20-city installation labor table
| City | Replacement Labor | New Install Labor | vs Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $200-390 | $390-910 | +30% |
| San Francisco | $195-390 | $390-910 | +30% |
| Boston | $195-390 | $390-910 | +30% |
| Seattle | $185-365 | $365-855 | +22% |
| Los Angeles | $185-365 | $365-855 | +22% |
| Washington DC | $180-360 | $360-840 | +20% |
| Chicago | $180-360 | $360-840 | +20% |
| San Jose | $200-390 | $390-910 | +30% |
| Denver | $165-330 | $330-770 | +10% |
| Philadelphia | $165-330 | $330-770 | +10% |
| San Diego | $170-340 | $340-790 | +13% |
| Austin | $155-310 | $310-720 | +3% |
| Dallas | $150-300 | $300-700 | Avg |
| Houston | $150-300 | $300-700 | Avg |
| Phoenix | $150-300 | $300-700 | Avg |
| Charlotte | $143-285 | $285-665 | -5% |
| Columbus | $135-270 | $270-630 | -10% |
| Indianapolis | $135-270 | $270-630 | -10% |
| Jacksonville | $135-270 | $270-630 | -10% |
| San Antonio | $140-280 | $280-650 | -7% |
What drives regional variation
Local plumber & electrician hourly rates
Tied to local wage levels and union density. NYC and SF run $130-150/hr; rural Southeast $65-85/hr.
Permitting cost & friction
NYC: full plumbing permit can run $150-300 + inspector slot. Rural Texas: $25 over the counter.
Contractor density & competition
Big metros = more contractors = competitive quotes. Rural areas = take what you can get.
Material delivery
Rural areas pay shipping uplift on supply lines, drain extensions, mounting hardware.
State-level summary
Highest-cost states
- 1. New York+25-30%
- 2. California+20-30%
- 3. Massachusetts+22-28%
- 4. Connecticut+18-25%
- 5. New Jersey+18-23%
- 6. Washington+15-22%
- 7. Maryland+15-20%
- 8. Hawaii+25-35%
Lowest-cost states
- 1. Mississippi-15%
- 2. Arkansas-13%
- 3. West Virginia-12%
- 4. Alabama-12%
- 5. Kentucky-10%
- 6. Tennessee-10%
- 7. Oklahoma-10%
- 8. Indiana-10%
Local checks before you book
- Permit lookup: Search "[your city] building department" + "dishwasher permit" or "appliance install."
- License verify: State contractor license boards (e.g. CSLB in CA, TDLR in TX) all offer free online lookup.
- Insurance: Confirm general liability + workers comp coverage. Ask for current certificate.