Inground Swimming Pool in Fort Lauderdale, FL: Costs $35,514 to $152,201
What does inground swimming pool cost in Fort Lauderdale? Average $65,954, ranging $35,514–$152,201. BLS May 2025 median wage for General construction (carpenters, laborers & supervisors): $27.98/hr, 1% above HammerIO's national baseline. Free breakdown with material + labor split.
Quick Estimate: Inground Swimming Pool in Fort Lauderdale, FL
HammerIO estimates a typical inground swimming pool in Fort Lauderdale at about $65,954 in 2026, with a planning range from $35,514 to $152,201. The model uses a labor input of $27.98/hr (BLS OEWS May 2025 median hourly wage, General construction (carpenters, laborers & supervisors), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro), a modeled materials index of 106, and an estimated national ROI of 43%.
Average Cost
$65,954
Permit Allowance (est.)
$933
Labor Share
$23,084
Timeline
8-12 weeks
Project-specific quote review
Inground Pool Quote Audit for Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pool bids are hard to compare unless shell type, excavation, equipment, decking, fencing, drainage and electrical scope are separated. Require a line-item quote before using the midpoint estimate as a budget. Use the $65,954 midpoint as a planning number, then require the written scope below before comparing Fort Lauderdale contractor bids.
Scope checks
- - Pool type: fiberglass shell, vinyl liner or gunite/concrete, with dimensions, depth profile and warranty.
- - Site work: excavation, soil haul-off, access width, grading, retaining needs, drainage and utility conflicts.
- - Equipment: pump, filter, heater, automation, sanitation, lights, electric panel work and plumbing runs.
- - Finish items: coping, decking, safety barrier, alarms, permits, inspections, startup chemicals and training.
Ask before deposit
- - Does the price include decking, fencing and electrical work or only the pool shell?
- - What soil, groundwater or access condition becomes a change order?
- - Who is responsible for permit drawings, inspections and final safety barrier approval?
Common misses
- - Comparing a shell-only offer to a turnkey pool package.
- - No allowance for deck, fence, drainage or electrical upgrades.
- - No written startup, service and warranty handoff.
Hiring a Inground Swimming Pool Contractor in Fort Lauderdale, FL
When comparing inground swimming pool contractors in Fort Lauderdale, ask each company to quote the same scope, material grade, permit responsibility, cleanup, warranty, and timeline. That keeps the $35,514 to $152,201 local range useful instead of comparing unrelated bids.
Bid must include
Labor hours, material allowance, permit responsibility, disposal, equipment rental, and any change-order rules.
Verify before deposit
License status, insurance, recent local photos, warranty term, payment schedule, and who handles inspections.
Red flags
Cash-only pricing, vague scope, no written warranty, unusually low pump or material allowance, or a large upfront payment.
Fort Lauderdale, FL Market
+1% vs nationalGeneral construction median wage (BLS May 2025)
$27.98/hr
Material Index
106
Permit Allowance (est.)
$933
Typical Home Value (est.)
$297,499
Median hourly wage, General construction (carpenters, laborers & supervisors), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro (BLS OEWS May 2025): $27.98
Published Bureau of Labor Statistics medians for the trades that usually do a inground swimming pool, compared with the U.S. median for the same occupation. These are employee wages, not contractor billing rates (which add overhead, insurance, equipment, and profit); HammerIO uses the local-to-national ratio (0.93 for general construction) to scale the labor share of the estimate above.
| Trade (SOC) | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro | U.S. median | vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | $24.79 | $29.12 | -15% |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | $21.88 | $22.66 | -3% |
| Construction supervisors (47-1011) | $37.28 | $38.42 | -3% |
| Electricians (47-2111) | $28.19 | $30.38 | -7% |
| Plumbers (47-2152) | $27.77 | $30.67 | -9% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates for CBSA 33100 (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL). Highlighted rows feed the labor input. Full trade table: Fort Lauderdale construction costs.
Fort Lauderdale is a mid-sized city in Florida, so homeowners can usually find several contractors to compare for a inground swimming pool, which helps keep pricing competitive. HammerIO's model puts Fort Lauderdale slightly above the national baseline, though the gap is modest enough that smart material choices and timing can close it. Using a typical Fort Lauderdale home value estimate of $297,499 puts this project at about 22.2% of home value, a moderate investment with an estimated national ROI of 43%.
Low Estimate
$35,514
National: $35,000
Mid-Range
$65,954
National: $65,000
High End
$152,201
National: $150,000
Pricing Basis
Scope
priced by design + equipment
Inground Swimming Pool Cost Calculator for Fort Lauderdale
Adjusted using the BLS OEWS May 2025 median wage for General construction (carpenters, laborers & supervisors) in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro ($27.98/hr) and HammerIO's modeled material cost index (106).
Scope-Based Estimate
This project is not priced cleanly by square foot. For inground swimming pool, design complexity, equipment, excavation, access, permits, and finish quality move the quote more than floor area.
Mid-grade materials, good quality fixtures, standard options.
Estimated Total in Fort Lauderdale
$63,316
Based on mid scope, adjusted for Fort Lauderdale market rates.
