Handyman Hourly Rates - The Handyman System x FieldPulse 

Your hourly rate has to be in the ballpark for the areas you are in. In some areas $125 won't get you any work and in other areas you'd be swamped. Figuring out pricing is more difficult than any handyman work!

Journeyman carpenter here... branching off on my own in the PNW. Its nice to see my speculations on rates was correct.

I don't think by the hour is a good way to charge my cients, i know i can replace a water heater in about 4 hours, at $125 per hr. thats only $500 ... well the going rate in my area for WH replacement is $800 and up. On the other hand what if i struggle with a task, why shoud my client have to pay more? I have a base price for most of my task, if i have to bump it up a little because of site conditions or travel time then i do, but my client know in advance before work begins. I also give price breaks for volume of work. I don't advertise or even have a website im strictly word of mouth. Most of my clients are loyal long time customers, treat people good, be honest and trustworthy they will always come back to you.

Nobody would hire me at $125.00 an hour if I used the wording handyman. Home services is the key. People still think of handymen as drunks

I just paid $80/hr to install a stair handrail.

I can't go that high in my area, but I find out what thae others charge and go a little below that. And I don't charge by hr. I charge a 100.00 for trip fee and 1st hr of work then price task, no materials included.

So, Caleb has some good business ideas. But keep in mind, he lives in a fairly wealthy zip code outside of Seattle. 125- might not apply to you but the concepts are sounds. Im doing 70/ hr w/ a $99 trip fee, esp for smaller jobs. trip fee is transportation, admin, insurance is how I explain it to clients. and I do $60/hr for jobs that are several days, and I sometimes waive the trip fee;

Is that 125 per man?

Does the handyman have a helper for $125 hr? Or is he alone?

I dont think that's too high. Most specialties, i.e. plumbers and electricians are 150 and up in the Seattle area, and that's just one trade. Handyman should be well versed in many trades. Also, a person should charge for their years experience and expertise.

I got a guy who expects me to work for 20$ per hr and I feel not only insulted but belittle I'm very upset over this situation.

Thats pretty steep if you ask me. Handy men need to be less than contractors or people will just choose the contractor.