Home Repair Decoded

Water Heater Replacement Cost in Rhode Island

$780 – $2,150We estimate water heater replacement in Rhode Island at $780 to $2,150 for a 40 to 50 gallon gas or electric tank in the same location. The national estimate is $750 to $2,050. Rhode Island plumber pay is 20% above the national median, ranking 15 of 51.
Part of the jobLowHigh
Parts and materials (our assumption)$600$1,500
Labor hours (our assumption)24
Billed labor rate per hour$92$165
Estimated total$780$2,150

Our estimate, not a quote. Billed rate is the Rhode Island median wage from BLS (2025, $36.77 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.

Compared with neighboring states

StateMedian wageLowHigh
Connecticut$37.16$790$2,150
Massachusetts$45.14$830$2,300

Other plumber jobs in Rhode Island

Water Heater Replacement cost in every state · Rhode Island 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.