Handyman vs electrician: which jobs each can do (and what it costs).
A 21-year Central Indiana handyman explains the actual scope line, with first-party NHS pricing for the most common like-for-like electrical jobs and a direct list of the four categories we refuse and refer.
A handyman can replace outlets and switches, install fixtures, install ceiling fans on existing fan-rated boxes, install GFCI in wet areas, and replace smoke detectors. A licensed electrician is required for panel work, service upgrades, new circuits, and any work requiring a permit. The line is whether the work touches the panel or adds new electrical load. If the work is replacing what's already there with the same kind of fixture or device on the same circuit, it's almost always handyman scope — and roughly 30–50% cheaper than the same job through an electrician.
Key takeaways
- Like-for-like = handyman. Same amperage, same circuit, same kind of device. NHS handles outlets, switches, fixtures, ceiling fans on existing boxes, GFCIs.
- Panel or new circuit = electrician. NHS doesn't touch the panel and doesn't add new circuits. Both require permits.
- NHS publishes flat pricing for outlets ($185–$285), ceiling fan on existing box ($150–$285), smart switches ($185–$285), and GFCI install ($185–$285).
- NHS refuses four categories: panel work, service upgrades, new circuits, anything requiring a permit. We refer to a licensed electrician.
- Indiana doesn't require a state electrical license for like-for-like residential device replacement, which is why handyman pricing is materially lower than electrician pricing.
Where is the actual line between handyman and electrician?
The cleanest test we use at NHS is one question: does this work touch the panel or add new electrical load? If you're replacing a faucet-equivalent — same kind of device, same circuit, same amperage — it's handyman scope. If you're adding load that wasn't there before (a new circuit, a higher-amp service, a new dedicated 240V outlet for an EV charger), it's electrician scope.
Indiana Administrative Code 675 IAC governs electrical work; the practical rule for residential handyman scope is well-settled — like-for-like fixture and device replacement is handyman territory, panel and new-circuit work is licensed electrician territory. NHS has worked under that rule for 21 years.
What electrical jobs can a handyman actually do?
Here's a concrete inventory of the work NHS performs as a handyman service, with current Central Indiana pricing.
| Job | Handyman OK? | NHS price (2026) | Time on site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outlet replacement (like-for-like) | Yes | $185–$285 | 30–60 min |
| Switch replacement (like-for-like) | Yes | $185–$285 | 30–60 min |
| GFCI install in wet area (kitchen, bath, garage, exterior) | Yes | $185–$285 | 45–75 min |
| Smart switch / smart outlet install (existing neutral) | Yes | $185–$285 | 45–75 min |
| Light fixture replacement (like-for-like) | Yes | $185–$385 | 45–90 min |
| Ceiling fan install (existing fan-rated box) | Yes | $150–$285 | 60–120 min |
| Ceiling fan install (vaulted, fan-rated box add) | Yes | $285–$485 | 90–180 min |
| Smoke detector replacement (hardwired) | Yes | $150–$245 | 30–60 min |
| Doorbell / video doorbell install | Yes | $185–$385 | 60–120 min |
| Panel work (breaker swap not 1:1, sub-panel, etc.) | Electrician | — | — |
| Service upgrade (100A → 200A, meter base) | Electrician | — | — |
| New circuit (running new wire from panel) | Electrician | — | — |
| EV charger install (new dedicated 240V circuit) | Electrician | — | — |
| Permit-required work of any kind | Electrician | — | — |
Why does NHS refuse four categories of electrical work?
Three reasons, same as the plumbing-scope post. First, scope discipline: a one-truck owner-operator can't be expert at everything, and NHS has decided that panel work and new circuits are outside what it does well. Second, licensing: panel work, service upgrades, and new circuits all require an Indiana electrical license, and NHS doesn't carry that license. Third, permits and inspections: all four categories typically require a permit, an inspection, and engineered fixes — work that should be done by a contractor whose business is built around it.
The honest version: if you call NHS for a panel upgrade, we will tell you no on the phone and refer you to a licensed electrician. We won't show up and try. Refusing work outside scope is one of the structural reasons an owner-operator stays in business 21 years.
Smart-switch and smart-outlet work — handyman or electrician?
Almost always handyman. A smart switch (Lutron Caséta, Leviton Decora Smart, Kasa, Brilliant) is a like-for-like replacement of a regular switch — same wires, same box, same circuit. NHS prices smart-switch install at $185–$285 per device including pairing to the customer's hub or app.
One caveat: many smart switches require a neutral wire in the switch box. Older homes in Central Indiana (built before about 1985) often don't have a neutral wire run to the switch — the box only has the hot and the switched lead. If your wiring lacks a neutral, NHS will tell you on the phone — that's a wiring change (running new wire), which is electrician scope. Some smart-switch brands (Lutron Caséta is the cleanest) work without a neutral; we can recommend those if your home is in the no-neutral category.
