Handyman job description: duties, skills and pay (with a template)

By Nicholas Lipari, founder of PlainJob · Updated November 1, 2026 · 5 min read

Short answer: a handyman repairs and maintains homes and buildings: carpentry, drywall, painting, fixtures, doors, assembly and small fixes, with electrical and plumbing limited by state law. Employers usually ask for a valid driver's license, your own basic tools and a few years of experience. The closest federal pay data, for general maintenance and repair workers, puts the median at $23.84 an hour (BLS, May 2025).

Duties and responsibilities

Repair and patch drywall, trim, doors, cabinets and flooring
Paint and caulk interiors and exteriors
Assemble and install furniture, shelves, TV mounts, blinds and hardware
Replace fixtures and fittings where allowed: faucets, toilets, light fixtures and switches on existing connections
Do seasonal maintenance: gutters, weatherstripping, filters, pressure washing
Inspect a problem, explain the fix and give the customer a price
Keep the job site clean, protect floors and furniture, and haul away debris
Keep records of hours, materials and photos for each job

The full range is in our handyman services list. What a handyman can legally take on depends on your state: see handyman license requirements by state and can a handyman do electrical work.

Skills and requirements

2+ years of hands-on repair experience (or trade school plus some field time)
Own basic hand and power tools; see the handyman tools list
Valid driver's license and reliable vehicle
Comfortable on ladders and lifting about 50 pounds
Clear communication with homeowners and tenants
EPA lead-safe (RRP) certification if the work involves painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes. See handyman certification.

Pay

The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't track "handyman" on its own. Its closest category, general maintenance and repair workers, had a median wage of $49,590 a year, or $23.84 an hour, in May 2025, across about 1.6 million jobs. Self-employed handymen charge customers more than that per hour because they cover their own tools, vehicle, insurance and unbilled time. See how much handymen make.

Job description template

HANDYMAN / MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
[Business name] · [City, State] · Full-time / Part-time

About us
We're a small home repair business serving [area]. We do the
jobs homeowners and property managers can't get to.

What you'll do
- Repair drywall, trim, doors, cabinets and flooring
- Paint, caulk and do small finish work
- Install shelves, TV mounts, blinds, hardware and fixtures
- Seasonal maintenance: gutters, weatherstripping, filters
- Explain the work to customers and keep the site clean
- Log hours, materials and photos in our job app

What you need
- 2+ years of repair or maintenance experience
- Your own basic hand and power tools
- Valid driver's license and reliable vehicle
- Able to lift 50 lbs and work on ladders
- EPA RRP certification (or willing to get it)

Pay and schedule
$____ to $____ per hour, [days/hours], [benefits].

To apply: [email or phone]. Send a few photos of your work.

Hiring your first helper? Check your state's workers' comp rules first; in many states one employee is enough to require coverage.

Sources

BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: General maintenance and repair workers

Questions

What does a handyman do?

Repairs and maintains homes and buildings: carpentry, drywall, painting, fixtures, doors, assembly and small fixes. Electrical and plumbing work is limited by state law.

What are the requirements to be a handyman?

Usually hands-on repair experience, your own tools, a driver's license, and any license or registration your state requires. EPA lead-safe certification is needed for paint work in pre-1978 homes.

How much does a handyman make per hour?

The closest federal data, for general maintenance and repair workers, shows a median of $23.84 an hour in May 2025. Self-employed handymen charge customers more to cover their costs.