Is $6,000 to replace an electric water heater a fair price?

I've had success finding affordable landscapers, stonemasons, drywallers, and insulators by talking with supply stores, but I'm struggling to find plumbers using the same method. The plumbers I've contacted tend to be from larger companies, use iPads for estimates, and provide what I perceive as inflated pricing for simple jobs like a straight water heater replacement. I'm planning this project for 2025 to take advantage of significant rebates and incentives, which would make a cost of around $2500 or less comparable to DIY. However, my current work and school schedule (80 hours a week, home around 2 AM) severely limits my capacity for DIY until April. I'm the only homeowner in my friend group, so I can't get recommendations there. I'm in a MCOL city in the PNW and this is not an emergency; I'm just planning ahead. I've received five bids, with the lowest being $6000, which feels excessively high for a straightforward replacement. I've tried talking to neighbors, realtors, supply houses, and contacted over 20 companies from various online sources. As a younger homeowner, I've noticed that some tradespeople seem hesitant to work with me based on my appearance and voice, despite my experience managing projects. I'm hoping to find a plumber who will discuss the problem and options directly rather than giving a high-pressure, iPad-based estimate. I've calculated that a reasonable cost, including overhead and markup, should be in the $2500-$3300 range.