Gas tank water heater replacement cost in Salt Lake City, UT
Installed, 50 gallon, standard vent
A typical gas water heater (50 gallon, standard vent) costs about $2,000 installed in the Salt Lake City area, about the same as the national figure, because plumbers here earn a median $31 an hour against $31 nationally.
Prices by size in Salt Lake City
| 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 | $2,500 | $2,800 | $3,250 | $2,800 |
| 40 gallon, power vent | $2,450 | $2,750 | $3,100 | $2,750 |
| 50 gallon, power vent | $2,650 | $2,850 | $3,350 | $2,850 |
Local labor: what plumbers earn here
| Hourly wage | Salt Lake City metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $24 | $24 |
| Median | $31 | $31 |
| 75th percentile | $38 | $41 |
The Salt Lake City market
Salt Lake City's Consolidated Fee Schedule prices water heaters, furnaces and heating and cooling appliances under its plumbing and mechanical permits, which indicates a permit for each replacement even though no city page says so in words. Mechanical permits carry a $59 base fee plus $30 for a furnace up to 200,000 Btu/h, and repairs or alterations to heating or cooling units start at $42 for work up to $1,000. Plumbing permits are $59 base plus $16 per water heater. A property owner may pull permits for a primary residence with an Owner/Builder Certification; when a contractor is hired, state law makes the contractor responsible for the permit and inspections, which are scheduled through the Citizen Access Portal. Utah is gas country: EIA's 2020 survey found 86% of homes heat with natural gas and 90% use a furnace.
Gas heats water in 83% of Utah homes, so Salt Lake City replacements are almost always gas tanks. Cold winter water slows recovery, and a household that runs short in January may want a larger tank or a faster-recovery model. Ask whether the vent connector, gas shutoff and expansion tank are included, and whether the tank shares a flue with the furnace. Make sure haul-away is in the price.
Permits in Salt Lake City
| Permit for this job | Yes (inferred: Consolidated Fee Schedule prices a water heater under plumbing permits; no page states the requirement in words) (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | Mechanical: base fee $59 + furnace (<=200,000 BTU/h) $30. Plumbing: base fee $59 + water heater $16 each. |
| Who can pull it | Property owner (primary residence, with Owner/Builder Certification) or licensed contractor (contractor responsible for permit under state law) |
| Inspection | Yes (inspections scheduled after permit issuance; contractor responsible for seeing inspections done) |
Rebates in Utah
HEAR: paused. HOMES: paused. Source: Utah Office of Energy Development, checked October 13, 2026.
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Salt Lake City
- Gas tankless water heater
- Gas furnace
- Central air conditioner
- Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler)
Gas tank water heater cost in other metros
Sources
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source (water heater permit)
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source (who can pull)
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source (inspection)
- Salt Lake City, UT permit source: Mechanical and Plumbing Fee Worksheets; Owner Builder Certification
- Utah Office of Energy Development: energy efficiency
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating fuel in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Salt Lake City-Murray, UT (47-2152 plumbers)
- DOE Consumer Water Heaters Final Rule TSD (Apr 2024), Table 8.2.7 (2022$); labor share from App. 8D (3.75 h + trip, $420 of $791)