Responses to our survey came in from 15 states. As we have come to expect, responses were heaviest from the areas with the highest number of pools. The top states in order of participation were California, Florida, Texas and Arizona.
For statistical purposes, we divided the country into seven geographic regions, based on their location and the number of responses we received.
The following is the way we broke it down:
Northern California — From the Oregon Border south to Bakersfield. Northern California represents 11 percent of the responses we received. We also included Oregon in this region.
Southern California — From the Mexican Border north to Bakersfield. Southern California represents 34 percent of the responses we received.
Southwest —Arizona; Colorado; Nevada; New Mexico; Oklahoma; Texas; and Utah. The Southwest represented 23 percent of the responses we received this year.
Florida —The Service Industry is large enough in this state for it to qualify as a separate region. Florida represents 5 percent of the responses received.
Southeast —Alabama;Arkansas; Georgia; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maryland; Mississippi; North Carolina; South Carolina; Tennessee; Virginia; and West Virginia. The Southeast represents 9 percent of the responses we received this year.
Northeast — Connecticut; Delaware; Maine; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; and Vermont. The Northeast represents 9 percent of the total number of responses that we received this year.
Midwest — Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; North Dakota; Ohio; South Dakota; Wisconsin; and Wyoming. The Midwest represents 9 percent of the responses we received this year.
The average is actually the median Whenever possible, we use the median figure for determining averages. So, the “average” price for the various levels of service represents actual prices that someone is charging. Half of the reported pricing is higher than the median, and half is lower.
When responses from a region were considered insufficient to give us an accurate reading, we dropped that region from our pricing survey. And whenever possible, we provide “highs” and “lows” for each level of service, to give you an idea of the ranges of pricing that we were dealing with.
When considering dollar amounts, we rounded up or down to the nearest whole dollar.
How Do You Bill?
We asked readers to supply us with information on how they bill as a flat monthly rate, and whether those charges include or don’t include chemicals. In some cases, respondents indicated that they have multiple billing methods. In other cases, respondents declined to disclose billing practices.
As noted in previous years, we found that across the board, the majority of service firms that bill at a flat monthly rate, regularly made one call per week for their residential customers, and one or two calls per week for their commercial customers.
We are providing statistics on monthly charges for the following:
• Residential service, billed at a flat monthly rate for one call per week.
• Commercial service, billed at a flat monthly rate for one, two, or three calls per week, data allowing.
Further, we break charges down according to whether you include chemicals in the service price or charge extra for them.
When such information is available in sufficient numbers to be judged valid, it is included in the regionby- region breakdown that is a part of this issue.
However, when there were insufficient replies from a given region for a particular type of service, it was not included in the results. Disclaimer Although it is not a purely scientific survey, we believe that our results present an accurate picture of the state of our industry in 2023.
When reader participation was deemed sufficient, we reported information on a variety of categories that were supported by adequate data.
Information contained in this survey is for informational and historical purposes only and is not meant to encourage readers to set prices in restraint of trade or in violation of any laws.
Northern California
Respondents of service firms in Northern California provided information on more than 2,500 swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have an average account size of 83 residential swimming pools, 1 commercial pool, and 3 stand-alone spas that are serviced each week.
About 86 percent of respondents indicated that they employ nonoffice workers to help service the pools on route. Those companies are composed of an average of 2 employees who are generally either paid by the pool or paid hourly. About 33 percent of respondents paid their workers by the pool, while 66 percent paid their workers hourly. Wages were about $18 per hour and $18 per pool.
For once-weekly residential service, Northern California service companies charge an average of $200 per month, with 86 percent indicating this charge includes chemicals. In this area, the highest reported per month charge was $360, while the low was $130.
For commercial accounts, about 71 percent of Northern California respondents indicated that they service commercial pools, with an average of 1 commercial account. These service professionals reported that they charge an average of $575 a month for twice-weekly service, including chemicals, with a high of $2,400 and a low of $500.
Southern California
The data provided from service firms within Southern California represents information on more than 4,500 total swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have an average account size of 75 residential swimming pools, 1 commercial pool, and 1 stand-alone spa that is serviced each week.
About 48 percent of respondents indicated that they employ nonoffice workers to help service or repair the pools on route. Companies are composed of an average of 4.5 employees who are either paid by the pool or paid hourly. About 76 percent of those respondents paid their workers by the pool, while 24 percent paid their workers hourly. Hourly wages averaged $24 or $22 per pool.
