What handymen should charge in Illinois.
Fair billed labor here runs about $42–$83/hour, about 14% above the median US state. Every number below comes from what general maintenance and repair workers actually earn in Illinois; the math is on this page, in the open.
How much should handymen charge in Illinois?
In Illinois, general maintenance and repair workers earn $21.15–$33.02 per hour (median $27.27, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), about 14% above the median US state for this trade. A legitimate business bills 2–2.5× wages to cover payroll taxes, insurance, equipment, overhead and profit, so fair billed labor in Illinois runs about $42–$83 per hour. For example, half-day of small repairs is about $125–$325 in fair labor, before materials.
Fair price by job
Half-day of small repairs
That assumes a punch list: doors, caulk, hardware, small drywall patches.
Typical labor: 3–4 hours at $42–$83/hr billed.
Full day of repairs
That assumes one worker, one day, materials billed separately at cost.
Typical labor: 7–8 hours at $42–$83/hr billed.
Before you hire in Illinois
No statewide general contractor license — cities license GCs (Chicago has its own system). Roofing contractors are state-licensed, and that one is worth checking every time.
How to verify a Illinois license · how to get comparable bids · track your quotes side by side (free, no account).
Find handymen near you in Illinois
Other fair price checks in Illinois
Compare handymen rates across all states · all fair price checks