What do the trades pay in Ohio?
Median hourly pay, May 20251. Pick a trade for training, pay and the license.
Electrician
Wiring, panels and fixtures
$31.11/hrOhio median
Plumber
Water, drain and gas lines
$30.45/hrOhio median
HVAC tech
Heating, cooling and ductwork
$30.06/hrOhio median
Roofer
New roofs and repairs
$23.74/hrOhio median
General contractor
Runs the job and the crews
$38.26/hrOhio median, construction supervisors
Is there work in Ohio?
Construction jobs in Ohio, September 2026: 275,600, up 5.8% from a year earlier.
BLS Current Employment Statistics, Sep 2026New homes permitted in Ohio, September 2026: 2,143, down 35.9% from a year earlier.
Census Building Permits Survey, Sep 2026People working in these five trades in Ohio: 87,740.
BLS OEWS, May 2025Licensing
Who licenses contractors in Ohio?
Ohio licenses electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors at the state level. General contractors and roofers need no state license.2
State board Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB)
- ElectricalState license
- PlumbingState license
- HVACState license
- RoofingNo state license
- General contractorNo state license
License lookup
Check an Ohio contractor
Search the license on the board's own site.
Training
Training near you
Apprentices are hired first and paid while they learn on the job and in class. Trade school comes first and charges tuition.
Near youElectrician apprenticeships in OhioPlumber apprenticeships in OhioHVAC Technician apprenticeships in OhioGeneral Contractor apprenticeships in OhioRoofer apprenticeships in Ohio
Where to train and find work near you
Union locals take apprenticeship applications and send members out to union contractors. Open-shop chapters run apprenticeship classes for the people their member contractors hire.
IBEW union locals
- IBEW Local 8Toledo(419) 666-8920
- IBEW Local 32Lima(419) 229-2774
- IBEW Local 38Cleveland(216) 621-3090
- IBEW Local 64Youngstown(330) 758-8654
- IBEW Local 71Columbus(614) 539-1394
- IBEW Local 82Dayton(937) 898-4239
16 more IBEW locals
- IBEW Local 129Lorain(440) 233-7156
- IBEW Local 212Cincinnati(513) 559-0200
- IBEW Local 245Toledo(419) 666-3350
- IBEW Local 246Steubenville(740) 282-7572
- IBEW Local 306Akron(330) 245-2240
- IBEW Local 540Canton(330) 837-4239
- IBEW Local 573Warren(330) 394-3606
- IBEW Local 575Portsmouth(740) 353-8000
- IBEW Local 648Hamilton(513) 863-6515
- IBEW Local 673Painesville(440) 255-3414
- IBEW Local 683Columbus(614) 294-4786
- IBEW Local 688Mansfield(419) 526-4688
- IBEW Local 972Marietta(740) 373-5054
- IBEW Local 1105Newark(740) 454-2304
- IBEW Local 141Office in Wheeling, WV(304) 242-3870
- IBEW Local 317Office in Huntington, WV(304) 429-5013
Electrical training centers (JATCs)
- Akron Area Electrical JATC2650 S. Main Street #100, Akron(330) 644-4286
- Cincinnati Ohio Area5455 Glenway Ave, Cincinnati(513) 281-6924
- The Electrical Trades Center947 Goodale Blvd., Columbus(614) 463-5282
- Dayton Ohio Area Electrical JATC6550 Poe Avenue, Dayton(937) 264-2052
- Butler Warren County Electrical JATC4300 Millikin Road, Hamilton(513) 863-6115
- Newark Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee450 South 22nd Street, Heath(740) 452-5348
12 more centers
- Lima Area Electrical JATC2285 N. Cole Street, Lima(419) 229-2775
- Lorain County Electrical JATC2235 West Park Drive Suite A, Lorain
- Mansfield Area JATC for Electricians67 S. Walnut Street, Mansfield(419) 526-4688
