Pool Service Pricing by State
See what pool service professionals charge in your state. Data from 30,000+ pros managing 700,000+ pools.
Pricing Results
Select a state to see pricing data
Understanding Pool Service Rates in Your State
Pool service pricing isn't arbitrary—it's shaped by local economics, competition, and customer expectations. What works in Miami doesn't work in Minneapolis. What's profitable in Phoenix might bankrupt you in Portland. This tool gives you instant access to real market data so you can price intelligently rather than guessing or blindly copying competitors.
The data you see comes from actual billing records across thousands of pool service companies. It's not survey data or estimates—it's what professionals are actually charging and customers are actually paying. Use it as your baseline for understanding where your market stands.
The Four Pricing Models: Which One Fits Your Business?
Pool service pricing falls into four categories, and understanding each helps you choose the right model for your market and business strategy.
Monthly + Chemicals
The all-inclusive model. Customers pay one flat rate that covers weekly service visits and all chemicals needed. This is the dominant model for residential weekly service in most markets. It's simple to bill, predictable for customers, and creates recurring revenue you can count on. The risk: problem pools that consume excessive chemicals cut into your margin. The solution: price with a buffer and don't be afraid to raise rates on high-chemical pools.
Monthly Only
Service labor without chemicals. The customer buys their own chemicals or you bill chemicals separately. This protects your margin from chemical cost fluctuations and problem pools. The tradeoff: more complex billing, potential disputes about chemical usage, and some customers find variable bills frustrating. Works best in markets where separate chemical billing is common, or for commercial accounts with predictable chemical needs.
Per-Stop + Chemicals
Payment for each visit, chemicals included. Common in Texas and parts of the Southwest, and for commercial accounts everywhere. Per-stop pricing gives customers flexibility (easy to pause service, skip weeks) but creates variable income for you. Best for bi-weekly residential service, commercial accounts, or markets where per-stop is the established norm.
Per-Stop Only
Labor charge per visit, chemicals separate. The most transparent model—customers see exactly what they pay for. Popular for commercial accounts and price-sensitive residential customers. Requires detailed tracking but eliminates chemical cost risk entirely. You charge for what you use, nothing more, nothing less.
What the Numbers Actually Mean
When you look up pricing for your state, you'll see four numbers: Low, Low Average, High Average, and High. Here's what each represents:
Low: The bottom of the market. Budget operators, new businesses building routes, or underpriced services that may not be sustainable long-term. Don't use this as your target—these operators often struggle or fail.
Low Average: The entry point for professional service. Competitive pricing for standard service without premium positioning. Appropriate for new operators building a reputation, or for price-competitive markets with many options.
High Average: The sweet spot for established, quality-focused operators. This is where most successful pool service companies land—competitive enough to win business, profitable enough to sustain and grow.
High: Premium pricing for premium service. Same technician every visit, detailed service reports, rapid response to issues, immaculate work quality. Not every customer will pay this, but the ones who do are often the best customers to have.
Why Your State's Rates Are What They Are
Pool service pricing varies dramatically by state, and understanding why helps you position your business correctly.
Pool Density: States with fewer pools per capita (Kansas, Nebraska, Montana) often have higher rates. Less competition plus captive customers equals pricing power. Conversely, high-density pool states like Florida and Arizona have intense competition—but also intense demand, which keeps prices healthy.
Season Length: A pool service in Minnesota operates maybe 5 months per year. A Florida service operates 12 months. The Minnesota operator needs to earn their annual income in less than half the time, driving higher monthly rates during the operating season.
Cost of Living: California pool services charge more than Alabama pool services partly because everything costs more in California—labor, fuel, insurance, rent, vehicles. Pricing reflects local cost structures.
Market Maturity: Established markets (Florida, Arizona, California) have well-understood pricing norms. Emerging markets (Tennessee, Georgia) are still developing pricing standards, creating opportunity for savvy operators to establish premium positioning before the market matures.
Setting Your Prices: A Practical Framework
Market data is a starting point, not a final answer. Here's how to translate state averages into your actual pricing:
- Calculate your costs first. Use our Cost Per Pool Calculator to determine your true per-pool cost including labor, chemicals, fuel, insurance, and overhead. Never price below your costs regardless of market rates.
- Assess your route density. If your average drive time between pools exceeds 10 minutes, you need higher per-pool pricing to compensate. Dense routes can price more competitively; scattered routes need premium pricing.
- Define your service level. Chemistry-only service commands lower prices than full-service (chemistry, brushing, vacuuming, filter cleaning). Price your actual service level, not an industry average.
