Water Heater Replacement Cost in Pennsylvania
$760 – $2,100We estimate water heater replacement in Pennsylvania at $760 to $2,100 for a 40 to 50 gallon gas or electric tank in the same location. The national estimate is $750 to $2,050. Pennsylvania plumber pay is 7% above the national median, ranking 18 of 51.
| Part of the job | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Parts and materials (our assumption) | $600 | $1,500 |
| Labor hours (our assumption) | 2 | 4 |
| Billed labor rate per hour | $82 | $147 |
| Estimated total | $760 | $2,100 |
Our estimate, not a quote. Billed rate is the Pennsylvania median wage from BLS (2025, $32.73 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
| Item | Sourced figure | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor hours | 1 – 3 | 1 to 3 hours for a standard tank installation. | This Old House |
What other publishers report
| Publisher | Low | High | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixr | $550 | $2,300 | 40-gallon tank installed. Page dated January 2026. |
| Fixr | $700 | $2,500 | 50-gallon tank installed. Page dated January 2026. |
| This Old House | $600 | $1,200 | 40-gallon tank installed. Page dated June 2026. |
| This Old House | $700 | $1,800 | 50-gallon tank installed. Page dated June 2026. |
Cities in Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median wage | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $35.99 | $780 | $2,150 |
Who can legally do this in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has no statewide requirement for most contractors, but some municipalities set their own requirements for plumbing contractors or plumbers. Check with the municipality where the work will take place.
Compared with neighboring states
| State | Median wage | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $31.11 | $760 | $2,050 |
| Maryland | $31.44 | $760 | $2,050 |
| New Jersey | $37.61 | $790 | $2,200 |
| New York | $37.26 | $790 | $2,150 |
| Ohio | $30.45 | $750 | $2,050 |
| West Virginia | $27.39 | $740 | $2,000 |
Other plumber jobs in Pennsylvania
- Toilet Replacement
- Faucet Replacement
- Drain Cleaning
- Garbage Disposal Replacement
- Tankless Water Heater Installation
- Pipe Repair
- Whole-House Repipe
- Sewer Line Repair
Water Heater Replacement cost in every state · Pennsylvania 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.