For once-weekly residential service, Southern California service
companies charge an average of $160 per month, with 71 percent indicating that this charge includes chemicals. In this area, the highest residential per-month charge was $225, while the low was $120.
About 43 percent of Southern California respondents indicated that they regularly service commercial accounts and reported that they charge an average of $350 a month for twice-weekly service, with a high of $3,800 and a low of $200. About 42 percent indicated that these charges include chemicals.
Southwest
This year, respondents of service firms in the Southwest provided information on more than 1,900 total swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have an average account size of 80 residential swimming pools, 1 commercial pool, and 1 stand-alone spa that is serviced each week.
About 72 percent of respondents indicated that they employ non-office workers to help service or repair the pools on route. Companies are composed of an average of 2 nonoffice employees who are either paid by the pool or paid hourly. About 43 percent of respondents paid their workers by the pool, while 57 percent paid their workers hourly. Hourly wages were about $18 and $13 per pool.
For once-weekly residential service, Southwest service companies charge an average of $200 per month, with 64 percent indicating that this charge includes chemicals. For respondents in this area, the highest per-month charge was $300, while the low was $135.
Roughly 86 percent of Southwest respondents reported that do not have commercial accounts. Thus, participation in this region was too light to report meaningful charges for commercial work.
Florida
Survey respondents of service firms in Florida provided information on nearly 500 swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have a median account size of 80 residential swimming pools, 15 commercial accounts, and 5 standalone spas that are serviced each week.
Nearly 100 percent of respondents indicated that they employ nonoffice workers to help service or repair the pools on route. Companies are composed of an average of 3 employees. About 33 percent of respondents paid their workers by the pool, while 66 percent paid their workers hourly. Wages were about $17 per hour and $12 per pool.
For once-weekly residential service, Florida service companies reported that they charge an average of $121 per month, with nearly all indicating this charge included chemicals. In this area, the highest per-month charge was $300, while the low was $80.
For their commercial accounts, Florida respondents reported that they charge an average of $500 a month for twice-weekly service, with about 50 percent reporting that this charge included chemicals.
Southeast
This year, survey respondents of service firms in Southeast provided information on close to 1,000 regularly serviced swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have a median account size of 85 residential swimming pools, 1 commercial account, and 1 standalone spas that are serviced each week.
About 67 percent of respondents indicated that they employ non-office workers to help service or repair the pools on route.
Those companies are composed of an average of 3.5 employees who are either paid by the pool or paid hourly with the remainder employed as salaried workers.
About 75 percent of respondents paid their workers by the pool, with the remainder indicating salary wages, hourly wages, or a percentage of the account fee. Per pool wages were about $17.
For once-weekly residential service, Southeast service companies charge an average of $180 per month, with a high of $350 and a low of $86. More than 60 percent reported that this charge includes chemicals.
About 33 percent of survey respondents indicated that they service commercial pools. For these regularly scheduled commercial accounts, respondents charge an average of $267 for twice-weekly service, with a high of $400 and a low of $200. Northeast
Survey respondents of service firms in the Northeast provided information on about 1,600 swimming pools this year. These pool maintenance companies have an average account size of 83 residential pools, 1 commercial account and 1 stand-alone spa that is serviced each week. Like other areas that experience seasonal changes, these numbers don’t include the thousands of pools that service technicians open in the spring or close in the winter.
About 84 percent of respondents indicated that they employ non-office workers to help service or repair the pools on route. Those companies are composed of an average of 5 employees who were almost always paid hourly wages. Hourly wages were about $23 or $25 per pool.
For once-weekly residential service, Northeast service companies charge an average of $420 per month, with 83 percent indicating that this charge does not include chemicals. The highest per-month charge was $500, while the low was $340.
For their commercial accounts, data was insufficient to report.
Midwest
Participation from the Midwest region of the country in this year’s survey was higher than in years past, representing almost 10 percent of responses. This year’s survey respondents of service firms in the Midwest provided information on more than 1,000 swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have an average account size of 128 residential swimming pools, 1 commercial account, and 4 standalone spas that are serviced each week.
Nearly 100 percent of respondents indicated that they employ non-office workers to help service or repair the pools on route. Those companies are composed of an average of 3.5 employees who are paid an average hourly wage of $18 or $25 per pool.
For once-weekly residential service, respondents from Midwest service companies charged an average of $300, which in most cases did not include chemicals. In this area, the high monthly charge was $475, while the low was $120. For commercial accounts, response from was insufficient.
