Inground pool cost in Morgantown, WV
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $33,300 – $104,000
- Per sq ft
- $73.50 – $230
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #214
- 1 = most expensive
Morgantown homeowners pay roughly $33,300 to $104,000 to install an inground pool at 450 sq ft, or $73.50 to $230 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Morgantown is 8% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.32 an hour in the Morgantown area, 6% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Morgantown, WV, standard level
$54,500 to $82,800
About $121 to $183 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 50% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $27,100 | $41,300 |
| Labor | $27,200 | $41,200 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $54,500 | $82,800 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Morgantown, WV
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,500 | $34,200 | $52,000 | 50% |
| Labor | $16,700 | $34,200 | $51,700 | 50% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $280 | 0% |
| Total | $33,300 | $68,600 | $104,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Morgantown 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, Morgantown wages are 0.88 times the national level. Labor makes up about 50% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Morgantown metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 450 sq ft comes to $34,200, compared with $35,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.3) 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 Morgantown. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: inground pool pricing in Morgantown
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Morgantown 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
$33,300 to $61,500
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$54,500 to $82,800
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$75,700 to $104,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $29,600 – $54,700 | $48,400 – $73,600 | $67,300 – $92,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $37,800 – $70,000 | $62,000 – $94,100 | $86,100 – $118,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $59,100 – $109,500 | $96,700 – $147,000 | $134,500 – $184,500 |
Why two Morgantown 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.
When to schedule inground pool in Morgantown
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Morgantown Hart Fld (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Morgantown (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, 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.
Morgantown gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.9 inches in July). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 13 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 | 40 | 24 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Feb | 44 | 26 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 53 | 33 | 3.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 65 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| May | 74 | 52 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 60 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 64 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 63 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 56 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 45 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 36 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 44 | 29 | 3.2 | Cold |
Morgantown against nearby metros and the rest of West Virginia
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Morgantown. Harrisonburg is the lowest at about $68,500 (midpoint, 450 sq ft), 85 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WVthis page | $33,300 – $104,000 | $68,600 | |
| Wheeling, WV65 miles | $34,200 – $107,000 | $70,500 | +3% |
| Pittsburgh, PA65 miles | $38,100 – $119,000 | $78,500 | +14% |
| Winchester, VA75 miles | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,600 | level |
| Harrisonburg, VA85 miles | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,500 | level |
| Hagerstown, MD95 miles | $33,300 – $104,000 | $68,700 | level |
| West Virginia (statewide) | $32,800 – $102,500 | $67,700 | −1% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Morgantown comes in at #214 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Morgantown is 1% above the West Virginia figure.
Other West Virginia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WV | 140,740 jobs | $33,900 – $106,000 | $69,900 | +2% |
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $34,400 – $107,500 | $71,000 | +4% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $34,200 – $107,000 | $70,500 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Morgantown's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Morgantown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $33,200 – $104,000 | $68,600 | level |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $35,000 – $109,000 | $72,100 | +5% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $33,000 – $103,000 | $68,100 | −1% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $36,400 – $113,500 | $75,000 | +9% |
Related projects, priced for Morgantown
Because every project leans on different trades, Morgantown's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, aluminum fence runs −5% and paver patio −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,600 – $10,900 | −5% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $2,700 – $4,900 | −10% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,150 – $3,700 | −8% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,850 – $13,800 | −9% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $560 – $1,950 | −7% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $6,250 – $12,300 | −10% |
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 Morgantown is 0.88 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $21.32 an hour, 6% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.14 and $24.01 an hour. About 660 work in the metro. That is 98.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $25.46 an hour, which is 12% below the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $22.18 and $29.27 an hour. BLS counts 530 of them working in the area, 78.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Morgantown metro, so we used the West Virginia statewide median: $22.40 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.92 and $30.00 an hour.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.26 an hour, which is 8% below the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $21.16 and $36.41 an hour. BLS counts 160 of them working in the area, 23.7 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 ($24.01 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,850. At the 25th percentile ($17.14) it shrinks by about $2,850. The total moves by 2.7% or 4.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 67,370 jobs in the Morgantown area. That makes it the 268th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $17.14 | $21.32 | $24.01 | $22.66 | 0.94 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $22.18 | $25.46 | $29.27 | $28.78 | 0.88 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $19.92 | $22.40 | $30.00 | $29.87 | 0.75 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $21.16 | $28.26 | $36.41 | $30.67 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
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Inground pool in Morgantown: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Morgantown?
For 450 sq ft, expect $33,300 to $104,000 in the Morgantown area. A standard-spec job lands at $54,500 to $82,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Morgantown?
About $73.50 to $230 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 Morgantown or Wheeling?
Wheeling is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $70,500, which is 3% more than Morgantown ($68,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Morgantown?
About 50% at the midpoint, or $34,200 out of $68,600. Materials are 50% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Morgantown?
$37,800 to $118,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Morgantown?
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 Morgantown area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Morgantown expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of West Virginia?
Morgantown is 1% above the West Virginia statewide estimate ($67,700 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in West Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Morgantown?
The BLS median is $21.32 an hour in the Morgantown area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.14 to $24.01.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Morgantown?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $33,300 to $61,500 and premium work $75,700 to $104,000. 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 Morgantown?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April 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 Morgantown
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.