Inground pool cost in Appleton, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $41,100 – $128,000
- Per sq ft
- $91 – $284
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #42
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install an inground pool in Appleton, plan on $41,100 to $128,000 for 450 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $91 to $284 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 14% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $28.49 an hour in the Appleton area, 26% above the US median of $22.66.
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Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Appleton, WI, standard level
$67,200 to $102,000
About $149 to $226 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,300 |
| Labor | $40,600 | $61,500 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $67,200 | $102,000 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Appleton, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,600 | 39% |
| Labor | $24,900 | $51,100 | $77,200 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $180 | $280 | 0% |
| Total | $41,100 | $84,600 | $128,000 | 100% |
Why Appleton 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, Appleton wages are 1.32 times the national level. Labor makes up about 60% of the midpoint estimate (52% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Appleton 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 (92.4) and land at $90 to $280.
Cost by quality level and size in Appleton
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Appleton 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
$41,100 to $75,900
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$67,200 to $102,000
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$93,300 to $128,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $36,500 – $67,500 | $59,700 – $90,700 | $83,000 – $114,000 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $46,700 – $86,300 | $76,400 – $116,000 | $106,000 – $146,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $73,000 – $135,000 | $119,500 – $181,000 | $165,500 – $227,500 |
Inground pool: what moves the price in Appleton
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.
Climate in Appleton: timing your inground pool job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Appleton (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through September is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Appleton (5 of 12 months). January, February, March, April, October, 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.
Appleton gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, August and September are the driest, at 3.6 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 25 | 10 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 29 | 12 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 22 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 34 | 3.2 | Cold |
| May | 67 | 46 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 57 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 61 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 51 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 39 | 2.8 | Cold |
| Nov | 43 | 28 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Dec | 31 | 17 | 1.8 | Cold |
Appleton 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 Appleton is 1.32 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $28.49 an hour, 26% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.86 and $36.28 an hour. About 1,030 work in the metro. That is 82.9 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 $39.91 an hour, which is 39% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $32.49 and $45.77 an hour. BLS counts 480 of them working in the area, 38.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021), 20% of the weighting: a median of $38.40 an hour, 29% above the US median of $29.87. The middle half of them earn between $30.71 and $46.75 an hour. About 90 work in the metro. That is 7.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 3.4 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $44.11 an hour, which is 44% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.35 and $50.33 an hour. BLS counts 890 of them working in the area, 71.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.0), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($36.28 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $5,300. At the 25th percentile ($21.86) it shrinks by about $4,550. The total moves by 6.3% or 5.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 124,230 jobs in the Appleton area. That makes it the 174th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.86 | $28.49 | $36.28 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $32.49 | $39.91 | $45.77 | $28.78 | 1.39 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $30.71 | $38.40 | $46.75 | $29.87 | 1.29 | metro |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $29.35 | $44.11 | $50.33 | $30.67 | 1.44 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.32 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Appleton
Because every project leans on different trades, Appleton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +18% and wood deck level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,900 – $11,600 | +2% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,350 – $6,100 | +12% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,400 | +8% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $7,550 – $15,100 | level |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $710 – $2,450 | +18% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,100 – $14,500 | +10% |
How Appleton compares
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 $80,100 to $84,900 across Appleton and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WIthis page | $41,100 – $128,000 | $84,600 | |
| Oshkosh, WI20 miles | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,500 | −5% |
| Green Bay, WI20 miles | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,600 | −5% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $38,900 – $121,500 | $80,100 | −5% |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $40,600 – $126,500 | $83,700 | −1% |
| Milwaukee, WI100 miles | $41,200 – $128,500 | $84,900 | level |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $39,600 – $123,500 | $81,600 | −3% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −12% |
Across 300 US metros, Appleton comes in at #42 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Appleton is 4% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $41,200 – $128,500 | $84,900 | level |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $40,700 – $127,000 | $83,800 | −1% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,600 | −5% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,500 | −5% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $40,400 – $126,000 | $83,200 | −2% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $39,700 – $124,000 | $81,700 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Appleton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Appleton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $40,800 – $127,000 | $84,000 | −1% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $32,000 – $99,900 | $65,900 | −22% |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $33,500 – $104,500 | $69,100 | −18% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $41,700 – $130,000 | $85,800 | +1% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Inground pool in Appleton: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Appleton?
For 450 sq ft, expect $41,100 to $128,000 in the Appleton area. A standard-spec job lands at $67,200 to $102,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Appleton?
About $91 to $284 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $90 to $280 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $80 to $250.
+Is inground pool cheaper in Appleton or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $80,500, which is 5% less than Appleton ($84,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Appleton?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $51,100 out of $84,600. Materials are 39% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Appleton?
$46,700 to $146,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Appleton?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $90 to $280 for fees in the Appleton area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Appleton expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Appleton is 4% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($81,600 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Appleton?
The BLS median is $28.49 an hour in the Appleton area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.86 to $36.28.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Appleton?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $41,100 to $75,900 and premium work $93,300 to $128,000. 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 Appleton?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through September. August and September 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 Appleton
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.