Home Repair Decoded

Water Heater Replacement Cost in South Dakota

$720 – $1,950We estimate water heater replacement in South Dakota at $720 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 Dakota plumber pay is 19% below the national median, ranking 50 of 51.
Part of the jobLowHigh
Parts and materials (our assumption)$600$1,500
Labor hours (our assumption)24
Billed labor rate per hour$62$112
Estimated total$720$1,950

Our estimate, not a quote. Billed rate is the South Dakota median wage from BLS (2025, $24.82 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 South Dakota

Commercial and rental properties in South Dakota must be plumbed by a licensed South Dakota plumbing contractor.

Compared with neighboring states

StateMedian wageLowHigh
Iowa$30.72$750$2,050
Minnesota$45.39$830$2,300
Montana$38.44$790$2,200
Nebraska$29.31$750$2,050
North Dakota$30.56$750$2,050
Wyoming$30.01$750$2,050

Other plumber jobs in South Dakota

Water Heater Replacement cost in every state · South Dakota 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.