Home Repair Decoded

Water Heater Replacement Cost in Delaware

$760 – $2,050We estimate water heater replacement in Delaware at $760 to $2,050 for a 40 to 50 gallon gas or electric tank in the same location. The national estimate is $750 to $2,050. Delaware plumber pay is 1% above the national median, ranking 23 of 51.
Part of the jobLowHigh
Parts and materials (our assumption)$600$1,500
Labor hours (our assumption)24
Billed labor rate per hour$78$140
Estimated total$760$2,050

Our estimate, not a quote. Billed rate is the Delaware median wage from BLS (2025, $31.11 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 Delaware

The Delaware Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners must issue a license for any plumbing work in Delaware.

Check a license with Delaware Division of Professional Regulation, Verify a License

Compared with neighboring states

StateMedian wageLowHigh
Maryland$31.44$760$2,050
New Jersey$37.61$790$2,200
Pennsylvania$32.73$760$2,100

Other plumber jobs in Delaware

Water Heater Replacement cost in every state · Delaware 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.