Home Repair Decoded

Water Heater Replacement Cost in South Carolina

$730 – $1,950We estimate water heater replacement in South Carolina at $730 to $1,950 for a 40 to 50 gallon gas or electric tank in the same location. The national estimate is $750 to $2,050. South Carolina plumber pay is 15% below the national median, ranking 47 of 51.
Part of the jobLowHigh
Parts and materials (our assumption)$600$1,500
Labor hours (our assumption)24
Billed labor rate per hour$65$117
Estimated total$730$1,950

Our estimate, not a quote. Billed rate is the South Carolina median wage from BLS (2025, $25.93 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
Georgia$27.50$740$2,000
North Carolina$27.44$740$2,000

Other plumber jobs in South Carolina

Water Heater Replacement cost in every state · South Carolina 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.