Inground pool cost in Oshkosh, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $39,100 – $122,000
- Per sq ft
- $86.50 – $270
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #76
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install an inground pool in Oshkosh, plan on $39,100 to $122,000 for 450 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $86.50 to $270 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 8% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $24.65 an hour in the Oshkosh area, 9% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Oshkosh, WI, standard level
$63,900 to $97,100
About $142 to $215 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,300 |
| Labor | $37,400 | $56,600 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $63,900 | $97,100 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Oshkosh, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,600 | 41% |
| Labor | $23,000 | $47,000 | $71,000 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $280 | 0% |
| Total | $39,100 | $80,500 | $122,000 | 100% |
Where the Oshkosh price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 40% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.65 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Oshkosh is 1.21 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 58% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Oshkosh 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 (92.9) 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 Oshkosh. The wage table below marks each row.
Is Oshkosh cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (450 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Appleton is the priciest of the group at $84,600. Sheboygan is the cheapest at $80,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oshkosh, WIthis page | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,500 | |
| Appleton, WI20 miles | $41,100 – $128,000 | $84,600 | +5% |
| Green Bay, WI45 miles | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,600 | level |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $38,900 – $121,500 | $80,100 | −1% |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $40,600 – $126,500 | $83,700 | +4% |
| Madison, WI85 miles | $40,700 – $127,000 | $83,800 | +4% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $39,600 – $123,500 | $81,600 | +1% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −8% |
Across 300 US metros, Oshkosh comes in at #76 from the top. The priciest is Kahului, HI at $105,000; the cheapest is McAllen, TX at $62,300 (midpoints, 450 sq ft). Statewide, Oshkosh is 1% below the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $41,200 – $128,500 | $84,900 | +5% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $40,700 – $127,000 | $83,800 | +4% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,600 | level |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $41,100 – $128,000 | $84,600 | +5% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $40,400 – $126,000 | $83,200 | +3% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $39,700 – $124,000 | $81,700 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Oshkosh's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Oshkosh against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $35,600 – $111,000 | $73,400 | −9% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $41,700 – $130,500 | $86,000 | +7% |
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −8% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $44,200 – $138,000 | $91,100 | +13% |
Climate in Oshkosh: timing your inground pool job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Oshkosh (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
May through October is the stretch where pouring concrete runs into the fewest weather problems in Oshkosh (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.
Oshkosh gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 39 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.8 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.3 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 8 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 | 26 | 10 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 30 | 13 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 24 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 36 | 3.2 | Cold |
| May | 67 | 48 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 59 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 63 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 61 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 53 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 41 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 44 | 29 | 2.0 | Cold |
| Dec | 32 | 18 | 1.6 | Cold |
Specs and site conditions that change a Oshkosh 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.
What nearby projects cost in Oshkosh
Because every project leans on different trades, Oshkosh's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, French drain runs +12% and aluminum fence +3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,950 – $11,700 | +3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,150 – $5,750 | +5% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,450 | +10% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $8,400 – $16,800 | +11% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $670 – $2,350 | +12% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $7,850 – $14,100 | +7% |
Oshkosh: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Oshkosh 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
$39,100 to $72,200
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$63,900 to $97,100
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$88,800 to $122,000
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $34,700 – $64,200 | $56,900 – $86,300 | $79,000 – $108,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $44,500 – $82,200 | $72,700 – $110,500 | $101,000 – $138,500 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $69,400 – $128,500 | $113,500 – $172,500 | $157,500 – $216,500 |
Oshkosh 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 Oshkosh is 1.21 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $24.65 an hour, 9% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.00 and $34.81 an hour. About 560 work in the metro. That is 59.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073, weighted 30%) the local median is $37.03 an hour, which is 29% above the national $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $29.76 and $44.71 an hour. BLS counts 150 of them working in the area, 16.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 30.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Oshkosh metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $38.52 an hour against $29.87 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $29.59 and $46.62 an hour.
For plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152, weighted 10%) the local median is $41.50 an hour, which is 35% above the national $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $33.32 and $51.67 an hour. BLS counts 230 of them working in the area, 24.5 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 ($34.81 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $6,950. At the 25th percentile ($21.00) it shrinks by about $2,500. The total moves by 8.6% or 3.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,750 jobs in the Oshkosh-Neenah area. That makes it the 215th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.00 | $24.65 | $34.81 | $22.66 | 1.09 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $29.76 | $37.03 | $44.71 | $28.78 | 1.29 | metro |
| Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) | 20% | $29.59 | $38.52 | $46.62 | $29.87 | 1.29 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $33.32 | $41.50 | $51.67 | $30.67 | 1.35 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.21 | |||||
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 $63,900 to $97,100 for Oshkosh, WI is attached.
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Inground pool in Oshkosh: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Oshkosh?
For 450 sq ft, expect $39,100 to $122,000 in the Oshkosh area. A standard-spec job lands at $63,900 to $97,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Oshkosh?
About $86.50 to $270 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 Oshkosh or Appleton?
Appleton is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $84,600, which is 5% more than Oshkosh ($80,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Oshkosh?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $47,000 out of $80,500. Materials are 41% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Oshkosh?
$44,500 to $138,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Oshkosh?
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 Oshkosh area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Oshkosh expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Oshkosh is 1% below 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 Oshkosh?
The BLS median is $24.65 an hour in the Oshkosh area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.00 to $34.81.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Oshkosh?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $39,100 to $72,200 and premium work $88,800 to $122,000. 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 Oshkosh?
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 Oshkosh
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.