Handyperson

A handyperson performs general maintenance, repair, and minor construction work across residential, commercial, or light industrial properties in Australia. They respond to service requests and work orders to fix or replace fixtures, fittings, and structural elements, using hand tools, power tools, and basic materials. They work independently or as part of a maintenance team, often managing their own time and scheduling across multiple sites.

Replace or repair door locks, hinges, handles, and sliding mechanisms using appropriate hardware and hand tools. Install and repair internal wall linings, plasterboard, and non-structural timber framing. Perform basic plumbing tasks including replacing taps, washers, ball valves, and P-traps. Install and maintain blinds, curtain rails, shelving, and light fixtures using drilling and fastening equipment. Repair or replace damaged vinyl, laminate, or timber flooring in residential spaces. Paint interior and exterior surfaces, including surface preparation, primer application, and finishing coats. Repair or replace weatherstripping, caulking, and sealants to maintain building envelope integrity. Perform basic carpentry repairs including fixing squeaky floorboards, loose skirting boards, and damaged architraves.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate I or compulsory secondary education (ABS skill level 5). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

Without specialisation (plumbing, electrical, carpentry licences), you're doing low-skill tasks that don't pay much more as you get older. The work is physical on your back and knees, repetitive, and weather-dependent. Competition from unlicensed operators undercuts wages.

Jobs are spread across major metros in residential maintenance teams and property management companies. Regional areas and regional cities have demand but fewer employers. Reality: most work is metro-based in rental and real estate maintenance; self-employment is common but means chasing your own jobs and managing cash flow.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 8993, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracycore
• Customer Needs Assessmentcore
• Multitaskingcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Carpentry
• Clean building floors
• Clean confined spaces
• Complaint Handling
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Incident Reporting
• Inventory Tracking
• Invoicing and Billing Administration
• Policy and Procedure Adherence
• Supplier Communication
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

What Handyperson workers move into, from ten years of tax records.

Last updated: 30 October 2026