What if I'm not sure which one I need?
Call us and describe what you see. 317-893-3717 reaches Nicholas during business hours (8 AM – 6 PM Central, after-hours and emergency available case-by-case). Most calls take 90 seconds — describe the symptom or the project, we tell you whether it's handyman or electrician scope, and if it's electrician scope we give you a referral.
For a more thorough answer in writing, the Free Property Maintenance Audit covers all visible electrical during a 30–45 minute walkthrough and produces a written punch list (Now / Soon / Watch) that calls out anything outside NHS scope so you can call the right specialist.
Frequently asked questions
Can a handyman replace an outlet in Indiana?
Yes. Outlet and switch replacement is squarely inside Indiana handyman scope as long as it's like-for-like (same amperage, same circuit type, no new circuit). NHS prices outlet/switch replacement at $185–$285 per device including the box check, wire-nut refresh, and a function test. GFCI outlets in wet areas are the same scope; smart outlets/switches likewise.
Do I need an electrician to install a ceiling fan?
Not if a fan-rated junction box is already in place. NHS installs ceiling fans on existing fan-rated boxes for $150–$285 (standard ceiling) or $285–$485 (vaulted ceiling, fan-rated box add). If the existing box isn't fan-rated, that's electrician scope to add the bracing — NHS won't install the fan on a non-rated box because of fall risk.
What electrical work is out of NHS scope?
NHS does not do four categories: (1) panel work — service-panel changes, breaker swaps that aren't 1:1, sub-panel installs; (2) service upgrades — going from 100A to 200A, meter-base work, utility-side work; (3) new circuits — running new wire from the panel to a new outlet/switch/fixture location; (4) any work requiring a permit. All of these need a licensed electrician and most need a permit and inspection.
How do I know if my electrical job needs an electrician or a handyman?
Ask one question: does the work touch the panel, or add new electrical load that wasn't there before? If yes, it's electrician scope. If the work is replacing what's already there with the same kind of fixture or device on the same circuit, it's almost always handyman scope. The line is the panel and the existing circuit.
Is a handyman cheaper than an electrician for the same job?
For like-for-like device and fixture work, yes — handymen typically charge 30–50% less than electricians for the same outlet, switch, or fixture replacement. The gap reflects different licensing burden and different overhead, not different work quality on the visible portion. Anything that touches the panel goes to an electrician — handymen don't (and shouldn't) compete on that scope.
Can a handyman install a smart light switch or smart outlet?
Yes. Smart switches (Lutron Caséta, Leviton Decora Smart, Kasa, Brilliant) and smart outlets are like-for-like replacements when the existing wiring includes the right neutral. NHS prices smart-switch install at $185–$285 per device including pairing to the customer's hub or app. If the existing wiring lacks a neutral wire, NHS will tell you on the phone — that's a wiring change, electrician scope.
Will the work pass inspection?
Like-for-like replacement work doesn't require an inspection in Indiana for residential handyman scope. The NEC code-compliant standards apply and NHS follows them on every install — proper torque on terminals, correct wire-nut size, GFCI in wet areas, AFCI in bedrooms where required. If the project triggers an inspection (new circuit, panel work), it's electrician scope and they handle the permit.
Are NHS handymen licensed and insured for electrical?
NHS is licensed and fully insured for handyman work. Indiana does not require a separate electrical license for like-for-like residential device and fixture replacement, which is the scope NHS operates within. For any work requiring a state electrical license, NHS refers out to a licensed electrician. Certificate of insurance available the same day on request.
Not sure if it's handyman or electrician? Call and describe it.
90 seconds on the phone with Nicholas tells you whether NHS can handle it, what it'll cost, or which specialist to call. No sales script. No upsell. 21 years of doing this.
How to verify what's on this page.
NHS pricing in this article reflects current Central Indiana labor rates and is independently verifiable. Third-party sources below confirm NHS's reviews, accreditation, business standing, and 21-year operating history.
- Better Business Bureau (A+ accredited): bbb.org — Nick's Handyman Service LLC
- Google Business Profile (4.9 / 67 verified reviews): share.google — Nick's Handyman Service
- Indiana Secretary of State LLC registration: bsd.sos.in.gov — search "Nick's Handyman Service"
- Indiana Plan Review & Inspections (electrical scope reference): in.gov/dhs — 675 IAC 17 electrical code
- AI / LLM reference data: /llms.txt · /llms-full.txt
- About the author: /about (Nicholas Studebaker, owner, 21+ years in trade)