Data report · Nov 3, 2026

Cheapest and priciest metros for handyman work

One billed hour of general maintenance labor: mainland mids from about $40 (Hot Springs) to $75 (San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont).

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

Chart: Fairange mid estimates · BLS OEWS May 2025 · Share freely with attribution

A “handyman hour” is the simplest way to see what general maintenance labor costs around the country. We took every metro with a local OEWS wage for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General (SOC 49-9071) and ran our published handyman hourly job — one billed hour, materials zero, same 2.0× / 2.25× / 2.5× markup schedule as every other Fairange estimate.

Among mainland metros, the mid planning estimate for that single hour runs from about $40 in Hot Springs ($17.78/hr mean wage) to $75 in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont ($33.37/hr). Spread on the mid: ~$35. Trip minimums and specialty skills still sit outside this unit — it’s a wage translation, not a flat “visit” price.

Same wage file powers gutter cleaning, pressure washing, and garage-door jobs on this site.

Priciest metros (1-hour mid)

#	Metro	St	Mid	Band	Handyman wage
1	San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont	CA	$75	$44–$118	$33.37/hr
2	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara	CA	$75	$45–$120	$33.39/hr
3	Kahului-Wailuku	HI	$71	$43–$98	$31.61/hr
4	Napa	CA	$70	$43–$107	$31.20/hr
5	Vallejo	CA	$70	$41–$112	$31.30/hr
6	Decatur	IL	$69	$42–$90	$30.56/hr
7	Fairbanks-College	AK	$69	$36–$110	$30.86/hr
8	Seattle	WA	$69	$44–$106	$30.84/hr
9	Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard	WA	$67	$39–$106	$29.89/hr
10	Kennewick-Richland	WA	$67	$38–$114	$29.94/hr
11	Mount Vernon-Anacortes	WA	$67	$37–$106	$29.64/hr
12	Sheboygan	WI	$67	$40–$96	$29.78/hr

Least expensive metros

#	Metro	St	Mid	Band	Handyman wage
1	Hot Springs	AR	$40	$25–$64	$17.78/hr
2	Brownsville-Harlingen	TX	$42	$24–$69	$18.82/hr
3	Anniston-Oxford	AL	$43	$24–$66	$19.06/hr
4	Laredo	TX	$43	$26–$65	$18.90/hr
5	Beckley	WV	$44	$25–$74	$19.39/hr
6	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission	TX	$44	$25–$71	$19.69/hr
7	Daphne-Fairhope-Foley	AL	$45	$29–$67	$20.21/hr
8	Dothan	AL	$45	$27–$73	$20.20/hr
9	Jacksonville	NC	$45	$26–$71	$19.89/hr
10	Jonesboro	AR	$45	$28–$71	$20.18/hr
11	Montgomery	AL	$45	$25–$73	$20.16/hr
12	Morgantown	WV	$45	$28–$67	$20.07/hr

Run your ZIP on the handyman calculator, or browse the handyman trade hub.

Estimates, not bids. Fairange planning estimates from public BLS wages plus published hours/materials assumptions. Not contractor bids. Hours, materials baselines, and contractor markup (2.0× / 2.25× / 2.5×) are ours — published on the methodology page. Wages are BLS OEWS May 2025. Always get local written bids.

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By The Fairange team · [email protected]