Inground pool cost in Blacksburg, VA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $33,000 – $103,000
- Per sq ft
- $73 – $228
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #225
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install an inground pool in Blacksburg, plan on $33,000 to $103,000 for 450 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $73 to $228 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 9% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.03 an hour in the Blacksburg area, 12% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Blacksburg, VA, standard level
$54,000 to $82,000
About $120 to $182 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,300 | $41,500 |
| Labor | $26,600 | $40,300 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $54,000 | $82,000 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Blacksburg, VA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $34,400 | $52,300 | 51% |
| Labor | $16,300 | $33,400 | $50,500 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $280 | 0% |
| Total | $33,000 | $68,000 | $103,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Blacksburg number
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, Blacksburg wages are 0.86 times the national level. Labor makes up about 49% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Blacksburg metro is 96.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $34,400, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.7) and land at $95 to $280.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Blacksburg. The wage table below marks each row.
Climate in Blacksburg: timing your inground pool job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Blacksburg Nwso (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through October is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Blacksburg (6 of 12 months). January, February, March, April, November and December have an average overnight low of 40°F or below.
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.
Blacksburg gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 25 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.5 inches in May). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.5 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 5 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 | 42 | 22 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 24 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 53 | 30 | 3.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 64 | 39 | 3.8 | Cold |
| May | 72 | 48 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 53 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 41 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 31 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 45 | 25 | 3.3 | Cold |
Planning more than one job in Blacksburg?
Because every project leans on different trades, Blacksburg's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs −7% and concrete patio −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,400 – $10,400 | −9% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,750 – $5,000 | −8% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,550 | −11% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,750 – $13,600 | −10% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $560 – $1,950 | −7% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,400 – $12,500 | −8% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Blacksburg bid
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.
Blacksburg: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Blacksburg 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
$33,000 to $61,000
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$54,000 to $82,000
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$75,000 to $103,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $29,300 – $54,300 | $48,000 – $73,000 | $66,700 – $91,700 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $37,500 – $69,400 | $61,400 – $93,300 | $85,300 – $117,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $58,500 – $108,500 | $95,900 – $145,500 | $133,000 – $183,000 |
Is Blacksburg 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 $65,800 to $71,000 across Blacksburg and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg, VAthis page | $33,000 – $103,000 | $68,000 | |
| Roanoke, VA35 miles | $31,900 – $99,700 | $65,800 | −3% |
| Winston, NC75 miles | $32,300 – $101,000 | $66,600 | −2% |
| Lynchburg, VA75 miles | $32,400 – $101,500 | $66,900 | −2% |
| Greensboro, NC85 miles | $32,500 – $101,500 | $67,000 | −2% |
| Charleston, WV95 miles | $34,400 – $107,500 | $71,000 | +4% |
| Virginia (statewide) | $34,800 – $108,500 | $71,800 | +5% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Blacksburg comes in at #225 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Blacksburg is 5% below the Virginia figure.
Other Virginia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $32,700 – $102,000 | $67,400 | −1% |
| Richmond, VA | 660,350 jobs | $33,700 – $105,000 | $69,400 | +2% |
| Roanoke, VA | 153,980 jobs | $31,900 – $99,700 | $65,800 | −3% |
| Charlottesville, VA | 114,780 jobs | $34,400 – $107,500 | $71,000 | +4% |
| Lynchburg, VA | 97,190 jobs | $32,400 – $101,500 | $66,900 | −2% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,600 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Blacksburg's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Blacksburg against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $35,600 – $111,000 | $73,400 | +8% |
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $34,800 – $109,000 | $71,800 | +6% |
| Abilene, TX | 75,070 jobs | $31,900 – $99,700 | $65,800 | −3% |
| Kahului, HI | 73,750 jobs | $50,900 – $159,000 | $105,000 | +54% |
Blacksburg labor market for inground pool
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 Blacksburg is 0.86 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $20.03 an hour, 12% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.47 and $22.13 an hour.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $24.05 an hour, which is 16% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $21.55 and $28.88 an hour.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Blacksburg metro, so we used the Virginia statewide median: $26.29 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.38 and $29.15 an hour.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $25.64 an hour, which is 16% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.69 and $32.00 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($22.13 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,450. At the 25th percentile ($17.47) it shrinks by about $1,750. The total moves by 2.1% or 2.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 74,070 jobs in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford area. That makes it the 248th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $17.47 | $20.03 | $22.13 | $22.66 | 0.88 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $21.55 | $24.05 | $28.88 | $28.78 | 0.84 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $22.38 | $26.29 | $29.15 | $29.87 | 0.88 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $22.69 | $25.64 | $32.00 | $30.67 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $54,000 to $82,000 for Blacksburg, VA is attached.
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Multi-page report for Blacksburg, VA: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Inground pool in Blacksburg: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Blacksburg?
For 450 sq ft, expect $33,000 to $103,000 in the Blacksburg area. A standard-spec job lands at $54,000 to $82,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Blacksburg?
About $73 to $228 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $95 to $280 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Blacksburg or Roanoke?
Roanoke is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $65,800, which is 3% less than Blacksburg ($68,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Blacksburg?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $33,400 out of $68,000. Materials are 51% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Blacksburg?
$37,500 to $117,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Blacksburg?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $95 to $280 for fees in the Blacksburg area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Blacksburg expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Virginia?
Blacksburg is 5% below the Virginia statewide estimate ($71,800 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Blacksburg?
The BLS median is $20.03 an hour in the Blacksburg area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.47 to $22.13.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Blacksburg?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $33,000 to $61,000 and premium work $75,000 to $103,000. 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 Blacksburg?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through October. September and October 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 Blacksburg
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.