22 Handyman Statistics: Rates, Job Costs and Wages (2026)
Cited data on what handymen charge by the hour and by the job, what common repairs cost, how big the industry is, and what handymen earn in Ontario.
Self-employed handymen charge $50 to $80 an hour in 2026, according to HomeGuide, and the average job costs about $300 on Fixr. A handyman is a general repair pro who takes on small and mid-size jobs across several trades, such as drywall patches, door fixes and fixture swaps. Handyman jobs show up on our quote form from Hamilton to Tucson. The 22 statistics below cover rates, job prices, industry size, Ontario wages and safety. For a full price breakdown, see our handyman cost guide, and for wall patches, our drywall repair statistics. To book help, start with our handyman services.
Key Takeaways
- Self-employed handymen charge $50 to $80 an hour; corporate services charge $75 to $125 (HomeGuide).
- The average handyman job costs $300, with most between $150 and $600 (Fixr).
- The most common minimum charge is $130 for jobs of 30 minutes or less (Fixr).
- US handyman services will bring in $365.4 billion in 2026, across 529,000 businesses (IBISWorld).
- Ontario handymen earn a median $24.00 an hour, per 2023 to 2024 data (Job Bank).
- More than 500,000 people a year are treated for ladder-related injuries in the US (CDC NIOSH).
How much do handymen charge per hour?
Handymen charge $50 to $100 an hour in most US markets, and the two biggest cost guides agree on the core range. Who you hire changes the rate more than the job does, so compare like with like.
1. Self-employed handymen charge $50 to $80 an hour
HomeGuide puts self-employed handyman rates at $50 to $80 an hour, not counting materials, minimum charges or trip fees (HomeGuide).
2. Corporate handyman services charge $75 to $125 an hour
Franchise and corporate handyman companies charge $75 to $125 an hour on HomeGuide. Ask what the higher rate includes, such as insurance and a warranty on the work (HomeGuide).
3. Uninsured or rural handymen charge $35 to $65 an hour
HomeGuide says handymen without insurance, or those in rural areas, charge $35 to $65 an hour. A lower rate with no insurance moves the risk of damage or injury onto you as the homeowner (HomeGuide).
4. Most handymen charge about $65 an hour
Fixr reports a handyman hourly range of $50 to $100, with most charging around $65. Some include drive time and material markup in that hourly rate, and others bill by the job (Fixr).
5. The most common minimum charge is $130
Fixr says the most common handyman minimum is $130, usually for jobs that take 30 minutes or less. Even a 10-minute fix pays the minimum, so save small tasks for one visit (Fixr).
6. Materials can carry a 20% to 50% markup
HomeGuide says handymen who buy the materials may add a 20% to 50% markup or a $30 to $80 trip charge. Buying the faucet, fan or hardware yourself is one of the easiest ways to cut the bill (HomeGuide).
Ready for a free handyman quote? Pro House Maintenance matches you with vetted, licensed and insured pros and gives free fixed-price estimates. Compare the best handymen in Toronto, the best handymen in Mississauga, the top-rated handymen in Hamilton, handyman services in Toronto, handyman help in Mississauga or handyman quotes in Hamilton, or request an estimate.
What do common handyman jobs cost?
Most single handyman jobs cost $150 to $600, and bundled punch lists cost more but save on minimums. Repairs swing the most, because a quick patch and a full wall repair share one label.
7. The average handyman job costs $300
Fixr puts the national average at $300, with most people spending $150 to $600. The low end is about $75 to replace a bathroom faucet the homeowner supplies. The high end is about $1,000 to repair and paint the drywall in a 12 by 12 foot room (Fixr).
8. Small repairs cost $100 to $500 for 2 to 5 hours
HomeGuide says small handyman repairs cost $100 to $500 for 2 to 5 hours of work. Larger installation jobs that take 5 hours to a few days cost $500 to $1,500 or more (HomeGuide).
9. Repairs run $75 to $700 and painting $400 to $1,000
Fixr breaks handyman work into four groups. Installations cost $60 to $400, repairs $75 to $700, maintenance $100 to $280 and painting $400 to $1,000, before paint and supplies (Fixr).
Source: Fixr, updated January 30, 2025. USD.
10. Drywall repair costs $200 to $800
HomeGuide's flat-rate price list puts handyman drywall repair at $200 to $800. Drywall installation runs $600 to $1,400 (HomeGuide).
11. Door installation costs $225 to $825
A handyman door installation costs $225 to $825 on HomeGuide, and a door frame repair costs $75 to $220 (HomeGuide).
12. A ceiling fan installation costs $75 to $150
HomeGuide prices a handyman ceiling fan installation at $75 to $150 and faucet installation at $120 to $300. New wiring is a job for a licensed electrician (HomeGuide).
13. Handyman gutter cleaning costs $100 to $225
HomeGuide lists handyman gutter cleaning at $100 to $225 and gutter repair at $150 to $500. Fixr names gutter clearing as a typical maintenance job. For Ontario eavestrough prices, see our gutter cleaning cost guide (HomeGuide).
14. Furniture assembly costs $85 to $200
Furniture assembly costs $85 to $200 on HomeGuide's price list, and blind installation costs $30 to $80 per blind. These quick jobs are where the minimum charge hits hardest, so group them (HomeGuide).
How big is the handyman industry?
Handyman services are a large, fragmented US industry with no dominant brand. IBISWorld and the Bureau of Labor Statistics both show steady demand, even as project volumes cool.