- Marietta Electrical JATC27754 St Rt 7, Marietta(740) 373-5054
- Canton Electrical JATC3855 Wales Avenue, NW, Massillon(330) 830-6446
- Mentor Electrical JATC8376 Munson Road, Mentor(440) 255-3028
- Electrical Training Academy24 Gingersnap Road, Portsmouth(740) 529-1487
- Toledo Electrical JATC803 Lime City Road, Rossford(419) 666-8088
- Steubenville JATC626 North 4th Street, Steubenville(740) 282-7572
- Cleveland Electrical JATC9050 Sweet Valley Drive, Valley View(216) 573-0400
- Warren JATC4550 Research Parkway, Warren(330) 394-3690
- Youngstown Elec. JATC350 E. Western Reserve Road, Youngstown(330) 965-0578
IEC chapters (open shop)
- IEC Central Ohio3128 E 17th Ave Columbus(614) 473-1050
- IEC Northern OhioPO Box 770901 Lakewood(440) 333-8025
- IEC Western Reserve2007 South Ave. Youngstown(330) 629-9810
- IEC of Greater Cincinnati586 Kings Run Drive Cincinnati(513) 542-0400
- IEC DaytonPO Box 293, 1885 Southtown Blvd, Dayton(937) 751-7894
UA union locals
- UA Local 42Norwalk(419) 668-4491
- UA Local 50Northwood(419) 662-5456
- UA Local 55Brooklyn Heights(216) 459-0099
- UA Local 94Canton(330) 478-1864
- UA Local 120Cleveland(216) 447-3408
- UA Local 162Dayton(937) 222-8747
8 more UA locals
- UA Local 168Marietta(740) 373-7965
- UA Local 189Columbus(614) 486-2912
- UA Local 219Akron(330) 253-9166
- UA Local 392Cincinnati(513) 241-1760
- UA Local 396Boardman(330) 758-4596
- UA Local 495Cambridge(740) 439-3623
- UA Local 577Portsmouth(740) 353-5869
- UA Local 776Lima(419) 229-5176
Training
UA apprenticeships run through a joint committee of the local and union contractors. Call the local for the next application date.
PHCC chapters
- PHCC of Ohio8226 Stoney Brook Drive, Chagrin Falls(800) 686-7422
- Northeast Ohio Master PHCC8226 Stoney Brook Dr., Chagrin Falls(216) 586-5421
- CMPA11020 Southland Rd, Cincinnati(513) 742-2672
- PHCC of Akron-CantonPO Box 13135, Fairlawn(330) 671-2191
- PHCC of Central OhioPO Box 13223, Fairlawn(614) 638-4812
- PHCC Association of DaytonPO Box 27, Troy(937) 583-8308
SMART union locals
- SMART Local 24Dayton(937) 277-9303
- SMART Local 33Parma(216) 267-1645
- SMART Local 1590Independence
Sheet metal training centers
- Columbus Sheet Metal Workers Apprenticeship3031 Lamb Avenue, Columbus(614) 471-3107
- Sheet Metal Workers Local 24 Dayton Area JATC6550 Poe Avenue, Dayton(937) 898-7676
- Sheet Metal Workers Local 24 Cinti Apprentice Trust Training Trust Fund1440 Kemper Meadow Drive, Forest Park(513) 821-8120
- Sheet Metal Apprentice Educational and Promotional Fund1890 Venture Circle SE, Massillon(330) 833-2888
- Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 Cleveland District JATC12525 Corporate Drive, Parma(216) 267-0151
- Toledo Area Sheet Metal JATC27430 Crossroads Parkway, Rossford(419) 873-9964
1 more centers
- Youngstown Area Sheet Metal JATC200 McClurg Rd., Youngstown(330) 758-0112
PHCC chapters (heating, cooling, plumbing)
- PHCC of Ohio8226 Stoney Brook Drive, Chagrin Falls(800) 686-7422
- Northeast Ohio Master PHCC8226 Stoney Brook Dr., Chagrin Falls(216) 586-5421
- CMPA11020 Southland Rd, Cincinnati(513) 742-2672
- PHCC of Akron-CantonPO Box 13135, Fairlawn(330) 671-2191
- PHCC of Central OhioPO Box 13223, Fairlawn(614) 638-4812
- PHCC Association of DaytonPO Box 27, Troy(937) 583-8308
ACCA member contractors near you
Pipefitters and HVAC service techs also apprentice through the UA: UA locals in Ohio.
