We asked readers to supply us with information on how they bill, whether it is by the call or 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 region-byregion 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 2022.

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.

Respondents of service firms in Northern California provided information on more than 1,400 swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have an average account size of 100 residential swimming pools, 1 commercial pool, and 4 stand-alone spas that are serviced each week. Nearly 82 percent of respondents indicated that they employ non-office 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 $21 per hour or $13 per pool.

For once-weekly residential service, Northern California service companies charge an average of $153 per month, with 64 percent indicating this charge includes chemicals. In this area, the highest reported per month charge was $200, while the low was $100.

For commercial accounts, only about 36 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 $885 a month for twice-weekly service, including chemicals, with a high of $900 and a low of $300.

Southern California

The data provided from service firms within Southern California represents information on nearly 5,500 total swimming pools.

These pool maintenance companies have an average account size of 92 residential swimming pools, 1 commercial pool, and 2.5 standalone spas that are serviced each week.

About 62 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 employees who are either paid by the pool or paid hourly. About 44 percent of those respondents paid their workers by the pool, while 56 percent paid their workers hourly.

Hourly wages averaged $20 or $16 per pool.

For once-weekly residential service, Southern California service companies charge an average of $140 per month, with 72 percent indicating that this charge includes chemicals. In this area, the highest residential per-month charge was $380, while the low was $90. About 24 percent of Southern California respondents indicated that they regularly service commercial accounts and reported that they charge an average of $427 a month for twice-weekly service, with a high of $600 and a low of $300. Those respondents that do three-timesweekly service indicated that they charge average of $975 per month, with a high of $1,600 and a low of $450 for commercial accounts. About 37 percent indicated that these charges include chemicals.

Southwest

This year, respondents of service firms in the Southwest provided information on more than 2,800 total swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have an average account size of 90 residential swimming pools and 1 stand-alone spa that are serviced each week.

About 83 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 3.5 employees who are either paid by the pool or paid hourly. About 53 percent of respondents paid their workers by the pool, while 47 percent paid their workers hourly. Hourly wages were about $20 and $16 per pool.

For once-weekly residential service, Southwest service companies charge an average of $174 per month, with 39 percent indicating that this charge includes chemicals. For respondents in this area, the highest per-month charge was $400, while the low was $99.

Roughly 73 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 more than 3,600 swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have a median account size of 285 residential swimming pools, 15 commercial accounts, and 5 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. Companies are composed of an average of 5.5 employees. About 33 percent of respondents paid their workers as a commission based on the route revenue, while 66 percent paid their workers hourly. Wages were about $16 per hour and 45 percent of the route revenue.

For once-weekly residential service, Florida service companies reported that they charge an average of $135 per month, with 89 percent 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 $400 a month for twice-weekly service, with 80 percent reporting that this charge included chemicals, with a high of $600 and a low of $300.

Southeast

This year, survey respondents of service firms in Southeast provided information on more than 2,000 total regularly serviced swimming pools. These pool maintenance companies have a median account size of 85 residential swimming pools, 1 commercial account, and 2 stand-alone spas that are serviced each week.

About 70 percent of respondents indicated that they employ nonoffice workers to help service or repair the pools on route. Those companies are composed of an average of 1.5 employees who are either paid by the pool or paid hourly with the remainder employed as salaried workers. About 41 percent of respondents paid their workers by the pool, while 58 percent paid their workers hourly. Hourly wages were about $20 and $15 per pool.

For once-weekly residential service, Southeast service companies charge an average of $245 per month, with a high of $675 and a low of $80. More than 70 percent reported that this charge includes chemicals.

About 63 percent of survey respondents indicated that they service commercial pools. For these regularly scheduled commercial accounts, respondents charge an average of $375 for twice-weekly service, with a high of $800 and a low of $275.

Northeast

Survey respondents of service firms in the Northeast provided information on about 1,300 swimming pools this year. These pool maintenance companies have an average account size of 163 residential pools, 1 commercial account and 3.5 standalone spas that are 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 77 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 4 employees who were almost always paid hourly wages. Hourly wages were about $25.

For once-weekly residential service, Northeast service companies charge an average of $417 per month, with 66 percent indicating that this charge does not include chemicals. Many respondents reported these charges as a by-the-visit charge of between $80 to $130 per week. The highest per-month charge was $1,500, while the low was $320.

For their commercial accounts, Northeast respondents reported that they charge an average of $1,000 a month for once-weekly service with a high of $1,200 and a low of $960, and most said this charge does not include the cost of chemicals.

Midwest

Participation from the Midwest region of the country in this year’s survey was much higher than in years past, representing 12 percent of responses.

This year’s survey respondents of service firms in the Midwest provided information on 6,200 swimming pools.

These pool maintenance companies have an average account size of 252 residential swimming pools, 1 commercial account, and 5 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 employees who are almost always paid an hourly wage. Hourly wages averaged $20.

For once-weekly residential service, respondents from Midwest service companies charged an average of $355, which in most cases did not include chemicals.

In this area, the high per-visit charge was $600, while the low was $136.

For their commercial accounts, most Midwest respondents reported a twice-weekly charge that does not include chemicals.

The twice-weekly average was $725 per month, with a high of $900 and a low of $520.