Gas tank water heater replacement cost in Austin, TX
Installed, 50 gallon, standard vent
A typical gas water heater (50 gallon, standard vent) costs about $2,000 installed in the Austin area, about the same as the national figure, because plumbers here earn a median $30 an hour against $31 nationally.
Prices by size in Austin
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 gallon, standard vent | $1,650 | $1,900 | $2,350 | $1,900 |
| 50 gallon, standard vent | $1,700 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $2,000 |
| 75 gallon, standard vent | $2,450 | $2,750 | $3,250 | $2,800 |
| 40 gallon, power vent | $2,450 | $2,700 | $3,100 | $2,750 |
| 50 gallon, power vent | $2,600 | $2,800 | $3,350 | $2,850 |
Local labor: what plumbers earn here
| Hourly wage | Austin metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $23 | $24 |
| Median | $30 | $31 |
| 75th percentile | $38 | $41 |
The Austin market
Austin's Development Services Department runs a Residential Change-Out Program whose permits include water heaters and HVAC systems. The fee schedule lists the first HVAC system at $61.20, or $64.87 with the 6% Development Services surcharge, and each additional system at $17.10 before the surcharge; a separate water heater change-out fee is not itemized. Trade permits go to a State of Texas licensed contractor or a qualified homeowner with a homestead exemption filed with the appraisal district, though a homeowner may not reclaim or charge refrigerant in a ducted system. A final trade inspection is required, and a permit expires on day 181 if no inspection has occurred. Cooling drives demand: EIA found 83% of Texas homes have central air and 19% heat with a heat pump. Round Rock, San Marcos and Travis County areas outside city limits follow other rules.
Electricity heats water in 54% of Texas homes and gas in 42%, and both show up across Austin. Many Central Texas homes keep the water heater in the attic, where summer heat is hard on the installer and a leak is hard on the ceiling below. Ask for a drain pan with a line that ends somewhere visible. Ask whether the quote includes an expansion tank and haul-away of the old unit. Small extras like these explain a lot of the gap between bids.
Permits in Austin
| Permit for this job | Yes (inferred: water heaters are included in the Residential Change-Out Program permits; no page states the requirement in words) (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | HVAC change-out: $61.20 first system + 6% surcharge = $64.87; each additional system $17.10 (+6% = $18.13). Water heater change-out fee not itemized. |
| Who can pull it | State of Texas licensed contractor, or qualified homeowner with a homestead exemption (homeowner may not reclaim/charge refrigerant in ducted HVAC) |
| Inspection | Yes (final trade inspection; permit expires on day 181 without an inspection) |
Rebates in Texas
HEAR: announced, not open yet. HOMES: announced, not open yet. Source: Texas State Energy Conservation Office (Comptroller), checked October 13, 2026.
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Austin
- Gas tankless water heater
- Gas furnace
- Central air conditioner
- Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler)
Gas tank water heater cost in other metros
Sources
- City of Austin: Trade permits
- City of Austin residential fee schedule
- City of Austin Development Services: Fees
- City of Austin mechanical permit request form
- Texas Comptroller: State Energy Conservation Office
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA, 2020 RECS: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- https://www.austintexas.gov/development-services/work-exempt-building-permits
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX (47-2152 plumbers)
- DOE Consumer Water Heaters Final Rule TSD (Apr 2024), Table 8.2.7 (2022$); labor share from App. 8D (3.75 h + trip, $420 of $791)