Research Summary. In 2026, the handyman profession continues to be a vital component of the labor market. The Zippia data science team has conducted extensive research to uncover the latest details on handyman salaries by state across the United States:
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Alaska boasts the highest handyman salary at $58,994.
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Arkansas has the lowest handyman salary at $32,427.
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The national average salary for handymen is $44,648.
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The national hourly pay for handymen stands at $21.47.
Read more about our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains a critical factor in job satisfaction across various demographics. For many individuals, the primary question is: how much do handymen earn in my area?
While individual salaries depend on multiple factors, we have solid data on average handyman salaries by state, categorized by experience levels. Although local variations may exist, these averages provide a reliable indication of expected earnings.
Alaska consistently ranks as the state offering the best salaries for handymen.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for handyman salaries:
Let’s explore how these figures were derived and provide a comprehensive ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Handymen By State
| Rank | State | Average Handyman Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $58,994 | $43,000 | $79,000 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $58,590 | $39,000 | $87,000 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $55,120 | $44,000 | $67,000 |
| 4 | Rhode Island | $53,045 | $35,000 | $79,000 |
| 5 | Maryland | $52,225 | $35,000 | $76,000 |
| 6 | Minnesota | $49,698 | $35,000 | $69,000 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $49,393 | $33,000 | $73,000 |
| 8 | Virginia | $49,267 | $34,000 | $71,000 |
| 9 | New York | $49,211 | $33,000 | $73,000 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $49,151 | $32,000 | $73,000 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $46,396 | $33,000 | $63,000 |
| 12 | Vermont | $46,383 | $30,000 | $69,000 |
| 13 | Missouri | $46,381 | $33,000 | $64,000 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $46,148 | $30,000 | $69,000 |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $45,983 | $31,000 | $67,000 |
| 16 | Arizona | $45,638 | $32,000 | $64,000 |
| 17 | Iowa | $45,512 | $32,000 | $63,000 |
| 18 | Delaware | $45,176 | $30,000 | $66,000 |
| 19 | Nevada | $44,998 | $31,000 | $63,000 |
| 20 | Illinois | $43,901 | $31,000 | $61,000 |
| 21 | Kansas | $43,724 | $31,000 | $60,000 |
| 22 | Ohio | $43,657 | $30,000 | $62,000 |
| 23 | Washington | $43,231 | $31,000 | $59,000 |
| 24 | Oregon | $42,698 | $30,000 | $59,000 |
| 25 | California | $42,528 | $29,000 | $60,000 |
| 26 | Michigan | $42,364 | $29,000 | $60,000 |
| 27 | Texas | $42,236 | $30,000 | $58,000 |
| 28 | Indiana | $41,993 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $41,815 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $41,017 | $29,000 | $57,000 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $40,798 | $29,000 | $56,000 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $40,387 | $28,000 | $58,000 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $40,314 | $29,000 | $55,000 |
| 34 | Utah | $40,079 | $29,000 | $55,000 |
| 35 | Montana | $39,954 | $29,000 | $54,000 |
| 36 | Georgia | $39,925 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $39,647 | $28,000 | $55,000 |
| 38 | Maine | $39,594 | $26,000 | $59,000 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $39,581 | $27,000 | $55,000 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $39,174 | $27,000 | $54,000 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $39,142 | $28,000 | $54,000 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $37,560 | $27,000 | $51,000 |
| 43 | Idaho | $37,438 | $27,000 | $51,000 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $37,116 | $26,000 | $51,000 |
| 45 | Alabama | $37,070 | $26,000 | $51,000 |
| 46 | Florida | $37,056 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 47 | Colorado | $36,709 | $26,000 | $50,000 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $35,624 | $25,000 | $49,000 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $34,648 | $25,000 | $47,000 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $32,427 | $23,000 | $44,000 |
Methodology: Handyman Salary By State
To understand handyman compensation by state, Zippia has aggregated data from multiple sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is supplemented by actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average to determine the average pay for handymen by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary data collected from these estimates, with the state offering the highest salary appearing at the top of the list.
Handyman Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for handymen?
The highest-paid state for handymen is Alaska, with an average salary of $58,994 per year.
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What city pays handymen the most?
Silver Spring, MD pays handymen the most, with an average salary of $51,960 per year.
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What is the worst state for handymen?
The worst state for handymen is Arkansas, with an average salary of $32,427 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
