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The State of Minnesota is a great place work especially for heating, air-condition, ventilation or refrigeration technicians.
These techs and contractors don’t have much to worry about in Minnesota, as there are no licensing or certification requirements for working in this industry.
Article Table of Contents
Salary
Knowing how much you’ll be earning can be a stronger reason to want to start your career in this field.
The average salary in the United States for this field is $46,648 per year, with the higher range reaching $52,858 per year.
In Minnesota, the average salary is higher at $47,721 annually, with those at the top-earning around $54,074 per year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $49,610 |
| Saint Paul | $49,610 |
| Rochester | $45,178 |
| Duluth | $44,245 |
| Saint Cloud | $44,002 |
| Lakeville | $49,302 |
| Eden Prairie | $49,526 |
| Burnsville | $49,470 |
| Minnetonka | $49,610 |
| Moorhead | $43,765 |
Regional Salary in Minnesota
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN-WI | 180 | $65,270 | $31.38 | $88,920 | $46,180 |
| Mankato-North Mankato, MN | 110 | $64,240 | $30.88 | $81,170 | $46,000 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,800 | $73,120 | $35.15 | $99,730 | $47,180 |
| Rochester, MN | 190 | $63,720 | $30.64 | $83,430 | $38,930 |
| St. Cloud, MN | 420 | $63,230 | $30.4 | $78,590 | $48,570 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Contractors’ Bond Requirement
In Minnesota, HVAC contractors are called mechanical contractors and they need to pay a bond of $25,000.
This is valid everywhere in the state for those doing gas piping, heating, ventilation, cooling, air conditioning, fuel burning or refrigeration work…
The bond must be filed with the state, and even the filing has a $15 fee.
The form for filing your bond can be found at this link.
Contractors also need a business license.
Those who work under a business name rather than their own names must also have this filed with the state.
Local Requirements
Various jurisdictions within Minnesota may have further licensing requirements.
For example, you’ll need a certificate of competency to work in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
This certificate is available at both journey and master levels and is obtained after you pass an exam.
To obtain it, you must file an application along with notarized documents from your previous employers that show your experience.
Once you submit these papers you can take the exam.
If you have no experience in the HVAC field, attending one of the following schools is a good place to start your new career.
In some cases, these schools can also help with finding an apprenticeship that can turn into a permanent position.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Century College | 3300 Century Ave N White Bear Lake, Minnesota 55110 |
| Dunwoody College of Technology | 818 Dunwoody Blvd Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403 |
| Hennepin Technical College | 9000 Brooklyn Blvd Brooklyn Park, Minnesota 55445 |
| Hibbing Community College-A Technical and Community College | 1515 E 25th St Hibbing, Minnesota 55746 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | 1501 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403 |
| Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical | 1250 Homer Rd Winona, Minnesota 55987 |
| Minnesota State Community and Technical College | 1414 College Way Fergus Falls, Minnesota 56537 |
| Minnesota West Community and Technical College | 1593 11th Ave Granite Falls, Minnesota 56241 |
| Northland Community and Technical College | 1101 Hwy One East Thief River Falls, Minnesota 56701 |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | 851 30th Ave SE Rochester, Minnesota 55904 |
| South Central College | 1920 Lee Blvd North Mankato, Minnesota 56003 |
| St. Cloud Technical and Community College | 1540 Northway Drive Saint Cloud, Minnesota 56303 |
Make sure to consult the appropriate office in the jurisdiction where you expect to be working to learn more about the certifications you’ll need.
EPA Certification
According to Section 608 from the EPA, everyone working with measuring, recharging or recovering refrigerants must have an appropriate license.
This is a federal law that applies to all the territory of the USA.
Conclusion
If you live or work in Minnesota, it’s rather easy to enter the HVAC field.
However, you’ll have to make sure to stay updated on any regulation changes regarding the licensing requirements.
Read the full guide: How to Become an HVAC Technician
HVAC Schools by City
HVAC Schools by State