A pool route pays when stops are close together and chemicals are priced right. The weekly price has to cover the drive between stops, the time at each pool and the chemicals you add. Openings, closings and repairs are where the extra margin is.
- Price the weekly visit from route time, time on site and average chemical use.
- Fixr lists weekly service at $20 to $50 a week, $1,040 to $2,600 a year on contract.
- Monthly service runs $30 to $90 a month in Fixr's guide. Pool openings run $250 to $350 and closings $200 to $300.
- Decide whether chemicals are included or billed, and say so on the agreement.
Setting your labor rate
Start with the wage. The closest group the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes is building cleaning workers, all other, the closest published group we could match to pool techs. In its May 2025 wage survey, that group's national mean wage was $22.32 an hour and the median was $21.17 (BLS OEWS 37-2019). Use your own payroll if you pay techs by the stop.
Add your labor burden on top: payroll taxes, workers' comp and any paid time off. If burden in your state comes to 20% of wages, a $20 an hour tech costs you $24 an hour. That loaded number is what goes into the job cost.
Fixr notes some pool techs charge by the hour, about $60 to $95 an hour (Fixr).
Published pool service prices
| Service | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly visits | $20 to $50 a week | Fixr |
| Weekly, annual contract | $1,040 to $2,600 a year | Fixr |
| Monthly visits | $30 to $90 a month | Fixr |
| Monthly summer service, average | About $500 | Fixr |
| Pool opening | $250 to $350, average $300 | Fixr |
| Pool closing | $200 to $300, average $250 | Fixr |
| Hourly | $60 to $95 | Fixr |
A worked example: a weekly stop
Every input is an assumption for the example.
- Time per stop: 25 minutes at the pool plus 10 minutes of drive = 35 minutes
- Loaded labor: 35 / 60 x $24 = $14
- Chemicals, average per weekly visit: $9
- Vehicle: 5 miles x $0.76 = $3.80
- Direct cost: $14 + $9 + $3.80 = $26.80
- Overhead plus profit: 25% + 15% = 40% of the price
- Price per weekly visit: $26.80 / 0.60 = $45
That is inside Fixr's $20 to $50 a week. Monthly, it bills as about $195 with chemicals included. A stop that adds 20 minutes of driving needs a higher price, or a neighbor to share the trip.
Openings, closings and repairs
In seasonal markets, openings and closings are a rush of bigger tickets. Price them from your crew time and chemical startup, and book them early. Filter cleans, pump repairs and green-to-clean jobs belong on a price list so the tech can quote at the pool.
On Grow, campaigns remind last year's customers to book their opening, with one tap to book.
Bill the route without chasing
On Front Office, Koira sells maintenance plans on your site and on every invoice, bills them on the card on file and books each visit when it is due. Today keeps the stops in driving order, and the customer gets an on-my-way text when the tech leaves the last stop.
Common pool service pricing mistakes
- Chemicals included with no cap. A green pool can use a month of chemicals in one visit. Bill recovery work separately.
- Scattered stops. The drive is the hidden cost. Price outliers higher.
- Repairs done on the fly. Quote them with a price list, then do them.
Questions contractors ask
How much should I charge for weekly pool service?
Build it from route time, time at the pool and chemicals. Fixr lists $20 to $50 a week, or $1,040 to $2,600 a year on contract.
What does a pool opening cost?
Fixr lists pool openings at $250 to $350, about $300 for a full opening.
What does a pool closing cost?
Fixr lists closings at $200 to $300, about $250 for an in-ground pool.
Should chemicals be included?
Many companies include routine chemicals and bill recovery treatments. Either way, write it down.
