500 |
What nearby projects cost in College Station
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same College Station wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, aluminum fence comes out highest (−11%) and concrete patio lowest (−15%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,350 – $10,200 | −11% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,550 – $4,650 | −14% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,350 | −15% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,550 – $13,100 | −13% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $520 – $1,800 | −13% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $5,950 – $11,800 | −13% |
Why two College Station 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.
What local crews earn in College Station
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 College Station the blend is 0.79.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $17.88 an hour, which is 21% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.43 and $20.78 an hour. BLS counts 770 of them working in the area, 57.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.07 an hour, 20% below the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.42 and $27.69 an hour. About 590 work in the metro. That is 44.0 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 $23.20 an hour, which is 22% below the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $21.18 and $26.38 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 3.7 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 $23.93 an hour, 22% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $21.00 and $31.06 an hour. About 400 work in the metro. That is 29.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $2,000 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $990. That is a swing of roughly 1.5% to 3.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
College Station-Bryan has 134,040 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 164th 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% | $16.43 | $17.88 | $20.78 | $22.66 | 0.79 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.42 | $23.07 | $27.69 | $28.78 | 0.80 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $21.18 | $23.20 | $26.38 | $29.87 | 0.78 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $21.00 | $23.93 | $31.06 | $30.67 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Is College Station cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 College Station and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Station, TXthis page | $31,000 – $97,100 | $64,100 | |
| Waco, TX75 miles | $31,800 – $99,500 | $65,600 | +2% |
| Austin, TX75 miles | $33,500 – $105,000 | $69,200 | +8% |
| Killeen, TX85 miles | $31,800 – $99,400 | $65,600 | +2% |
| Houston, TX95 miles | $34,000 – $106,500 | $70,200 | +10% |
| Tyler, TX135 miles | $31,500 – $98,400 | $65,000 | +1% |
| Texas (statewide) | $33,400 – $104,500 | $68,800 | +7% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +16% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, College Station ranks #291 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, College Station is 7% below the Texas figure.
Elsewhere in Texas
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $35,000 – $109,500 | $72,300 | +13% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $34,000 – $106,500 | $70,200 | +10% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $33,500 – $105,000 | $69,200 | +8% |
| 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 | −1% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $30,200 – $94,300 | $62,300 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is College Station against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $38,700 – $120,500 | $79,600 | +24% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $38,700 – $120,500 | $79,700 | +24% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $38,800 – $121,000 | $80,000 | +25% |
| Fayetteville, NC | 131,430 jobs | $32,800 – $102,500 | $67,600 | +6% |
College Station 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, College Stn (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 College Station 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.
College Station gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and October (4.9 inches in October). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 117 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 | 62 | 41 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 66 | 45 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 52 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 58 | 2.9 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 66 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 92 | 73 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Jul | 95 | 75 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 75 | 3.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 70 | 3.5 | Hot |
| Oct | 82 | 60 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 50 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 63 | 43 | 3.7 | Workable |
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Inground pool in College Station: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in College Station?
For 450 sq ft, expect $31,000 to $97,100 in the College Station area. A standard-spec job lands at $50,900 to $77,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in College Station?
About $69 to $215 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $90 to $270 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in College Station or Waco?
Waco is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $65,600, which is 2% more than College Station ($64,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in College Station?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $30,600 out of $64,100. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in College Station?
$35,300 to $110,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in College Station?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $90 to $270 for fees in the College Station area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is College Station expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Texas?
College Station is 7% below 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 College Station?
The BLS median is $17.88 an hour in the College Station area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.43 to $20.78.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in College Station?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $31,000 to $57,500 and premium work $70,700 to $97,100. 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 College Station?
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 College Station
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.