Handyman vs tradesman

The differences between handymen and tradesmen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a handyman, becoming a tradesman takes usually requires More than 10 years. Additionally, a handyman has an average salary of $44,648, which is higher than the $38,236 average annual salary of a tradesman.

The top three skills for a handyman include plumbing, customer service and drywall repair. The most important skills for a tradesman are HVAC, plumbing, and hand tools.

Handyman vs tradesman overview

	Handyman	Tradesman
Yearly salary	$44,648	$38,236
Hourly rate	$21.47	$18.38
Growth rate	5%	-4%
Number of jobs	3,371	460
Job satisfaction	4.5	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 34%
Average age	47	46
Years of experience	4	-

Handyman vs tradesman salary

Handymen and tradesmen have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Handyman	Tradesman
Average salary	$44,648	$38,236
Salary range	Between $32,000 And $61,000	Between $28,000 And $50,000
Highest paying City	Silver Spring, MD	Beverly Hills, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	California
Best paying company	The American Musical and Dramatic Academy	PruittHealth
Best paying industry	Construction	Technology

Differences between handyman and tradesman education

There are a few differences between a handyman and a tradesman in terms of educational background:

	Handyman	Tradesman
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 34%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Handyman vs tradesman demographics

Here are the differences between handymen' and tradesmen' demographics:

	Handyman	Tradesman
Average age	47	46
Gender ratio	Male, 95.8% Female, 4.2%	Male, 96.0% Female, 4.0%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 4.3% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 21.9% Asian, 1.5% White, 65.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	2%	2%

Differences between handyman and tradesman duties and responsibilities

Handyman example responsibilities.

Train and manage new cooks and dishwashers and achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
Erect scaffolding and ladders for assembling structures above grind level.
Fabricaty office buildings by drywall, painting, electrical, roofing and demolition.
Perform residential/commercial handyman services, including carpentry, remodeling, installations, minor plumbing, masonry and tile work.
Perform a variety of lawn care and home repairs, mowing, weeding, trimming, clearing, and debris removal.
Erect scaffolding, shoring and braces.

Tradesman example responsibilities.

Set up the park and run power for all the vendors that are there.
Install acoustic panels, finish caulking.
Follow OSHA safety regulations to ensure a safe job site.
Assist craft workers in erecting scaffolding, and setting support braces.
Participate on OSHA back-up team to follow up and maintain safety issues
Used materials include rails, planks and ladders for the scaffold.

Handyman vs tradesman skills

Common handyman skills

Plumbing, 24%
Customer Service, 17%
Drywall Repair, 9%
HVAC, 4%
General Maintenance, 4%
Mowing, 3%

Common tradesman skills

HVAC, 14%
Plumbing, 11%
Hand Tools, 7%
Mechanical Equipment, 5%
Troubleshoot, 5%
Roofing, 4%

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Installation, Maintenance and Repair Industry
Handyman
Handyman vs Tradesman

Updated January 8, 2025

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