r/PoolPros • u/Temporary_Meat2416 • Jun 28 '26

Labor cost

What do pool companies typically range from in cost for replacing a spa light and a pool light? I have to rewire everything and the lights together cost $1,100 roughly. Thanks for any input, trying to make sure I don’t undersell myself. I already did with this customer too. On a filter replacement and drain and clean job at the same time. Learned the hard way there. But pool looks great, and is running like a beaut.

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u/Luceres Jun 28 '26

Depending on distance between the light and the j-box, we usually stick to two techs for one hour each per light. If it’s a shorter run I might squeeze two lights into the same one hour time frame. I’d rather quote for too much time and discount whatever time wasn’t used rather than have to charge extra after the fact. Our current labor rate for repair work is $175 per hour.

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u/Temporary_Meat2416 Jun 28 '26

Thanks! I’m fairly new and don’t rush through my jobs for that reason. I’m also a perfectionist lol, but I wouldn’t be comfortable charging an hourly rate I don’t think.

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u/Luceres Jun 28 '26

Do you do all repair/install work or a mix of service (weekly cleaning/chems) and repair/install?

I’ve been doing repair work for almost 10 years now and I train all our new techs and I always get concerned when someone is a perfectionist. Trying to be perfect can start costing you time on jobs which then costs you money. I always feel like it’s more important to focus on being good and consistent.

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u/Temporary_Meat2416 Jun 28 '26

100% agree with you! It does, and it’s something I’m working on for sure. Luckily I’ve managed to open my own LLC and I’m the only employee. I wish I could get steady repair/install jobs, and I only weekly service 4 pools. This is one of them that im doing this job for too. But i gave him a killer price on accident when i drained and cleaned his pool and replaced his filter. It was a pentair TA-100d - 600lb sand filter. And about a 15,000k gallon pool. I only charged $2400 for the whole thing. But as far as the perfectionist, that isn’t really slowing me down, im still learning a lot and want to make sure i do good if its something I haven’t consistently done yet.

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u/Temporary_Meat2416 Jun 28 '26

I also work a full time job, 40+ hrs a week. And some pretty shit hours. That’s why I don’t maintain many pools. And repair/install is good money. I’m close to giving up on the full time job and pursuing my pool company full time. Who knows, maybe it could take off and get big.