A new 50-gallon tank water heater costs about $700–$3,100 installed in the US. We estimate $650–$2,860 in Arkansas and $820–$3,680 in Washington, DC. The gap comes from what plumbers earn in each state.
Want your real price? Get free quotes from local plumbers, or price tank, tankless or heat pump models in our calculator.
Get free plumber quotesWe start with HomeGuide's national prices for a standard 50-gallon tank water heater: $500–$2,100 for the unit and $200–$1,000 for installation labor. That gives $700–$3,100 installed for the US.
Then we scale only the labor part by what plumbers earn in each state. The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the national median at $63,800 a year (BLS May 2025). In a state where plumbers earn 20% more, labor costs 20% more. We round to the nearest $10.
This is an estimate, not a quote. It leaves out gas or electric, venting, permits, haul-away of the old tank and local code upgrades. To price your own setup, including tankless and heat pump models, use our water heater cost calculator.
| State | Median plumber pay | Estimated installed price |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $63,800 | $700–$3,100 |
| Alabama | $58,670 | $680–$3,020 |
| Alaska | $93,920 | $790–$3,570 |
| Arizona | $62,070 | $690–$3,070 |
| Arkansas | $48,660 | $650–$2,860 |
| California | $72,830 | $730–$3,240 |
| Colorado | $63,240 | $700–$3,090 |
| Connecticut | $77,280 | $740–$3,310 |
| Delaware | $64,720 | $700–$3,110 |
| Florida | $52,910 | $670–$2,930 |
| Georgia | $57,200 | $680–$3,000 |
| Hawaii | $78,060 | $740–$3,320 |
| Idaho | $52,380 | $660–$2,920 |
| Illinois | $99,950 | $810–$3,670 |
| Indiana | $76,320 | $740–$3,300 |
| Iowa | $63,890 | $700–$3,100 |
| Kansas | $65,220 | $700–$3,120 |
| Kentucky | $64,160 | $700–$3,110 |
| Louisiana | $63,680 | $700–$3,100 |
| Maine | $64,000 | $700–$3,100 |
| Maryland | $65,400 | $710–$3,130 |
| Massachusetts | $93,880 | $790–$3,570 |
| Michigan | $80,190 | $750–$3,360 |
| Minnesota | $94,410 | $800–$3,580 |
| Mississippi | $55,480 | $670–$2,970 |
| Missouri | $66,790 | $710–$3,150 |
| Montana | $79,960 | $750–$3,350 |
| Nebraska | $60,970 | $690–$3,060 |
| Nevada | $61,610 | $690–$3,070 |
| New Hampshire | $66,810 | $710–$3,150 |
| New Jersey | $78,240 | $750–$3,330 |
| New Mexico | $61,440 | $690–$3,060 |
| New York | $77,490 | $740–$3,310 |
| North Carolina | $57,080 | $680–$2,990 |
| North Dakota | $63,560 | $700–$3,100 |
| Ohio | $63,330 | $700–$3,090 |
| Oklahoma | $57,970 | $680–$3,010 |
| Oregon | $97,050 | $800–$3,620 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,080 | $710–$3,170 |
| Rhode Island | $76,470 | $740–$3,300 |
| South Carolina | $53,940 | $670–$2,950 |
| South Dakota | $51,620 | $660–$2,910 |
| Tennessee | $58,600 | $680–$3,020 |
| Texas | $59,840 | $690–$3,040 |
| Utah | $61,900 | $690–$3,070 |
| Vermont | $62,170 | $690–$3,070 |
| Virginia | $60,470 | $690–$3,050 |
| Washington | $81,030 | $750–$3,370 |
| Washington, DC | $101,020 | $820–$3,680 |
| West Virginia | $56,980 | $680–$2,990 |
| Wisconsin | $81,210 | $750–$3,370 |
| Wyoming | $62,410 | $700–$3,080 |
Checked October 2026.