Swimming Pool Contractor Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

• Introduction

  If you're looking to add a swimming pool to your property, you'll probably need to start by meeting with a pool contractor. These are licensed professionals, trained in the specific skills involved in pool installation that help people understand the steps in the process, the regulatory factors at play, and the options they have to install a pool at their home.
  

  
  

  When it's time to design your pool, a pool contractor can help you choose your pool, decide what features will work best, whether it be in-ground or above ground, the size, shape, and material, and calculate the cost of the job.
  

• How much do pool contractors make?

  The median annual income for a pool contractor is around $65,000 per year, with an average range (based on experience and geographic location) from a high of just over $83,000 per year and a low of slightly above $58,000 per year.
  

• Can a professional with a general contractors license build a pool?

  The license needed to build a pool varies from state to state, but in most areas, a general contractor's license is not enough to be allowed to build a pool in a residential or commercial area. In some states, constructing a pool without a proper license is a crime.
  

• Does a professional need a specialty license in order to build a pool?

  Many states require contractors to have a specialized commercial or residential pool contractor's license in order to build or repair pools. There may even be separate licenses for contractors who provide service on pools.
  

• Can anyone put a pool in their yard?

  Most areas in the United States allow residents to build a pool in their yard as long as the property owner has the proper permits to build, and the pool is up to local safety codes. Some local neighborhoods and municipalities may have more restrictive policies around residential pools.
  

• What are the biggest challenges pool contractors face when building a new pool?

  Some of the biggest challenges contractors face when building a new pool are the underground obstacles they may encounter during excavation. This includes root systems from nearby trees and underground pipes, wires, and cables from surrounding utility networks.
  

• What is the most expensive part of building a pool?

  Installation of the actual pool structure is the most expensive part of building a pool. The price varies based on the type of pool being built, but the installation of a standard-sized pool can range between $18,000 and $65,000 on average.