Handyman · AR

Handyman costs in Fort Smith, AR-OK

Last updated from data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · PPI construction materials 2026-09 · estimates only

How this market compares

Fort Smith, AR-OK has its own Handyman labor market; here is what the BLS numbers say before you chase bids. Mean hourly pay here sits about 18% below the national OEWS mean.

Mean Handyman pay here is $21.10/hr — national rank 485 of 530 areas that publish this occupation. Compared with other AR areas that report Handyman wages, this market is #4 of 9. Percentile spread: $13.89–$29.05. Median sits at $20.05.

OEWS counts about 910 Maintenance and Repair Workers, General jobs in this area. Nationwide that occupation is about 1,529,700. How a few common projects pencil out against the national mid: Garage Door Replacement mid estimate $1,062 here vs $1,157 U.S. (8% below); Garage Door Spring Repair mid estimate $206 here vs $235 U.S. (12% below); Gutter Cleaning mid estimate $128 here vs $155 U.S. (17% below).

Nearby / same-state markets worth checking: Jonesboro ($20.18, 0.92 lower); Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway ($23.04, 1.94 higher); Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers ($23.22, 2.12 higher).

Local tip: Local code, permit fees, and how busy crews are this month move numbers as much as wage rates do.

Sample project ranges

ProjectLowMidHigh
Garage Door Replacement$549$1,062$2,427
Garage Door Spring Repair$81$206$485
Gutter Cleaning$42$128$366
Handyman Hourly (general)$28$47$73
Mean hourly wage
$21.1
Median hourly
$20.05
p10 – p90
$13.89 – $29.05

Getting quotes without the circus

  1. Screenshot our mid/low/high band.
  2. Ask three licensed, insured pros for written scopes.
  3. Compare exclusions — permits, haul-away, thermostats, flashing — before crowning a winner.

What usually moves the number

Rebates (verify; don’t trust a random Facebook ad)

Check IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE for any incentives that apply to this project. Start with IRS, ENERGY STAR, and DSIRE.

What this estimate can’t tell you. Roof pitch, an old house or code upgrades, tough access, permits, emergency or after-hours calls, and brand tier can push a real quote outside this range.

Check our math

BLS OEWS May 2025 · local hourly means the calculator uses

Handyman (49-9071)$21.10/hr mean

Source: official BLS OEWS data for this area · area index: oessrcma.htm.

Contractor markup (2.0× / 2.25× / 2.5×) and the regional materials factor are ours — see methodology.

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Thermostats

A decent thermostat won’t fix a bad install, but it can stop the short-cycling arguments.

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Water heaters

Tank, tankless, heat-pump — the sticker price is only half the story.

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Warranties & financing

Read the exclusions. “Full coverage” rarely means what the brochure implies.

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Monthly wage & cost note

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