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Gas tank water heater replacement cost in Portland, OR

Installed, 50 gallon, standard vent

Low$1,850
Typical$2,250
High$3,000

Metro area: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA. Wages: BLS, May 2025. Permit notes checked October 2026.

A typical gas water heater (50 gallon, standard vent) costs about $2,250 installed in the Portland area, 13% above the national figure, because plumbers here earn a median $49 an hour against $31 nationally.

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

Prices for: Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

Low$1,850
Typical$2,250
High$3,000

Unit $1,080 (online list price, middle of 7 listings) plus installation about $1,200 for this area. Permit fees and code extras are listed below the table.

How this estimate is built

Prices by size in Portland

SizeLowTypicalHighNational typical
40 gallon, standard vent$1,800$2,200$2,850$1,900
50 gallon, standard vent$1,850$2,250$3,000$2,000
75 gallon, standard vent$2,650$3,050$3,750$2,800
40 gallon, power vent$2,600$3,000$3,600$2,750
50 gallon, power vent$2,800$3,100$3,850$2,850

Local labor: what plumbers earn here

Hourly wagePortland metroUnited States
25th percentile$35$24
Median$49$31
75th percentile$62$41

The Portland market

In Portland, Permitting & Development lists water heater replacement as plumbing permit work, and furnaces, heat pumps and AC condensing units as mechanical permit work. Fees follow the city's plumbing and mechanical schedules effective July 10, 2026, with minimums of $161 (plumbing) and $167 (mechanical), and the State of Oregon adds a 12% surcharge. Every permit closes with a final inspection: 399 for plumbing, 699 for mechanical. The recorded owner (not an LLC) may permit their own work; contractors need an Oregon State Plumbing Board license for plumbing or a CCB license for mechanical. Across Oregon, EIA's 2020 housing survey found electricity slightly ahead of gas as the main heating fuel (45% vs 41%), only 49% of homes with central air, and 65% heating water with electricity. Addresses on the Washington side of the metro follow their own city or county rules.

Many Portland households are choosing between another electric resistance tank and a heat pump water heater. Energy Trust of Oregon lists water heater incentives for customers of PGE, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade and Avista, so check eligibility before you sign. A heat pump water heater needs space and a condensate drain, and it cools the room it sits in. A garage or basement usually suits it better than a small closet.

Permits in Portland

Permit for this jobYes (source)
FeeFixture/item-based fees per City of Portland Plumbing and Mechanical Permit Fee Schedules effective July 10, 2026. Individual water-heater and furnace/heat-pump line amounts could not be reliably extracted from the PDFs. Lines confirmed: plumbing valuation-table 'Minimum Fee $161.00'; mechanical 'Minimum Fee $167.00'; mechanical one & two family dwellings '60% of total mechanical permit fee';…
Who can pull itHomeowner allowed (recorded owner, not an LLC) or licensed contractor
InspectionYes

Rebates in Oregon

HEAR: announced, not open yet. HOMES: announced, not open yet. Source: Oregon Department of Energy, checked October 13, 2026.

  • Energy Trust of Oregon: Heat pump, HPWH and efficiency incentives for PGE, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade, Avista customers

What these programs cover, and other states

Other systems in Portland

Gas tank water heater cost in other metros

Sources