Inground pool cost in Wisconsin
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (450 sq ft)
- $39,600 – $123,500
- Per sq ft
- $88 – $274
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +10%
- US $74,500
- Metros covered
- 12
Across Wisconsin, an inground pool costs about $39,600 to $123,500 for 450 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 10% above the US figure of $74,500. Construction laborers earn a median $26.97 an hour in Wisconsin (US: $22.66).
Inside Wisconsin, the metros we cover range from $79,500 (Janesville) to $84,900 (Milwaukee) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Wisconsin (statewide), standard level
$64,800 to $98,500
About $144 to $218 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,600 | $40,500 |
| Labor | $38,100 | $57,700 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $230 |
| Total | $64,800 | $98,500 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Wisconsin
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,100 | $33,500 | $50,900 | 41% |
| Labor | $23,400 | $47,900 | $72,500 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $280 | 0% |
| Total | $39,600 | $81,600 | $123,500 | 100% |
Basic, standard or premium: Wisconsin prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small pool (400 sq ft) to large (800 sq ft).
Basic
$39,600 to $73,200
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$64,800 to $98,500
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$90,000 to $123,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $35,200 – $65,100 | $57,700 – $87,500 | $80,100 – $110,000 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $45,100 – $83,300 | $73,800 – $112,000 | $102,500 – $140,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $70,400 – $130,000 | $115,000 – $175,000 | $160,000 – $219,500 |
Why two Wisconsin 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.
Weather windows across Wisconsin
Weather decides when pouring concrete can happen, and Wisconsin is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Milwaukee has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Wisconsin at 6 months (May through October); Wausau has the shortest at 5 (May through September). Rainfall runs from 32 inches a year in Green Bay to 37 inches in La Crosse.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee | 14 | 83 | 34 | 6: May through October |
| Madison | 12 | 82 | 37 | 5: May through September |
| Green Bay | 11 | 81 | 32 | 5: May through September |
| Appleton | 10 | 82 | 33 | 5: May through September |
| Oshkosh | 10 | 82 | 33 | 6: May through October |
| Eau Claire | 6 | 83 | 33 | 5: May through September |
| La Crosse | 8 | 80 | 37 | 5: May through September |
| Racine | 16 | 81 | 32 | 6: May through October |
| Kenosha | 16 | 84 | 32 | 6: May through October |
| Janesville | 12 | 83 | 37 | 5: May through September |
| Wausau | 7 | 80 | 34 | 5: May through September |
| Sheboygan | 15 | 82 | 35 | 6: May through October |
If you are planning more than one job in Wisconsin
Each project weights the trades differently, so Wisconsin's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, French drain is +14% and wood deck −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,850 – $11,500 | +1% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,300 – $5,950 | +9% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,250 | +5% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,500 – $15,000 | −1% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $690 – $2,400 | +14% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,950 – $14,300 | +9% |
Which Wisconsin city is cheapest for inground pool?
7 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $81,600, and the top-to-bottom gap is 7%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (450 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | $41,200 – $128,500 | $84,900 | +4% |
| Appleton, WI | $41,100 – $128,000 | $84,600 | +4% |
| Madison, WI | $40,700 – $127,000 | $83,800 | +3% |
| Wausau, WI | $40,600 – $126,500 | $83,700 | +2% |
| Racine, WI | $40,600 – $126,500 | $83,500 | +2% |
| Kenosha, WI | $40,400 – $126,000 | $83,300 | +2% |
| Eau Claire, WI | $40,400 – $126,000 | $83,200 | +2% |
| La Crosse, WI | $39,700 – $124,000 | $81,700 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,600 | −1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,500 | −1% |
| Sheboygan, WI | $38,900 – $121,500 | $80,100 | −2% |
| Janesville, WI | $38,600 – $120,500 | $79,500 | −3% |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's labor line is priced from 4 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.24 times the national level.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $26.97 an hour, which is 19% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $34.68 an hour. BLS counts 20,330 of them working in the state, 69.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073), 30% of the weighting: a median of $36.19 an hour, 26% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.58 and $45.49 an hour. About 8,140 work in the state. That is 27.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021, weighted 20%) the local median is $38.52 an hour, which is 29% above the national $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $29.59 and $46.62 an hour. BLS counts 1,050 of them working in the state, 3.6 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 $39.04 an hour, 27% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.53 and $49.79 an hour. About 10,210 work in the state. That is 34.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($34.68 an hour) would add about $5,250 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.14) would take off about $3,300. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,941,540 jobs across Wisconsin (May 2025), which is 1.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.14 | $26.97 | $34.68 | $22.66 | 1.19 | state |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.58 | $36.19 | $45.49 | $28.78 | 1.26 | state |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $29.59 | $38.52 | $46.62 | $29.87 | 1.29 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $29.53 | $39.04 | $49.79 | $30.67 | 1.27 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.24 | |||||
Wisconsin versus the states around it
Wisconsin ranks 13 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for inground pool, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $102,500 and the cheapest Arkansas at $64,300, both for 450 sq ft at the midpoint. Wisconsin sits at $81,600. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 120 miles away | $45,300 – $141,500 | $93,300 | +14% |
| Iowa | 230 miles away | $35,700 – $111,500 | $73,600 | −10% |
| Michigan | 230 miles away | $36,600 – $114,500 | $75,500 | −7% |
| Minnesota | 260 miles away | $43,000 – $134,500 | $88,700 | +9% |
| Indiana | 260 miles away | $38,700 – $121,000 | $79,800 | −2% |
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Detailed inground pool report for Wisconsin, $9
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Inground pool in Wisconsin: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Wisconsin?
$39,600 to $123,500 for 450 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Wisconsin can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Wisconsin is cheapest for inground pool?
Janesville at about $79,500 (midpoint, 450 sq ft). The priciest is Milwaukee at $84,900.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Wisconsin than the US average?
It is 10% more expensive: $81,600 against $74,500 for 450 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Wisconsin?
About 59% ($47,900). Materials are 41%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.24x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Wisconsin?
The BLS statewide median is $26.97 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.14 to $34.68.
+Where does Wisconsin rank for inground pool costs?
13th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $81,600 for 450 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Wisconsin?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $39,600 to $73,200 and premium work $90,000 to $123,500. Basic means: vinyl-liner pool, small size. Premium means: concrete or gunite, large with custom features.
+Does the season matter for inground pool in Wisconsin?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Wisconsin metros we cover, Milwaukee has the most comfortable months (6 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Inground pool by city in Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, WI$84,900 midpoint
- Appleton, WI$84,600 midpoint
- Madison, WI$83,800 midpoint
- Wausau, WI$83,700 midpoint
- Racine, WI$83,500 midpoint
- Kenosha, WI$83,300 midpoint
- Eau Claire, WI$83,200 midpoint
- La Crosse, WI$81,700 midpoint
- Green Bay, WI$80,600 midpoint
- Oshkosh, WI$80,500 midpoint
- Sheboygan, WI$80,100 midpoint
- Janesville, WI$79,500 midpoint
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.