Local Cost Breakdown
Labor share scaled by the BLS OEWS May 2025 median of $27.98/hr for General construction (carpenters, laborers & supervisors), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro (7% below the $30.07/hr U.S. median for the trade)
Material cost index 106 (6% above national baseline of 100)
Inground Swimming Pool vs. Home Value in Fort Lauderdale
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale | National Reference (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Inground Swimming Pool (Mid-Range) | $65,954 | $65,000 |
| Typical Home Value (est.) | $297,499 | $350,000 |
| Project as % of Home Value | 22.2% | 18.6% |
| Estimated ROI | 43% | 43% |
| Median Household Income | $59,030 | $75,000 |
What Affects the Price in Fort Lauderdale
- 1Local wages (BLS May 2025 median $27.98/hr for General construction (carpenters, laborers & supervisors), Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro)
- 2Material cost index (106 vs national 100)
- 3Pool size
- 4Material (gunite/vinyl/fiberglass)
- 5Landscaping
- 6Equipment
Popular Upgrades
- Heated pool
- Saltwater system
- Pool automation
Planning a Inground Swimming Pool in Fort Lauderdale
Building permits are typically required for a inground swimming pool in Fort Lauderdale. HammerIO uses a modeled permit allowance of $933 here; actual fees follow the local fee schedule and project valuation, so confirm them with the building department and include them in your total budget. Plan for 8-12 weeks from start to finish.
A inground swimming pool is a complex project best left to licensed professionals. BLS reports a median wage of $27.98/hr for General construction (carpenters, laborers & supervisors) in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro, and contractor billing rates run higher to cover overhead, insurance, and profit, and the specialized nature of this work means cutting corners on labor can lead to costly rework.
For the median Fort Lauderdale household earning $59,030/year, this project at $65,954 represents a significant investment. Consider financing options or phasing the work to spread costs over time.
Financing the project? Compare current rates with Fort Lauderdale mortgage and HELOC rates to estimate monthly payments. For tax implications, mortgage interest deduction may apply, see SALT deduction guide.
Methodology & Local Data Sources
How we estimate inground swimming pool costs in Fort Lauderdale: Our local cost figure of $65,954 for Fort Lauderdale, FL is calculated by adjusting the national mid-range baseline of $65,000 using two location-specific factors:
- Labor adjustment, 35% of the project cost is treated as labor. That share is scaled by the ratio of the BLS OEWS May 2025 median hourly wage for General construction (carpenters, laborers & supervisors) in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro ($27.98/hr) to the U.S. median for the same occupations ($30.07/hr), a factor of 0.93. BLS publishes employee wages, not contractor billing rates, so only the ratio is used; the wage itself is not a quote.
- Materials adjustment, 65% of cost is treated as materials, scaled by HammerIO's modeled material cost index for Fort Lauderdale of 106 (national baseline = 100). The BLS Producer Price Index tracks national construction-material price trends; it does not publish a city-level index, so this regional factor is an estimate.
- Permit fees are shown as a modeled allowance of $933 for Fort Lauderdale. Actual permit costs follow the local fee schedule and vary by project scope, valuation, and inspection requirements set by the local building department.
- Scope pricing for this project in Fort Lauderdale: quotes should be compared by equipment, design, access, permit, and finish assumptions rather than a square-foot shortcut.
Authoritative data sources (US gov):
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), median hourly wages by trade for Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro; the labor input above
- BLS Producer Price Index, Construction Materials, monthly materials cost tracking
- U.S. Census Bureau, Fort Lauderdale QuickFacts, household income, demographics, housing
- DOE Building Energy Codes Program, energy efficiency requirements affecting inground swimming pool permits
- International Code Council (ICC), IBC, IRC, and IECC code references most Florida jurisdictions adopt
- EPA RRP Rule, Renovation, Repair, and Painting compliance for pre-1978 homes
Disclaimer: Cost estimates are based on regional averages and modeling, actual quotes from licensed contractors in Fort Lauderdale can vary widely from these figures based on project complexity, contractor backlog, and material availability. Always obtain at least 3 written bids before committing.
Reviewed by Rowan Ashby · Last updated 2026
Find a Licensed Contractor + Permits in Fort Lauderdale
For a inground swimming pool in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, verify whether the contractor or specialty trade must be licensed, registered, insured, or permitted locally. Use official lookup tools and the local building department instead of trusting general directory sites:
Each state has its own licensing board. Verify before signing any contract:
Permit fees vary by jurisdiction within Florida:
- • Census Building Permits Survey
- • NACo County Explorer
- • Shovels.ai Permit Database
- • Search "fort lauderdale building permit" + your county for direct portal
Verify contractor has workers' comp + general liability:
- • Ask for COI (Certificate of Insurance) before work starts
- • OSHA, Worker Safety Standards
- • Ask for the policy limits in writing; minimum insurance rules vary by state and locality
Most Florida jurisdictions adopt these:
Why this matters: Hiring an unqualified or uninsured contractor in Florida can create insurance, inspection, warranty, and code-compliance problems. Always verify license or registration requirements, insurance, permit responsibility and inspection closeout before signing contracts.
Inground Swimming Pool: National Guide
See the full national cost guide with DIY tips, cost factors, and ROI analysis.
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