Home Repair Decoded

Water Heater Replacement Cost in Alaska

$830 – $2,300We estimate water heater replacement in Alaska at $830 to $2,300 for a 40 to 50 gallon gas or electric tank in the same location. The national estimate is $750 to $2,050. Alaska plumber pay is 47% above the national median, ranking 5 of 51.
Part of the jobLowHigh
Parts and materials (our assumption)$600$1,500
Labor hours (our assumption)24
Billed labor rate per hour$113$203
Estimated total$830$2,300

Our estimate, not a quote. Billed rate is the Alaska median wage from BLS (2025, $45.15 an hour) times 2.5 to 4.5 to cover payroll costs, overhead, travel and profit. How we estimate

What our assumptions are based on

ItemSourced figureBasisSource
Labor hours1 – 31 to 3 hours for a standard tank installation.This Old House

What other publishers report

National figures as published by each source, checked 2026-11-03. Their scope can differ from ours.
PublisherLowHighScope
Fixr$550$2,30040-gallon tank installed. Page dated January 2026.
Fixr$700$2,50050-gallon tank installed. Page dated January 2026.
This Old House$600$1,20040-gallon tank installed. Page dated June 2026.
This Old House$700$1,80050-gallon tank installed. Page dated June 2026.

Who can legally do this in Alaska

Plumbers need a state-issued Certificate of Fitness from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development's Mechanical Inspection section. The section's plumbing jurisdiction covers communities of 2,500 people and above, and smaller communities may have their own requirements.

Compared with neighboring states

StateMedian wageLowHigh
Washington$38.96$790$2,200

Other plumber jobs in Alaska

Water Heater Replacement cost in every state · Alaska home repair guide

Sources

General information, not professional advice. Conditions, codes and prices vary. Turn off power, gas or water before any work, and hire a licensed professional when in doubt. Cost figures are our estimates, not quotes.