15. US handyman services will bring in $365.4 billion in 2026
IBISWorld expects US handyman services revenue to reach $365.4 billion in 2026, a drop of an estimated 0.8% for the year. Revenue grew at a 2.6% compound annual rate over the five years to 2026 (IBISWorld).
16. 529,000 handyman businesses, and none holds more than 5%
IBISWorld counts 529,000 handyman businesses in the US in 2026, up at a 1.1% annual rate since 2021. It calls the industry highly fragmented, with no company holding a market share above 5%. That is why vetting each pro matters (IBISWorld).
17. 1.6 million US maintenance and repair jobs, growing 4%
The BLS counts 1,621,800 general maintenance and repair worker jobs in 2025, the BLS occupation closest to handyman work. It projects 4% growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 148,700 openings a year (BLS).
18. US maintenance and repair workers earn a median $23.84 an hour
The BLS reports a May 2025 median of $49,590 a year, or $23.84 an hour. The lowest 10% earned less than $35,350 and the highest 10% more than $77,180. Billed rates of $50 to $80 an hour also have to cover travel, tools and insurance (BLS).
What do handymen earn in Ontario and Canada?
Ontario handymen earn a median $24.00 an hour, according to Job Bank's 2023 to 2024 data for NOC 73201. Pay varies by region, with the Toronto Region at the top of the range and Hamilton to Niagara below the provincial median.
19. Ontario handymen earn a median $24.00 an hour
Job Bank lists handyman wages in Ontario at a low of $17.95, a median of $24.00 and a high of $39.00 an hour. The figures come from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey and were updated November 19, 2025 (Job Bank).
20. The Toronto Region tops out at $40.00 an hour
Job Bank's Toronto Region range is $17.95 to $40.00, with a $24.00 median. The Hamilton to Niagara median is $21.00, Kitchener to Waterloo to Barrie is $25.00, and Ottawa is $25.00 (Job Bank).
Source: Job Bank, Handyman/woman in Ontario, updated November 19, 2025. CAD.
21. 79.4% of Ontario workers in this group get non-wage benefits
Job Bank says 79.4% of Ontario workers in NOC 73201 receive at least one non-wage benefit, such as a pension or health plan, against 82.2% nationally. The national median wage is $25.00 an hour (Job Bank).
Source: Job Bank.
Do handymen need a licence, and how risky is the work?
Licence rules depend on the job size and the city, and the work itself carries real injury risk. HomeGuide says many US states set licence thresholds, and Ontario cities license some renovation businesses directly.
22. Many states require a licence for jobs over $500 to $10,000
HomeGuide says many US states require handymen to hold a licence for jobs over $500 to $10,000, plus insurance. In Toronto, the City lists Building Renovator among its business licence types under Chapter 545. Ontario says a person can't operate an electrical contracting business without an electrical contractor licence issued by ESA (HomeGuide; City of Toronto; Ontario).
Ladders are the main hazard. CDC NIOSH reports that more than 500,000 people in the US are treated each year, and about 300 die, from ladder-related injuries, at an estimated $24 billion a year. The BLS says maintenance and repair workers have one of the highest injury and illness rates of any occupation (CDC NIOSH; BLS).
What this means for homeowners
- Budget $50 to $80 an hour for an independent handyman, or about $300 for a typical single job.
- Group small tasks into one visit. A $130 minimum on a 10-minute fix is the most expensive way to hire.
- Buy fixtures and materials yourself to avoid a 20% to 50% markup.
- Ask for proof of insurance and WSIB coverage in Ontario, and hire a licensed trade for electrical or gas work.
- Pro House Maintenance matches you with vetted, licensed and insured pros and gives free fixed-price estimates. Compare the best handymen in Toronto, handyman services in Toronto, handyman help in Mississauga, handyman quotes in Hamilton, or request an estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a handyman charge per hour in 2026?
HomeGuide puts self-employed handyman rates at $50 to $80 an hour and corporate handyman services at $75 to $125, plus materials. Fixr reports $50 to $100 an hour, with most handymen charging about $65. Uninsured or rural handymen charge $35 to $65 an hour on HomeGuide.
What is the minimum charge for a handyman visit?
Fixr says the most common handyman minimum is $130, which covers small jobs of 30 minutes or less plus travel. HomeGuide adds that handymen who buy materials may mark them up 20% to 50% or add a $30 to $80 trip charge. Bundling several small jobs into one visit spreads that minimum.
How much does a typical handyman job cost?
Fixr puts the national average handyman job at $300, with most people paying $150 to $600. HomeGuide says small repairs of 2 to 5 hours cost $100 to $500, and larger installs lasting 5 hours to a few days run $500 to $1,500 or more. Pro House Maintenance offers free estimates from vetted pros.
How much do handymen earn in Ontario?
Job Bank lists a median wage of $24.00 an hour for handymen in Ontario, with a low of $17.95 and a high of $39.00, for 2023 to 2024. The Toronto Region high is $40.00, and the Hamilton to Niagara median is $21.00. These are worker wages, not the rate a homeowner pays.
Do handymen need a licence?
It depends on the job and the place. HomeGuide says many US states require a licence for handyman jobs over $500 to $10,000. In Toronto, the City lists Building Renovator among its business licence types. Ontario says a person cannot operate an electrical contracting business without an ESA licence.