How Much Does a Handyman Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$49,590
Handymen in the U.S. earn a median of $49,590 a year, or $23.84 an hour. Half of handymen earn more than $49,590 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $77,180.
Pay percentiles for handymen
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $17.00 | $35,350 |
| 25th | $19.64 | $40,840 |
| 50th (median) | $23.84 | $49,590 |
| 75th | $30.10 | $62,620 |
| 90th | $37.11 | $77,180 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (SOC 49-9071). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for handymen
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $60,310 | $29.00 | +22% |
| Alaska | $60,270 | $28.97 | +22% |
| Minnesota | $59,200 | $28.46 | +19% |
| Washington | $59,160 | $28.44 | +19% |
| Massachusetts | $58,320 | $28.04 | +18% |
| Hawaii | $57,960 | $27.86 | +17% |
| New York | $57,790 | $27.79 | +17% |
| Connecticut | $57,620 | $27.70 | +16% |
| California | $57,000 | $27.41 | +15% |
| Illinois | $56,720 | $27.27 | +14% |
| United States | $49,590 | $23.84 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many handymen are there?
BLS counts about 1,529,700 handymen employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Maintenance and Repair Workers, General”. The most jobs are in California (143,060), Texas (140,580) and New York (119,650).
The mean (average) annual wage is $53,780, higher than the median of $49,590.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $4,133
- Biweekly
- $1,907
- Weekly
- $954
- Daily (8 hours)
- $191
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do handymen make an hour?
The median hourly wage for handymen is $23.84. The middle 50% earn between $19.64 and $30.10 an hour.
Which state pays handymen the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median wage for handymen at $60,310, +22% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for handymen?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of handymen earn less than $35,350 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.