The average yearly compensation for a handyman in Pennsylvania is $35,841 as of December 9, 2021. If you need a quick salary calculator, that works out to about $17.23 per hour, which is the equivalent of $689 per week or $2,987 per month.
While incomes as high as $53,901 and as low as $17,811 have been reported in some areas, the majority of Handyman salaries in Pennsylvania presently range from $28,590 (25th percentile) to $39,839 (75th percentile). Top earners in this domain can expect to earn $48,744 yearly (90th percentile).
The typical income for a Handyman can vary significantly (up to $11,249), implying that there may be several prospects for higher pay dependent on skill level, location, and years of experience.
The handyman employment market in Pennsylvania is not particularly active, since few employers are presently recruiting.
Want to protect yourself from unexpected risks? Consider getting insurance for a handyman in Pennsylvania. Learn more here.
In terms of handyman salary, Pennsylvania ranks 14th out of 50 states.
What are Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Handyman Jobs?
The three places in Pennsylvania where the average compensation for a Handyman job is higher than the state average are Pittsburgh, followed by Harrisburg and Philadelphia.
Philadelphia outperforms the Pennsylvania average by 6.4 percent, while Pittsburgh continues the trend with a $3,655 (10.2 percent) increase over the $35,841 average.
Significantly, the Pittsburgh Handyman employment market is quite active, with numerous organizations now hiring for this position.
With just a few cities in Pennsylvania paying more than the state average, moving to a new place as a handyman should be approached with caution. Cost of living costs should also be taken into account.
Another thing to consider is that the average income in these top 10 cities differs just 18 percent between Pittsburgh and Scranton, implying that significant wage growth may be tough to achieve. A reduced cost of living may aid in determining the right combination of location and pay for a handyman job.
What are Pennsylvania’s Top 5 Highest-Paying Related Handyman Jobs?
There are at least five occupations in the Handyman category that pay more per year than the average Handyman salary in Pennsylvania. Top Handyman, Work From Home Building Handyman, and Work From Home Ace Relocation are just a few instances of these professions.
It is worth noting that all of these positions pay between $16,519 (46.1%) and $22,475 (62.7%), more than the $35,841 average handyman income. As such, if you’re looking to maximize your income, you may wish to specialize in one of these areas.
What do handymen actually do?
A handyman is a person who helps with a range of house repairs, upkeep, and general home improvements. Handymen are often self-employed, although they can also work for a construction company or a property management firm. A handyman often does not need any formal training or education as long as they have a solid working understanding of numerous repairs.
Making a living as a handyman
Working as a handyman can entail a variety of tasks, depending on the associated expertise and specialization. Some of the tasks that handymen get involved with are as follows:
- Appliance installation, maintenance, and repair
- Estimating expenses, developing a project strategy, and establishing a completion timetable
- Yard upkeep, tree pruning, and snow removal
- Cabinet construction, finishing, and installation
- Replacing flooring, fixing drywall, and painting the interiors and exteriors of homes
- Replacing light fixtures and repairing outlets
What does it take to become a handyman?
To become a successful handyman, follow these steps:
- Improve your abilities. Many handymen hone their talents by working on projects around the house or volunteering. Getting hands-on experience in a number of places around the house is a terrific way to start your handyman career.
- Attend a trade school. Attending a trade school or community college, though not needed, can help you perfect certain talents like plumbing or electrical work.
- Look for a mentor. Some handymen offer apprenticeships in order to pass on their knowledge. Working with a more experienced handyman who can mentor you can open up additional doors for you to develop the skills and expertise needed to operate on your own.
- Seek out new customers. Handymen frequently thrive by cultivating a loyal customer base of people who refer their services to others. Many handymen get customers by word of mouth or by creating a marketing strategy before starting their business.
What’s the difference between a contractor and a handyman?
Contractors are trained experts who are licensed in a certain field and work on specialized home maintenance and building tasks. Handymen do not need to hold a license and may have a greater variety of talents that are useful around the home.
What abilities are required to work as a handyman?
Being a handyman necessitates both mental and physical abilities, including:
- Problem-solving: Handymen are frequently called upon to come up with solutions to a homeowner’s specific problems.
- Creativity: Being resourceful aids handymen in meeting their clients’ needs in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.
- Endurance: Many of a handyman’s responsibilities take several hours, days, or weeks to complete, necessitating physical stamina and mental endurance.
