Inground pool cost in Wausau, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (450 sq ft)
- $40,600 – $126,500
- Per sq ft
- $90 – $281
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $74,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #49
- 1 = most expensive
An inground pool in Wausau, WI usually costs $40,600 to $126,500 for 450 sq ft. That works out to about $90 to $281 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $9,250 more. Construction laborers earn a median of $25.30 an hour in the Wausau area, 12% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 450 sq ft in Wausau, WI, standard level
$66,500 to $101,000
About $147 to $224 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $26,400 | $40,300 |
| Labor | $39,900 | $60,400 |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $220 |
| Total | $66,500 | $101,000 |
Cost breakdown for 450 sq ft in Wausau, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $16,000 | $33,300 | $50,600 | 40% |
| Labor | $24,500 | $50,200 | $75,800 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $190 | $280 | 0% |
| Total | $40,600 | $83,700 | $126,500 | 100% |
Where the Wausau price comes from
Labor is 60% of the midpoint bill here, against 52% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (40%), operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (30%), brickmasons and blockmasons (20%), plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Wausau the blended ratio comes out at 1.30.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Wausau is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $35,600 nationally becomes $33,300 here (midpoint, 450 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.7: $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 Wausau. The wage table below marks each row.
Wausau against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
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 $80,500 to $84,600 across Wausau and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wausau, WIthis page | $40,600 – $126,500 | $83,700 | |
| Eau Claire, WI75 miles | $40,400 – $126,000 | $83,200 | −1% |
| Oshkosh, WI80 miles | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,500 | −4% |
| Appleton, WI80 miles | $41,100 – $128,000 | $84,600 | +1% |
| Green Bay, WI90 miles | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,600 | −4% |
| La Crosse, WI105 miles | $39,700 – $124,000 | $81,700 | −2% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $39,600 – $123,500 | $81,600 | −2% |
| United States | $36,100 – $113,000 | $74,500 | −11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Wausau ranks #49 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Wausau is 2% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $41,200 – $128,500 | $84,900 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $40,700 – $127,000 | $83,800 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,600 | −4% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $41,100 – $128,000 | $84,600 | +1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $39,100 – $122,000 | $80,500 | −4% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $40,400 – $126,000 | $83,200 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wausau against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $38,600 – $120,500 | $79,500 | −5% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $34,000 – $106,000 | $70,100 | −16% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $35,500 – $111,000 | $73,200 | −12% |
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $37,600 – $117,500 | $77,400 | −7% |
Planning more than one job in Wausau?
Jobs that often go together with inground pool are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Wausau wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, French drain comes out highest (+16%) and wood deck lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,000 | −3% |
| Paver patio | 300 sq ft | $3,200 – $5,750 | +6% |
| Concrete patio | 300 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,150 | +3% |
| Wood deck | 300 sq ft | $6,900 – $13,800 | −9% |
| French drain | 60 linear ft | $700 – $2,450 | +16% |
| Retaining wall | 200 sq ft of wall face | $8,050 – $14,400 | +10% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Wausau 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 local crews earn in Wausau
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 4 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Wausau the blend is 1.30.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $25.30 an hour, which is 12% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.07 and $30.00 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 73.3 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 $43.70 an hour, 52% above the US median of $28.78. The middle half of them earn between $30.94 and $45.52 an hour. About 200 work in the metro. That is 28.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Brickmasons and blockmasons (47-2021) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Wausau 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.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $41.71 an hour, 36% above the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $29.85 and $48.25 an hour. About 260 work in the metro. That is 37.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $3,200 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $2,200. That is a swing of roughly 2.6% to 3.8% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Wausau has 69,530 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 261st by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.07 | $25.30 | $30.00 | $22.66 | 1.12 | metro |
| Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators (47-2073) | 30% | $30.94 | $43.70 | $45.52 | $28.78 | 1.52 | 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% | $29.85 | $41.71 | $48.25 | $30.67 | 1.36 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.30 | |||||
Wausau: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Wausau. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small pool (400 sq ft) to large (800 sq ft).
Basic
$40,600 to $75,100
Vinyl-liner pool, small size
Standard
$66,500 to $101,000
Fiberglass pool, standard size
Premium
$92,300 to $126,500
Concrete or gunite, large with custom features
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small pool (400 sq ft) | $36,100 – $66,700 | $59,100 – $89,700 | $82,100 – $112,500 |
| average (512 sq ft) | $46,200 – $85,400 | $75,600 – $115,000 | $105,000 – $144,000 |
| large (800 sq ft) | $72,200 – $133,500 | $118,000 – $179,000 | $164,000 – $225,000 |
Wausau weather and the inground pool calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Wausau Dwtn Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For pouring concrete, the comfortable months in Wausau are May through September: 5 of 12. Outside them, 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.
Wausau gets about 34 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 64 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (4.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, May and September are the driest, at 3.8 and 3.8 inches. The station averages about 5 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23 | 7 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Feb | 27 | 10 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 40 | 21 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 32 | 3.1 | Cold |
| May | 67 | 45 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 55 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 59 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 78 | 57 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 70 | 49 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 56 | 37 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Nov | 40 | 25 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Dec | 28 | 14 | 1.5 | Cold |
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 $66,500 to $101,000 for Wausau, WI is attached.
Detailed inground pool report for Wausau, WI, $9
Multi-page report for Wausau, WI: 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 Wausau: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an inground pool in Wausau?
For 450 sq ft, expect $40,600 to $126,500 in the Wausau area. A standard-spec job lands at $66,500 to $101,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for inground pool in Wausau?
About $90 to $281 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 Wausau or Eau Claire?
Eau Claire is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 450 sq ft there is $83,200, which is 1% less than Wausau ($83,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wausau?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $50,200 out of $83,700. Materials are 40% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 52%.
+What would average (512 sq ft) cost in Wausau?
$46,200 to $144,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does inground pool need a permit in Wausau?
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 Wausau area (our national range of $100 to $300 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wausau expensive for inground pool compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Wausau is 2% 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 Wausau?
The BLS median is $25.30 an hour in the Wausau area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.07 to $30.00.
+What do basic and premium inground pool work cost in Wausau?
For 450 sq ft, basic work runs $40,600 to $75,100 and premium work $92,300 to $126,500. 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 Wausau?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are May through September. May 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 Wausau
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.