What handymen should charge in Massachusetts.
Fair billed labor here runs about $45–$84/hour, about 17% above the median US state. Every number below comes from what general maintenance and repair workers actually earn in Massachusetts; the math is on this page, in the open.
How much should handymen charge in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, general maintenance and repair workers earn $22.55–$33.42 per hour (median $28.04, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025), about 17% 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 Massachusetts runs about $45–$84 per hour. For example, half-day of small repairs is about $135–$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 $45–$84/hr billed.
Full day of repairs
That assumes one worker, one day, materials billed separately at cost.
Typical labor: 7–8 hours at $45–$84/hr billed.
Before you hire in Massachusetts
Structural work needs a Construction Supervisor License; home improvement contractors also register (HIC), which is what qualifies you for the guaranty fund.
How to verify a Massachusetts license · how to get comparable bids · track your quotes side by side (free, no account).
Find handymen near you in Massachusetts
Other fair price checks in Massachusetts
Compare handymen rates across all states · all fair price checks