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Gas tank water heater replacement cost in Milwaukee, WI

Installed, 50 gallon, standard vent

Low$1,800
Typical$2,150
High$2,800

Metro area: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI. Wages: BLS, May 2025. Permit notes checked October 2026.

A typical gas water heater (50 gallon, standard vent) costs about $2,150 installed in the Milwaukee area, 7% above the national figure, because plumbers here earn a median $41 an hour against $31 nationally.

Gas tank water heater (50 gallon, standard vent), installed

Prices for: Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Low$1,800
Typical$2,150
High$2,800

Unit $1,080 (online list price, middle of 7 listings) plus installation about $1,050 for this area. Permit fees and code extras are listed below the table.

How this estimate is built

Prices by size in Milwaukee

SizeLowTypicalHighNational typical
40 gallon, standard vent$1,750$2,050$2,600$1,900
50 gallon, standard vent$1,800$2,150$2,800$2,000
75 gallon, standard vent$2,550$2,950$3,500$2,800
40 gallon, power vent$2,550$2,900$3,400$2,750
50 gallon, power vent$2,700$3,000$3,650$2,850

Local labor: what plumbers earn here

Hourly wageMilwaukee metroUnited States
25th percentile$30$24
Median$41$31
75th percentile$52$41

The Milwaukee market

Milwaukee's Department of Neighborhood Services lists furnaces and air conditioners as needing a permit (414-286-8210 for questions), and plumbing in an owner-occupied single-family home as permit work (414-286-8208), though water heaters are not named. Another city page lists replacing mechanical appliances, including air conditioners, as no-permit work, likely meaning room units; confirm before relying on it. Heating appliances cost $55 per unit up to 150,000 Btu input, boilers $60, and AC units $60 up to 3 tons plus $10 per extra ton. Plumbing is $20 per fixture with an $85 minimum for one fixture in a 1-2 family building. Owner-occupants can do their own plumbing and HVAC work; contractors must be licensed. Wisconsin leans gas: EIA's 2020 survey found 71% of homes heat with natural gas and 78% use a furnace. Focus on Energy runs statewide rebates.

Gas heats water in 57% of Wisconsin homes, so most Milwaukee replacements are gas tanks. Cold winter water slows recovery, and a household that runs out of hot water in January may want a larger tank or a faster-recovery model. Ask whether the tank shares a chimney with the furnace and whether the flue still suits both. Focus on Energy offers water heater rebates statewide, so check the qualifying models before buying.

Permits in Milwaukee

Permit for this jobNot stated on the city pages we checked (source)
FeeHVAC: heating appliances '$55 per unit (up to 150,000 BTUs of input)'; boilers installation or replacement $60 per unit; 'Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Units $60 per unit (not exceeding 3 tons)' + $10 each additional ton. Plumbing: $20 per fixture or appliance; 'The minimum permit fee for the installation of one plumbing fixture in a one or 2-family building shall be $85.'
Who can pull itPlumbing: homeowner in owner-occupied single-family home, otherwise licensed plumber. HVAC: owner-occupant not required to hold state credentials or city license; contractors must be licensed.
InspectionUnclear (inspection fees published; no page states inspection requirement for these replacements)

Rebates in Wisconsin

HEAR: open. HOMES: open. Source: PSC of Wisconsin Office of Energy Innovation (delivered by Focus on Energy), checked October 13, 2026.

  • Focus on Energy: Statewide utility-funded rebates for heat pumps, furnaces, water heaters, insulation

What these programs cover, and other states

Other systems in Milwaukee

Gas tank water heater cost in other metros

Sources