Inground pool cost in El Paso, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $30,700 – $96,100
- Per sq ft
- $68 – $213
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −15%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #295
- 1 = most expensive
El Paso homeowners pay roughly $30,700 to $96,100 to install an inground pool at 450 sq ft, or $68 to $213 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, El Paso is 15% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.15 an hour in the El Paso area, 24% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in El Paso, TX, standard level
$50,300 to $76,500
About $112 to $170 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 47% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,200 |
| Labor | $23,800 | $36,000 |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $220 |
| Total | $50,300 | $76,500 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in El Paso, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,600 | 53% |
| Labor | $14,600 | $29,900 | $45,200 | 47% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $270 | 0% |
| Total | $30,700 | $63,400 | $96,100 | 100% |
Where the El Paso price comes from
Labor is 47% 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 El Paso the blended ratio comes out at 0.77.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the El Paso metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $33,300, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (89.9) and land at $90 to $270.
Pick a size, pick a tier: inground pool pricing in El Paso
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for El Paso 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
$30,700 to $56,900
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$50,300 to $76,500
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$70,000 to $96,100
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $27,300 – $50,600 | $44,800 – $68,000 | $62,200 – $85,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $35,000 – $64,700 | $57,300 – $87,000 | $79,600 – $109,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $54,600 – $101,000 | $89,400 – $136,000 | $124,000 – $170,500 |
Why two El Paso 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.
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 El Paso is 0.77 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $17.15 an hour, 24% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $15.39 and $19.10 an hour. About 2,140 work in the metro. That is 63.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $21.94 an hour, which is 24% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $18.72 and $26.11 an hour. BLS counts 980 of them working in the area, 28.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is about average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.53 an hour, 21% below the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $18.29 and $24.02 an hour. About 60 work in the metro. That is 1.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $25.75 an hour, which is 16% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $21.94 and $29.48 an hour. BLS counts 640 of them working in the area, 18.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($19.10 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,350. At the 25th percentile ($15.39) it shrinks by about $1,200. The total moves by 2.1% or 1.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 339,120 jobs in the El Paso area. That makes it the 76th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.22% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $15.39 | $17.15 | $19.10 | $22.66 | 0.76 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $18.72 | $21.94 | $26.11 | $28.78 | 0.76 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $18.29 | $23.53 | $24.02 | $29.87 | 0.79 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $21.94 | $25.75 | $29.48 | $30.67 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.77 | |||||
Is El Paso 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 $63,400 to $68,400 across El Paso and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Paso, TXthis page | $30,700 – $96,100 | $63,400 | |
| Las Cruces, NM95 miles | $31,800 – $99,600 | $65,700 | +4% |
| Odessa, TX175 miles | $32,800 – $102,500 | $67,700 | +7% |
| Midland, TX210 miles | $33,200 – $103,500 | $68,400 | +8% |
| Lubbock, TX250 miles | $30,900 – $96,700 | $63,800 | +1% |
| Albuquerque, NM255 miles | $32,400 – $101,500 | $66,900 | +6% |
| Texas (statewide) | $33,400 – $104,500 | $68,800 | +9% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +17% |
Across 300 US metros, El Paso comes in at #295 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, El Paso is 8% below the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $35,000 – $109,500 | $72,300 | +14% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $34,000 – $106,500 | $70,200 | +11% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $33,500 – $105,000 | $69,200 | +9% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $32,200 – $101,000 | $66,500 | +5% |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $30,200 – $94,300 | $62,300 | −2% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $32,700 – $102,000 | $67,500 | +6% |
Cities with a workforce like El Paso's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is El Paso against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $33,500 – $104,500 | $69,000 | +9% |
| Bakersfield, CA | 338,230 jobs | $40,600 – $127,000 | $83,700 | +32% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $33,700 – $105,500 | $69,600 | +10% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $37,400 – $117,000 | $77,200 | +22% |
Related projects, priced for El Paso
Because every project leans on different trades, El Paso's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, aluminum fence runs −13% and concrete patio −17%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,250 – $9,950 | −13% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,500 – $4,550 | −16% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,100 – $3,300 | −17% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,350 – $12,700 | −16% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $510 – $1,800 | −15% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $5,900 – $11,700 | −14% |
When to schedule inground pool in El Paso
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for El Paso Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through May and September through November are the stretches where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in El Paso (6 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below; June, 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 June, July and August, crews often start early, wet the base and plan for faster set times.
El Paso gets about 9 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (1.7 inches in August). Inside the workable window, March and April are the driest, at 0.2 and 0.2 inches. The station averages about 117 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 | 59 | 35 | 0.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 64 | 39 | 0.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 72 | 46 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 80 | 53 | 0.2 | Workable |
| May | 89 | 62 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 97 | 71 | 0.7 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 73 | 1.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 72 | 1.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 88 | 65 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 79 | 54 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 42 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 58 | 34 | 0.6 | Cold |
Get 3 local quotes
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Inground pool in El Paso: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in El Paso?
For 450 sq ft, expect $30,700 to $96,100 in the El Paso area. A standard-spec job lands at $50,300 to $76,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in El Paso?
About $68 to $213 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 El Paso or Las Cruces?
Las Cruces is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $65,700, which is 4% more than El Paso ($63,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in El Paso?
About 47% at the midpoint, or $29,900 out of $63,400. Materials are 53% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in El Paso?
$35,000 to $109,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in El Paso?
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 El Paso area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is El Paso expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Texas?
El Paso is 8% 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 El Paso?
The BLS median is $17.15 an hour in the El Paso area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.39 to $19.10.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in El Paso?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $30,700 to $56,900 and premium work $70,000 to $96,100. 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 El Paso?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through May and September through November. March 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 El Paso
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.