Handyman salary by state
The national median for handymen was $23.84 an hour, or $49,590 a year, in May 2025. Where the work is changes that a lot: the District of Columbia pays $10.30 an hour more at the median than West Virginia.
$23.84National median hourly
$49,590National median yearly
1,529,700Handymen on payrolls
51States and DC with figures
National pay for handymen
BLS has no separate figure for handymen. These are its numbers for general maintenance and repair workers, the closest group: people who keep buildings and equipment in repair using the skills of two or more trades. Real estate, schools and government are among the top industries BLS lists for them.
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $17.00 | $35,350 |
| 25th percentile | $19.64 | $40,840 |
| Median | $23.84 | $49,590 |
| 75th percentile | $30.10 | $62,620 |
| 90th percentile | $37.11 | $77,180 |
| Average (mean) | $25.86 | $53,780 |
Highest and lowest paying states
Ranked by median hourly wage. These are wages as paid, not adjusted for living costs.
| Top 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 1. District of Columbia | $29.00 | $60,310 |
| 2. Alaska | $28.97 | $60,270 |
| 3. Minnesota | $28.46 | $59,200 |
| 4. Washington | $28.44 | $59,160 |
| 5. Massachusetts | $28.04 | $58,320 |
| Bottom 5 | Median hourly | Median yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 51. West Virginia | $18.70 | $38,890 |
| 50. Oklahoma | $20.55 | $42,750 |
| 49. Arkansas | $20.87 | $43,400 |
| 48. Alabama | $20.97 | $43,630 |
| 47. Louisiana | $21.13 | $43,960 |
Handyman pay in every state
Pick a state for its full page: the pay range, how it compares with its neighbors, how many handymen work there and what a business should charge.
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Bottom to top tenth | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $20.97 | $43,630 | $13.98 to $30.68 | 16,660 |
| Alaska | $28.97 | $60,270 | $18.39 to $43.70 | 4,590 |
| Arizona | $22.90 | $47,620 | $17.22 to $36.71 | 39,000 |
| Arkansas | $20.87 | $43,400 | $14.01 to $30.35 | 12,410 |
| California | $27.41 | $57,000 | $18.66 to $39.77 | 143,060 |
| Colorado | $24.65 | $51,280 | $18.61 to $36.61 | 22,960 |
| Connecticut | $27.70 | $57,620 | $18.49 to $39.47 | 11,700 |
| Delaware | $24.11 | $50,150 | $17.56 to $37.69 | 3,310 |
| District of Columbia | $29.00 | $60,310 | $20.24 to $40.57 | 4,860 |
| Florida | $22.15 | $46,060 | $16.44 to $32.54 | 111,530 |
| Georgia | $22.92 | $47,680 | $16.31 to $34.85 | 48,430 |
| Hawaii | $27.86 | $57,960 | $18.24 to $38.76 | 8,030 |
| Idaho | $23.17 | $48,190 | $17.23 to $36.48 | 8,200 |
| Illinois | $27.27 | $56,720 | $17.36 to $38.82 | 66,600 |
| Indiana | $23.99 | $49,890 | $16.91 to $36.40 | 34,480 |
| Iowa | $25.08 | $52,160 | $17.58 to $35.81 | 16,500 |
| Kansas | $22.70 | $47,210 | $16.14 to $32.13 | 12,730 |
| Kentucky | $22.50 | $46,810 | $14.65 to $36.41 | 22,190 |
| Louisiana | $21.13 | $43,960 | $13.52 to $36.48 | 21,490 |
| Maine | $23.76 | $49,430 | $18.00 to $36.33 | 5,820 |
| Maryland | $24.76 | $51,490 | $17.74 to $36.41 | 23,730 |
| Massachusetts | $28.04 | $58,320 | $18.63 to $38.55 | 29,830 |
| Michigan | $22.87 | $47,580 | $16.85 to $33.93 | 39,490 |
| Minnesota | $28.46 | $59,200 | $18.57 to $38.00 | 29,660 |
| Mississippi | $21.32 | $44,350 | $13.73 to $33.71 | 14,550 |
| Missouri | $23.26 | $48,370 | $16.37 to $36.36 | 31,180 |
| Montana | $22.54 | $46,870 | $16.73 to $34.76 | 5,420 |
| Nebraska | $24.38 | $50,700 | $17.43 to $33.28 | 9,850 |
| Nevada | $25.17 | $52,360 | $17.39 to $38.75 | 16,520 |
| New Hampshire | $25.40 | $52,830 | $18.09 to $36.02 | 5,780 |
| New Jersey | $26.35 | $54,810 | $18.03 to $39.04 | 37,350 |
| New Mexico | $22.00 | $45,760 | $14.87 to $34.32 | 9,320 |
| New York | $27.79 | $57,790 | $17.79 to $40.18 | 119,650 |
| North Carolina | $23.03 | $47,910 | $16.17 to $33.96 | 43,440 |
| North Dakota | $23.96 | $49,840 | $17.44 to $32.91 | 3,300 |
| Ohio | $25.68 | $53,420 | $16.98 to $36.67 | 64,770 |
| Oklahoma | $20.55 | $42,750 | $14.12 to $31.70 | 18,670 |
| Oregon | $26.13 | $54,350 | $18.57 to $37.73 | 16,160 |
| Pennsylvania | $23.70 | $49,290 | $16.81 to $36.16 | 55,590 |
| Rhode Island | $24.47 | $50,900 | $17.75 to $36.49 | 4,500 |
| South Carolina | $23.02 | $47,880 | $15.84 to $35.83 | 28,020 |
| South Dakota | $23.13 | $48,100 | $17.95 to $30.16 | 3,450 |
| Tennessee | $22.71 | $47,240 | $16.25 to $33.17 | 35,790 |
| Texas | $22.44 | $46,670 | $14.88 to $35.68 | 140,580 |
| Utah | $24.26 | $50,450 | $17.08 to $37.05 | 16,090 |
| Vermont | $26.69 | $55,510 | $20.28 to $36.03 | 2,610 |
| Virginia | $23.79 | $49,470 | $16.66 to $37.14 | 34,540 |
| Washington | $28.44 | $59,160 | $20.08 to $40.35 | 32,450 |
| West Virginia | $18.70 | $38,890 | $13.54 to $32.81 | 8,060 |
| Wisconsin | $26.83 | $55,810 | $17.25 to $36.50 | 30,880 |
| Wyoming | $23.03 | $47,900 | $14.94 to $38.51 | 3,920 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-9071, maintenance and repair workers, general, all industries. Read from the BLS state and national data files. Counts leave out the self-employed.
From a wage to a price
If you run the business, the wage is only the start. At the national median of $23.84, the labor rate calculator's starting numbers (one person, 2 unbilled hours a day, $90,000 of overhead, 15% profit) give a rate of $112.46 per billable hour. Try yours in the labor rate calculator.
Other trades
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