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Learning a trade can be useful, and HVAC techs are sought after in Ohio.
Let’s take a look at what you need to do in order to work in HVAC in Ohio.
Article Table of Contents
Expected Salary
In Ohio, on average workers make about $45,628 a year, and you can earn up to $51,701 per year after getting more experience.
As a benchmark, across the US, the median income for HVAC workers is $46,731 annualy, while the most expereinced and skilled can make around $52,951.
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Columbus | $45,960 |
| Cleveland | $46,365 |
| Cincinnati | $45,698 |
| Toledo | $45,189 |
| Akron | $44,866 |
| Dayton | $45,427 |
| Canton | $44,629 |
| Youngstown | $44,301 |
| Lorain | $45,502 |
| Hamilton | $45,511 |
Regional Salary in Ohio
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron, OH | 880 | $57,970 | $27.87 | $79,890 | $36,610 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | 460 | $53,580 | $25.76 | $73,910 | $35,950 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 3,400 | $58,740 | $28.24 | $79,990 | $37,370 |
| Cleveland-Elyria, OH | 2,800 | $60,210 | $28.95 | $82,970 | $38,020 |
| Columbus, OH | 2,660 | $59,750 | $28.72 | $82,370 | $37,560 |
| Dayton, OH | 1,070 | $58,610 | $28.18 | $79,910 | $37,010 |
| Lima, OH | 190 | $59,440 | $28.58 | $83,180 | $36,510 |
| Mansfield, OH | 120 | $54,960 | $26.42 | $76,010 | $37,650 |
| Springfield, OH | 90 | $56,280 | $27.06 | $79,680 | $36,140 |
| Toledo, OH | 700 | $60,220 | $28.95 | $94,540 | $36,810 |
| Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA | 530 | $54,640 | $26.27 | $76,680 | $35,830 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Ohio HVAC Contractor Job
To be a contractor, you need vast experience in the installing and repair of HVAC systems.
In order to be successful, you first need to attend a trade school and become a licensed apprentice.
The program will teach you everything you need to know about air conditioning systems and how they function.
You can attend any of the schools below.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Adult and Community Education-Hudson | 2323 Lexington Avenue Columbus, Ohio 43211 |
| Adult Center for Education | 400 Richards Rd Zanesville, Ohio 43701 |
| American School of Technology | 4599 Morse Center Columbus, Ohio 43229 |
| Ashtabula County Technical and Career Campus | 1565 State Route 167 Jefferson, Ohio 44047 |
| Auburn Career Center | 8140 Auburn Rd Concord Twp, Ohio 44077 |
| Belmont College | 120 Fox Shannon Place Saint Clairsville, Ohio 43950 |
| Butler Tech-D Russel Lee Career Center | 3603 Hamilton Middletown Rd Hamilton, Ohio 45011 |
| Career and Technology Education Centers of Licking County | 150 Price Rd Newark, Ohio 43055 |
| Columbus State Community College | 550 E Spring St Columbus, Ohio 43215 |
| Cuyahoga Valley Career Center | 8001 Brecksville Road Brecksville, Ohio 44141 |
| Fortis College | 555 E Alex Bell Rd Centerville, Ohio 45459 |
| Great Oaks Institute of Technology and Career Development | 3254 E Kemper Rd Cincinnati, Ohio 45241 |
| Greene County Vocational School District | 2960 West Enon Road Xenia, Ohio 45385 |
| Kaplan Career Institute | 8720 Brookpark Road Brooklyn, Ohio 44129 |
| Kaplan College | 2800 East River Road Dayton, Ohio 45439 |
| Knox County Career Center | 306 Martinsburg Rd Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050 |
| Medina County Career Center | 1101 W Liberty St Medina, Ohio 44256 |
| Miami Valley Career Technology Center | 6800 Hoke Rd Clayton, Ohio 45315 |
| Northwest State Community College | 22600 State Route 34 Archbold, Ohio 43502 |
| O C Collins Career Center | 11627 State Rte 243 Chesapeake, Ohio 45619 |
| Ohio Hi Point Joint Vocational School District | 2280 St Rte 540 Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311 |
| Owens Community College | 30335 Oregon Rd Perrysburg, Ohio 43551 |
| Penta County Joint Vocational School | 9301 Buck Road Perrysburg, Ohio 43551 |
| Pike County Joint Vocational School District | 175 Beaver Creek Rd Piketon, Ohio 45661 |
| Polaris Career Center | 7285 Old Oak Blvd Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130 |
| RG Drage Career Center | 2800 Richville Dr SW Massillon, Ohio 44646 |
| Sinclair Community College | 444 W. Third St. Dayton, Ohio 45402 |
| Stark State College | 6200 Frank Ave NW North Canton, Ohio 44720 |
To get a contractor license, you have to be an apprentice for at least 5 years, be 18 years old and a US citizen.
You also need to submit a $500,000 liability insurance, pay some fees and take a background check.
Keep the records and permits of the commercial projects you worked on, as they will be required as proof of the 5 years of experience in the trade.
Getting Licensed
After gathering the paperwork, submit it to the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board along with a $25.00 fee.
If it’s approved, you can then get ready for the exam.
You won’t need to take the exam if you already have a license in Louisiana or Kentucky, due to reciprocity agreements between the states.
Check out the Ohio.gov website if you are a military veteran.
There you can find more info on what you need to do to apply and get your DD214 form.
The Exam
The exam is managed by PSI Exams, and you can take some mock tests online before the actual examination.
The trade exam lasts for 4 hours, costs $138.00 and is open book.
The business and law test lasts for 2 hours and requires a $69.00 fee.
EPA Guidelines
HVAC techs that work with refrigerants must get EPA certified under Section 608.
These dangerous substances are regulated by The Environmental Protection Agency, and you must train and pass an exam to handle them.
There are 3 types of EPA certification:
- Type 1: allows you to work with small appliances
- Type 2: allows you to with high-pressure appliances
- Type 3: enables you to handle low-pressure appliances.
The Universal certification enables you to handle all the different types and does not expire.
Conclusion
As you can see, becoming an HVAC contractor requires preparation and training.
Hopefully, this article provided you with the info you needed to start your career.
Read the full guide: How to Become an HVAC Technician
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HVAC Schools by State