- Position against competition. If you offer superior service (same tech every visit, service reports, rapid response), price at or above high average. If you're competing on price, stay at or below low average. The middle ground is often the worst position—not cheap enough to win price-sensitive customers, not premium enough to attract quality-focused customers.
- Test and adjust. If you're closing 90% of quotes, you're probably priced too low. If you're closing 20% of quotes, you're either priced too high or selling to the wrong customers. Aim for 50-70% close rates as a healthy indicator of market-appropriate pricing.
When to Raise Prices
Most pool service companies wait too long to raise prices. Meanwhile, costs increase annually: chemicals go up, fuel goes up, insurance goes up, labor goes up. If your prices stay flat, your margins erode.
Annual increases: 3-5% annually keeps pace with inflation and cost increases. Frame it as routine: "Due to increased costs for chemicals, fuel, and insurance, rates will increase $5/month effective April 1." Most customers accept modest annual increases without complaint.
Market correction increases: If you're significantly below market average, consider a larger increase (10-15%) to bring your pricing in line. Yes, you'll lose some customers. The ones you lose are typically the most price-sensitive and least profitable anyway. The customers who stay are signaling they value your service over the lowest price.
Problem pool increases: Some pools consume dramatically more time and chemicals than average. These pools deserve custom pricing that reflects their actual cost to service. Give the customer options: accept the higher rate, simplify the service scope, or part ways amicably.
The Chemical Markup Question
Compare "with chemicals" and "without chemicals" pricing for your state. The gap—typically $15-30/month for residential—represents the chemical markup.
If you include chemicals, build in at least 30-50% buffer above average chemical costs. A pool that typically costs $12/month in chemicals should be priced assuming $18-20/month. This buffer protects you from seasonal variations (summer requires more chemicals), problem pools, and unexpected issues.
If you bill chemicals separately, track usage carefully and bill accurately. Customers hate surprise chemical bills. Set expectations upfront about typical monthly chemical costs, and communicate before incurring any unusual expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How current is this pricing data?
This data comes from the 2026 Skimmer Service Rate Index, compiled from billing records across 30,000+ pool service professionals managing over 700,000 pools. The index is updated annually. Pool service pricing has increased 5-10% annually since 2020, so if you're using older pricing assumptions, you're likely underpriced.
My rates are below the state average. Should I raise them?
Probably. If you're significantly below average and consistently busy, you're leaving money on the table. If you're below average and struggling to find customers, the problem isn't your price—it's your marketing or service quality. Raise prices strategically: give existing customers 30-60 days notice, and implement new pricing immediately for new customers.
My rates are above the state average. Is that okay?
It's great—if you're delivering service that justifies premium pricing. Same technician every visit, detailed service reports, rapid response to issues, professional communication, and impeccable work quality all justify above-average rates. If you're charging premium prices without premium service, customers will eventually leave for better-value alternatives.
How do I know what pricing model to use?
Follow your market's norms. If every competitor uses monthly pricing, that's what customers expect. Trying to introduce per-stop pricing in a monthly market creates friction. That said, commercial accounts often prefer per-stop billing regardless of market norms, and some residential customers appreciate the transparency of separate chemical billing.
Why is the price range so wide in my state?
Wide ranges reflect diverse markets within the state. Florida's range includes budget operators in rural panhandle towns and premium services in Palm Beach. California spans from Central Valley to Beverly Hills. Within your specific market (your city, your target neighborhoods), the range is typically much narrower. Focus on your local competition, not statewide averages.
Should I match competitor prices?
Not automatically. Competitor pricing tells you what the market will bear, but not what you should charge. Calculate your costs first. If you can't profitably match a competitor's price, don't—either differentiate on service quality to justify higher pricing, or recognize that customer isn't a fit for your business.
How often should I raise prices?
At minimum, annually. Small, regular increases (3-5% per year) are easier for customers to accept than large, infrequent jumps. Many operators raise prices every January or at the start of pool season. Whatever schedule you choose, stick to it consistently—customers who know to expect annual increases rarely complain about them.
What if I lose customers when I raise prices?
You will lose some customers. That's okay. Price-sensitive customers who leave over a $5-10/month increase weren't profitable anyway. The customers who stay demonstrate they value your service over the lowest price—these are the customers you want. A smaller route of profitable customers beats a larger route of unprofitable ones every time.
Know Your Numbers Before You Price
Market data tells you what others charge. Our Cost Per Pool Calculator tells you what you can afford to charge while staying profitable.
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