Carpenters union locals
- Carpenters Local 2Monroe
- Carpenters Local 136Monroe
- Carpenters Local 171Youngstown
- Carpenters Local 186Steubenville
- Carpenters Local 200Columbus
- Carpenters Local 285North Canton
10 more Carpenters locals
- Carpenters Local 351Rossford
- Carpenters Local 356Marietta
- Carpenters Local 372Lima
- Carpenters Local 437Portsmouth
- Carpenters Local 650Cheshire
- Carpenters Local 735Mansfield
- Carpenters Local 744Bellevue
- Carpenters Local 1090Canton
- Carpenters Local 2031Columbus
- Carpenters Local 2955Cleveland
Training
Union carpentry apprenticeships run through the regional council's training centers. Carpenters regional council finder
Home builder associations
- Ohio HBA (State)17 S High Street, Columbus(614) 228-6647
- BIA of Northeast Ohio799 White Pond Dr Ste 1A, Akron(216) 447-8700
- HBA of Greater Cincinnati11260 Chester Road, Cincinnati(513) 851-6300
- BIA of Central Ohio445 Hutchinson Ave Ste 280, Columbus(614) 891-0575
- HBA of Wayne and Holmes Ctys.PO Box 151, Dalton
- Home Builders Association of DaytonPO Box 750422, Dayton(937) 298-2900
9 more chapters
- West Central Buckeye BA1520 Allentown Rd, Lima(419) 222-2943
- HBA of Northwestern OhioPO BOX 583, Napoleon(419) 592-8307
- BIA of Stark and East Central Ohio4344 Metro Cir NW, North Canton(330) 494-5700
- HBA of Greater Toledo Inc27493 Holiday Ln Ste 201, Perrysburg(419) 473-2507
- North Coast BIA5321 Meadow Lane Ct Ste 22, Sheffield Village(440) 934-1090
- Seneca County HBAPO Box 712, Tiffin(419) 937-2838
- Western Ohio HBA1200 Archer Dr, Troy(937) 339-7963
- Medina County HBAPO BOX 233, Valley City(330) 725-2371
- The Home Builders & Remodelers Association of the Valley1240 Boardman Canfield Rd Ste 2, Youngstown(330) 965-9779
Roofers union locals
- Roofers Local 42Cincinnati
- Roofers Local 44Cleveland
- Roofers Local 71Youngstown
- Roofers Local 75Dayton
- Roofers Local 86Grove City
- Roofers Local 88Canton
1 more Roofers locals
- Roofers Local 134Toledo
Training
Roofers locals run their apprenticeship through a joint committee with union contractors.
Contractor associations
The national trade group for roofing contractors is the National Roofing Contractors Association.
Trade schools: where to apply
- Columbus State Community College550 E Spring St, ColumbusHVAC programConstruction program
- Ohio Business College-Sheffield5095 Waterford Dr., Sheffield VillageElectrical programHVAC program
- Fortis College-Cincinnati11499 Chester Road Ste 200, CincinnatiHVAC program
- Kent State University at KentExecutive Office, 2nd Floor Library, Kent
- Pickaway Ross Joint Vocational School District1410 Industrial Drive, ChillicotheElectrical programHVAC program
- Fortis College-Columbus4151 Executive Parkway Ste 120, WestervilleHVAC program
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Ohio, May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)
- Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) (com.ohio.gov)
- Ohio lien law: ORC 1311.04(A), 1311.05(A) (codes.ohio.gov)
- Ohio lien law: ORC 1311.06(A), (B); 1311.07 (codes.ohio.gov)
- U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship.gov registered apprenticeship partners (apprenticeship.gov)
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (field of study and institution data) (collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, Sep 2026 (bls.gov)
- Census Building Permits Survey, Sep 2026 (census.gov)
- FEMA disaster declarations, Oct 2, 2026 (fema.gov)