Water Heater Replacement Cost in Virginia
$750 – $2,000We estimate water heater replacement in Virginia at $750 to $2,000 for a 40 to 50 gallon gas or electric tank in the same location. The national estimate is $750 to $2,050. Virginia plumber pay is 5% below the national median, ranking 38 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 | $73 | $131 |
| Estimated total | $750 | $2,000 |
Our estimate, not a quote. Billed rate is the Virginia median wage from BLS (2025, $29.07 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. |
Who can legally do this in Virginia
Plumbers are licensed through Virginia's Tradesmen Program, with residential, journeyman and master levels.
Check a license with Virginia DPOR License Lookup
Compared with neighboring states
| State | Median wage | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $48.57 | $840 | $2,350 |
| Kentucky | $30.84 | $750 | $2,050 |
| Maryland | $31.44 | $760 | $2,050 |
| North Carolina | $27.44 | $740 | $2,000 |
| Tennessee | $28.17 | $740 | $2,000 |
| West Virginia | $27.39 | $740 | $2,000 |
Other plumber jobs in Virginia
- 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 · Virginia 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.