How much do handymen make? Wages vs running your own business

By PlainJob · Updated October 14, 2026 · 6 min read

Short answer: as employees, general maintenance and repair workers earned a median of $49,590 a year ($23.84 an hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Self-employed handymen charge much more per hour, but they pay their own costs and taxes and can't bill every hour, so take-home depends mostly on how many hours you actually bill.

What handymen earn as employees

The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't track "handyman" as its own job. The closest match is general maintenance and repair workers, the people who fix and maintain buildings for apartment complexes, schools, factories and property managers. In May 2025:

Measure	Yearly
Lowest 10%	Less than $35,350
Median	$49,590 ($23.84/hour)
Highest 10%	More than $77,180

Pay varies by industry: the BLS puts the median at $61,500 in manufacturing and $48,360 in real estate and rental. It projects about 148,700 openings a year from 2025 to 2035. Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

What a self-employed handyman can make

Working for yourself, you set your rate, but out of every dollar you also pay for your truck, tools, insurance, phone and software, plus both halves of Social Security and Medicare tax. You also lose the hours spent driving, quoting and buying supplies. So the useful question isn't "what's the hourly rate" but "what's left after costs and taxes."

Here's one example, using the same numbers as our pricing guide:

Item	Amount
Rate	$75/hour
Billable hours: 30 a week × 48 weeks	1,440
Money in	$108,000
Business costs ($1,050 a month)	−$12,600
Before taxes	$95,400
Set aside 25% for taxes	−$23,850
Take-home	$71,550

At 20 billable hours a week, the same rate and costs leave about $44,500. At 35, about $85,000. Billable hours move take-home more than anything else, which is why fast quoting, tight scheduling and fewer wasted trips matter so much.

What raises a handyman's income

More billable hours. Group jobs by area, keep a minimum charge, and stop driving out for free estimates on tiny jobs.
Flat prices on jobs you know. If you price a TV mount at two hours and finish in one, you keep the difference.
Fewer unpaid invoices. Invoice the same day and follow up on a schedule. See our invoice guide.
Repeat customers and reviews. Every five-star review lowers what you spend to win the next job.
A license where it pays. In states with a dollar limit, a contractor license lets you take bigger jobs. Check your state's rules.

Questions

How much does a handyman make a year?

As employees, general maintenance and repair workers earned a median of $49,590 in May 2025, according to the BLS. Self-employed handymen can earn more or less depending on their rate, billable hours, costs and taxes.

How much does a handyman make an hour?

Employees earned a median of $23.84 an hour in May 2025 (BLS). Self-employed handymen charge more per hour because their rate has to cover costs, taxes and unpaid time.

Can you make six figures as a handyman?

Bringing in over $100,000 in revenue is realistic for a busy solo handyman at $75 an hour and about 30 billable hours a week, but take-home after costs and taxes is lower. Adding a helper or raising prices on in-demand work is how many get further.