Key takeaways
- Every number on this page is a national average, not a quote. Each one names its publisher and date.
- Nationally, replacing a well pump is listed at $900 to $2,500 by one source, and at an average of $1,785 by another. The sources are in the same neighborhood, but they don't match, and one is older.
- The pump itself is often the smaller part of the bill. Well depth, pulling the old pump, wiring and pipe all add labor.
- Replace the pressure tank and switch at the same time if they are worn. A bad tank is hard on a new pump.
- Your plumber or pump installer sets the actual price. Get it in writing.
How to read these numbers
We don't set prices and we don't do the work. Each figure below comes from a published cost guide and is labelled "national average, not a quote." They show the shape of the market. They don't say what a pump installer will charge for your well. We have no data that says Johnson City is cheaper or dearer than the national numbers.
Two things to know. Cost guides use different data and different definitions of "installed," so they disagree. And a range is a range: the low end is usually an easy, shallow job, and the high end is a deep well with extras.
What the national guides say
Total replacement cost.
- Nationally, This Old House (updated March 5, 2026) says replacing a well pump typically costs $900 to $2,500 (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, Bob Vila (updated April 28, 2023) gives an average of $1,785, with a typical range of $942 to $2,629 (national average, not a quote). That page is older than the other, so weigh it accordingly.
The pump alone. These are parts prices, with no installation.
- Nationally, This Old House (updated March 5, 2026) lists a shallow-well jet pump at about $200, a deep-well jet pump at about $300 and a submersible pump at about $500, based on The Home Depot listings, installation not included (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, Bob Vila (updated April 28, 2023) lists shallow jet pumps at $100 to $500, deep-well jet pumps at $675 to $745 and submersible pumps at $250 to $1,200 (national average, not a quote).
Labor and pipe.
- Nationally, Bob Vila (updated April 28, 2023) says labor to replace a well pump averages $250 to $800, and new pipework can add $250 to $2,500 (national average, not a quote).
The pump is only part of the job. The two guides disagree on pump prices. Treat the total as a rough band and ask for a line-by-line estimate.
Submersible and jet pumps: how they differ
Jet pumps sit above ground, in a basement, pit or utility room, and pull water up through a pipe. Pentair's manual for its jet pumps says a shallow-well pump works when the water is 25 feet or less below the pump, and a deep-well pump when it is 70 feet or less. A jet pump must be primed, meaning filled with water before it runs. The manual warns against running the pump dry.
Submersible pumps sit down inside the well, under the water, and push it up. A jet pump has a depth limit, as above. A submersible works from inside the well. It is out of sight, and it has to be pulled out of the well for any repair or replacement. This Old House says submersible pumps typically cost more to install because they sit deep inside the well.
Which kind you have depends on how deep the water is and how the well was built. You don't choose between them on a whim. A plumber or pump installer will tell you what fits the well you have.
What drives the price
- Well depth. A deeper well means more pipe, more cable and more time pulling and setting the pump. This Old House lists well depth first among its price factors.
- Pump type. Submersible versus jet changes both the part and the labor.
- Horsepower and flow. A larger household that needs more water needs a stronger pump. Higher horsepower costs more.
- Pulling the old pump. On a submersible, the old pump comes up on the drop pipe. Access, depth and the condition of the pipe and wire all matter.
- Wiring and controls. Bad wire, a failed control box or a weak pressure switch may need replacing.
- The pressure tank. A waterlogged or failing tank makes a new pump cycle too often. If the tank is worn, replacing it with the pump can save a second visit. See well pressure tank repair and replacement.
- Drop pipe and fittings. Corroded or cracked pipe is cheaper to replace while the pump is out.
- After-hours work. A pump that fails on a winter night costs more to fix than one that fails on a Tuesday morning.
Repair or replace?
Not every no-water call means a new pump. Before you assume the worst, work through the checks in well pump not working: the breaker, the pressure switch, the pressure gauge and the air charge in the tank. A tripped breaker, a worn switch or a waterlogged tank can all look like a dead pump, and they cost less to fix.
A repair makes sense when the problem is a switch, a tank, a loose wire or a plugged intake screen. Pentair's submersible pump manual lists a plugged intake screen and a stuck check valve as things you find by pulling the pump.
Replacement makes sense when the motor is burned out, the pump no longer lifts water, or it has failed repeatedly. The National Ground Water Association says pump systems typically have a shorter life than the well, and don't give a year range, so we don't either. Age alone doesn't decide it. How the pump has been treated does. Frequent on-and-off cycling is the warning sign the association lists, and it usually points to the tank or the switch.
What the visit usually involves
Every installer works a little differently, but a pump replacement usually follows the same outline. First comes the diagnosis: confirming power is reaching the pump, then checking the pressure switch, the gauge and the tank. If those are fine and the pump is the cause, the old pump comes out. On a jet pump that means unhooking it from the pipes in the house. On a submersible it means pulling the pump up the well on its drop pipe, with the wire and the pipe attached.
The installer then inspects what comes up: the pipe, the wire and fittings, and the pump itself. A cause such as a plugged screen or a worn motor sometimes shows up at this stage and changes the quote. A new pump goes in, the system is brought back up to pressure and the installer checks that the pressure and the cycling look right.
Ask the installer to tell you what they found, in plain words, and to keep the old parts if you want to see them. It is also a good time to ask about the pressure tank, the switch and the pipe, since they are easy to replace while the system is open.
Getting a fair estimate
- Describe what you see the same way to each company. Say whether the pump runs, whether it clicks, and whether you have any water.
- Say what kind of pump you have, if you know. A jet pump is above ground. A submersible is in the well.
- Ask for a written estimate that lists the pump, the labor, any pipe, wire and fittings, and the pressure tank and switch.
- Ask who pulls the pump and what happens if it can't be reused. Some jobs include a second visit.
- Ask whether the old tank and switch should be replaced. A good installer will tell you what they see.
- Check the license. Ask for a license number and proof of insurance.
Safety
Well pumps run on power that can injure or kill. Pentair's submersible pump manual warns of "hazardous voltage" and says to disconnect power before installing or servicing. Turn off the breaker first, and leave pump wiring to a professional. Don't run a jet pump dry.
Where our line fits
We don't set prices or do the work; the plumber sets the price. Any price, fee or schedule is agreed directly between you and the plumber. Use the figures here to judge whether a quote is in a believable range, and ask the plumber to explain it if it isn't. For other jobs, see what plumbing jobs cost.
The short version
A well pump replacement runs from about $900 to $2,500 in one national guide, and averages $1,785 in an older one. The pump is only part of the bill, and the depth of your well, the pump type and the state of your pressure tank and wiring move it up or down. Check the breaker, the switch and the tank before you assume the pump is dead. Your plumber sets the actual price.