- Handymen must be agile and dexterous when handling fragile materials or dangerous repair tools because they work with their hands.
What are the prospects for a handyman?
The employment rate for all forms of repair and general maintenance workers, including handymen, is expected to increase by 6% between 2018 and 2028, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, which is about average for all occupations.
Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Pennsylvania Handyman License
Pennsylvania is an excellent area to be a homeowner since it has a slew of laws in place to protect homeowners from unethical or inept contractors. Most contractors must be registered with the state, have insurance, and follow a set of standards while interacting with customers under these laws. Certain sorts of contractors must also be licensed.
What Is a Handyman?
Any type of work that is performed on a home, including demolitions, repairs, removals, modernizations, etc., are perceived to represent home improvements in the State of Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, home improvements includes the construction, replacement, installation, or improvement of driveways, swimming pools, pool houses, porches, garages, roofs, siding, insulation, flooring, patios, fences, gazebos, sheds, cabanas, painting, doors, and windows. In Pennsylvania, anyone who undertakes home renovation work for a fee is considered to represent a contractor. Despite the title’s informality, a handyman is considered a contractor in Pennsylvania as long as he is compensated for his services.
Requirements for Licensing
A handyman does not need to be licensed in Pennsylvania unless he is a professional regulated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, such as an architect, engineer, land surveyor, asbestos abater, electrician, or master plumber. However, if he performs certain services, he must be licensed in Pennsylvania, either by the state or by the town. Before starting work on a project, all contractors, even handymen, should check with the local building department to see if there are any local legislation or regulations that need extra licenses or certificates. Municipalities in Pennsylvania have the authority to impose extra restrictions on contractors in some cases.
Registration
Despite the fact that a handyman who is not in the professional trades is not needed to be licensed, he must be registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office in order to work on home projects. A handyman must fill out an application, give evidence of insurance, and reveal if he has ever been convicted of a felony or participated in misbehavior, such as fraud, in order to get registered.
Exceptions
If a handyman is not compensated for his job, is hired by a contractor with a net worth of more than $50 million, or earned less than $5,000 in the previous year for home renovation work, there is no need to register. Of course, homeowners are able to work on their own homes without having to register.
The Home Improvement Consumer Act requires those operating in the jobs listed below to get licenses. The license applicant must get in contact with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection, which is housed inside the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office.
Jobs that do not need a license
- Work that pays less than $5,000: A worker who completed less than $5,000 in house modifications in the preceding taxable year is not required to obtain a license. It is recommended, however, that everyone who expects to perform more than $5,000 worth of work in the next year should acquire a license in the current year.
- Builders and suppliers of new homes: Licensing should be waived for new construction suppliers and house builders who do not perform home renovation work.
Right to Rescission for Three Business Days
Before starting a business, the new regulation requires a contractor to meet with the homeowner with whom they wish to do business within three (3) business days.
The following are the recommendations for how the new system will function assuming that there is a holiday:
- If the contractor signs the contract on Monday, they can begin work the following week on Friday.
- Work can begin the following Saturday if the contractor signs the contract on Tuesday.
- If the contractor signs the contract on Wednesday, he or she can begin work the following Tuesday.
- If they sign the contract on Thursday, the contractor can begin work the following week, on Wednesday.
- If the contractor signs the contract on Friday, the work can begin the following Thursday.
- If they sign the contract on Saturday or Sunday, the work will begin the following Friday.
Liability Insurance for Contractors
Contractors with a license are required to have the following insurance:
- A personal injury insurance policy with a minimum coverage of $50,000 is required.
- Insurance coverage for property and tool damage of at least $50,000 is required by contract.
According to the new law, a contract’s breach of conditions might render it unlawful and unenforceable against the contractor. The prerequisites are as follows:
- Dates of commencement and completion
- Right of Rescission Notice
- The work’s scope and specs
- The contractor’s registration number
- Notice from the insurance company
- Down payments or deposits
- The complete address of the contractor ( P.O Box and other details)
Deposit
According to the new rule, a contractor license holder can only receive a third of the total contract value as a down payment or deposit. This regulation must be explicitly stated in the contract.
Abatement of Asbestos and Lead
Asbestos and lead abatement contractors must be certified.
Because contractor rules differ from area to area, handymen should fully research the requirements before performing any work that involves handling asbestos or lead. Customers are also encouraged to double-check their state’s standards before hiring a contractor.