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The demand for technicians that know how to work with heating, ventilation, air conditioning systems, is on the rise.
These systems are part of all types of edifices: industrial, residential or commercial.
Article Table of Contents
Salary
Those who want to run their own business need to have the right kind of licenses, as they’ll get more clients.
If you’re curious, the median income in the field in North Dakota is $43,802 per year, while the top 10% makes around $49,634 per year.
If you’re curious, the median income in the field aross the United States is $46,648 per year, while the top 10% makes around $52,858 per year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Fargo | $43,765 |
| Bismarck | $43,480 |
| Grand Forks | $40,742 |
| Minot | $42,781 |
| West Fargo | $43,765 |
| Williston | $42,781 |
| Dickinson | $42,781 |
| Mandan | $43,480 |
| Jamestown | $42,923 |
| Wahpeton | $43,065 |
Regional Salary in North Dakota
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, ND | 180 | $62,200 | $29.9 | $79,540 | $45,410 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | 410 | $65,640 | $31.56 | $82,260 | $45,600 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | 90 | $63,510 | $30.54 | $82,910 | $45,190 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Licensing
HVAC technicians that work for others are not required by the State of North Dakota to have a license.
It is possible that local governments may have such requirements so it’s best to check beforehand.
You may want to learn all the basics of the trade by attending one of the schools below.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Absolute Comfort Inc | 2500 20th Ave SE #5, Minot, ND 58701 |
| Bakkegard & Schell | 159 12th Ave SE #3521, Valley City, ND 58072 |
| Bismarck State College | 1603 Edwards Ave. Bismarck, North Dakota 58506 |
| City Air Mechanical Inc. | 3505 E Rosser Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501 |
| Dakota Supply Group | 334 26th St E, Williston, ND 58801 |
| Ellingson Plumbing, Heating, A/C & Electrical | 11 4th Ave E, Dickinson, ND 58601 |
| Fire and Ice Refrigeration Heating and Air LLC | 2795 W Villard St, Dickinson, ND 58601 |
| Laney's Inc. | 55 27th St S, Fargo, ND 58103 |
| North Dakota State College of Science | 800 N 6th St Wahpeton, North Dakota 58076 |
| SVL, Inc | 3454 41st St S, Fargo, ND 58104 |
Contractor Licensing Requirements
As mentioned, HVAC contractors do need to be licensed in order to operate in this state.
It’s usually those who want to work on projects valued at over $4,000 need a certification.
Contractors can be Sole Proprietorship, General Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership or Corporation/Limited Liability Company.
The licenses for contractors come in classes, and they’re based on the cost, value or price of the project.
The classes are:
- Class A: for jobs over $500,000; the fee is $450
- Class B: for jobs under $500,000 and the fee is $300
- Class C: for jobs under $300,000 and the fee is $225
- Class D: For jobs under $100,000 and the fee is $100
The office of the Secretary of State of North Dakota is the body issuing licenses for most industries, including HVAC.
Requirements for the license:
- Show the details of registration of a business entity
- Show the tax filings
- Show a statement of the applicant’s experience and qualifications as a contractor
- Show a certificate of insurance indicating that the applicant has secured liability insurance
- Show a statement from Workforce Safety & Insurance that the contractor has secured workers’ compensation coverage
- Fill out the application
Luckily, you don’t have to sit through any exam to obtain the license.
In the case of the contractors without employees, the verification of non-employment from North Dakota Workforce Safety and Insurance must be provided instead.
This license must be renewed every year.
North Dakota has no reciprocity agreements with other states.
Additionally, it’s possible that some jurisdictions will require 2 certifications for their contractors: one from the State and one from the city they work in.
EPA Certification
The Federal government requires everyone working with refrigerants across the USA to have the EPA certification.
Section 608 says that those who service, maintain, or dispose of equipment that could release ozone-depleting refrigerants must be certified.
You have to pass an exam if you want to get this certification.
There are 4 types of license:
- Type I: for small appliances
- Type II: for high-pressure or very high–pressure air conditioning and/or heating units.
- Type III: for low-pressure refrigerants.
- Type IV: includes the previous types
Conclusion
While it’s rather easy to enter the HVAC field in North Dakota as not even training is mandatory, it’s best to be as serious as possible if you want to inspire trust and become a strong brand in the industry.
Read the full guide: How to Become an HVAC Technician
HVAC Schools by City
HVAC Schools by State