A career and training guide for Indiana’s plumbing and HVAC industry—from your first day on the job to leading a company or owning your own. Use this roadmap as a guide; people progress at different rates, and trade mastery is different from managing people or leading a company.
Presented by Indiana PHCC · IndianaCareers.org · TradeTorch.org
How to use this guide
Explore Indiana career pathways.
This guide maps the journey from apprentice to company leader or owner. Explore each stage for roles, training, and milestones; this is a roadmap based on recommended practices, not the only route to success.
IndianaCareers.org is presented in the supplied guide as a career exploration hub for salary data, job outlooks, training requirements, and employer connections.
04Stage 4 · Lead & SupervisorYears 8–15 — Project management, crew leadership, business skills
05Stage 5 · Owner & EntrepreneurYear 15+ — Business ownership, growth strategy, legacy building
It all begins with recruitment
Put yourself in the best position to be hired.
The goal is to get hired by a licensed contractor so you can begin your career and receive the training you need. This may begin in high school or after graduation.
01
Get your paperwork in order
Have a valid ID, Social Security card, and high school diploma or GED ready. If you are still in high school, share when you expect to graduate. Some contractors may ask for a clean driving record. https://indianaapprenticeships.gov
02
Prepare a resume and show your hands-on ability
Prepare a resume and show you can work with tools, take things apart and put them back together, think critically, and are willing to learn. IndianaCareers.org can connect you with Indiana PHCC-member contractors. https://inphcc.com
03
Consider showing up in person
Complete aptitude testing: basic math and reading comprehension
04
Be honest about your experience
Interview with a sponsoring contractor who will hire you as an apprentice
05
Express a long-term commitment
Begin a 4–5 year apprenticeship combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction
01
Career blueprint · Stage 01
Foundation
Years 1–2
Career focus
Foundation
Your first two years build the habits, knowledge, and hands-on skills every successful career depends on. Show up, stay curious, and take every training opportunity.
Apprenticeship pathway
Five steps to getting hired.
A practical starting path from the supplied guide.
01
Get your paperwork in order
Have a valid ID, Social Security card, and high school diploma or GED ready. If you are still in high school, share when you expect to graduate. Some contractors may ask for a clean driving record.. https://indianaapprenticeships.gov
02
Prepare a resume and show your hands-on ability
Prepare a resume and show you can work with tools, take things apart and put them back together, think critically, and are willing to learn. IndianaCareers.org can connect you with Indiana PHCC-member contractors.. https://inphcc.com
03
Consider showing up in person
Complete aptitude testing: basic math and reading comprehension.
04
Be honest about your experience
Interview with a sponsoring contractor who will hire you as an apprentice.
05
Express a long-term commitment
Begin a 4–5 year apprenticeship combining on-the-job training with classroom instruction.
Roles & pay
Career opportunities.
Helper · Pre-Apprentice · Service Aide
01
01 Helper / Pre-Apprentice
02
02 Service Aide
03
03 Apprentice (Year 1–2)
Annual and hourly ranges
$32,000 – $40,000
$15 – $19/hrHelper / Pre-Apprentice
$35,000 – $44,000
$17 – $21/hrService Aide
$36,000 – $48,000
$17 – $23/hrApprentice (Year 1–2)
✓
Stage milestone Complete OSHA 10 and the first apprenticeship year—a key early step toward paid apprentice work.
Recommended training
Build your skills.
Recommended training and credentials from the updated guide.
State-registered apprenticeship combining 2,000 hours/year of on-the-job training with 144 hours/year of related instruction. Covers plumbing codes, pipefitting basics, and safety fundamentals.
10-hour OSHA certification required by most Indiana contractors. Covers fall protection, electrical safety, struck-by hazards, and personal protective equipment.
Learn how to communicate professionally with homeowners, handle service calls, and represent your employer with integrity. Essential for residential service roles.
Free Purdue University micro-credentials covering 12 business topics. Begin with accounting and marketing — directly applicable to understanding contractor pricing.
03
Career blueprint · Stage 03
Journeyman & Specialist
Years 4–8
Career focus
Journeyman & Specialist
With a journeyman license, build on your earning potential through specialty certifications, sales skills, and early business knowledge.
✓
Stage milestone Hold a journeyman license and at least one specialty certification—a key milestone for an experienced field technician.
Roles & pay
Career opportunities.
Licensed Journeyman · HVAC Technician · Service Specialist
01
01 Licensed Journeyman Plumber
02
02 HVAC Service Technician
03
03 Specialty Installer (gas/hydronics)
Annual and hourly ranges
$58,000 – $78,000
$28 – $37/hrLicensed Journeyman Plumber
$55,000 – $80,000
$26 – $38/hrHVAC Service Technician
$62,000 – $85,000
$30 – $41/hrSpecialty Installer (gas/hydronics)
Recommended training
Build your skills.
Recommended training and credentials from the updated guide.
Pass the Indiana journeyman plumber examination (administered by Indiana Professional Licensing Agency). Requires completion of a registered apprenticeship program.
Advanced customer communication: handling objections, building trust on the first visit, and generating 5-star reviews that grow your employer's business.
North American Technician Excellence certification. Industry-recognized credential for HVAC technicians covering air conditioning, heat pumps, gas heating, and air distribution.
04
Career blueprint · Stage 04
Lead & Supervisor
Years 8–15
Career focus
Lead & Supervisor
At this stage, you are responsible for other people—their performance, safety, and growth. Business skills become as important as technical skills.
✓
Stage milestone You are managing people AND building business skills — ownership is within reach.
Business skills
P&C Insurance Fundamentals · Business Development Strategies · Customer Relationship Management · Pricing for Profitability · Financial Statements for Contractors
Advanced 30-hour OSHA certification for supervisors. Covers your legal obligations as a foreman, incident investigation, toolbox talks, and site safety planning.
Free Santa Clara University course covering day-to-day operations: scheduling, purchasing, vendor management, financial tracking, and employee relations.
Advanced leadership training for supervisors and managers. Covers performance management, hiring strategy, company culture, and operational efficiency.
Business development, pricing for profitability, financial statements, and customer relationship management for contractors moving toward ownership.
05
Career blueprint · Stage 05
Owner & Entrepreneur
Year 15+
Career focus
Owner & Entrepreneur
You have built the skills; now build the company. Stage 5 is about systems, strategy, and legacy—creating a business that can operate beyond your work on every job.
✓
Stage milestone Build toward a licensed contracting business that supports your goals. The guide presents ownership as a destination; the route and timing vary by person and business.
Stage 5 destination
Build the company.
You have built the skills; now build the company. Stage 5 is about systems, strategy, and legacy—creating a business that can operate beyond your work on every job.
Roles & pay
Career opportunities.
Master Contractor · Business Owner · Company Founder
01
01 Contractor License
02
02 Business Owner (small firm)
03
03 Owner (established company)
Annual and hourly ranges
$95,000 – $130,000+
$46 – $62/hr+Contractor License
$110,000 – $200,000+
Business incomeBusiness Owner (small firm)
$150,000 – $400,000+
Business incomeOwner (established company)
Recommended training
Build your skills.
Recommended training and credentials from the updated guide.
Indiana Apprenticeship
Indiana Plumbing Contractor License or HVAC Contractor license
The plumbing contractor license is a statewide requirement to own and operate a plumbing business. HVAC contractor licensure is based on your county or city you reside. Contractor licensure is required to pull permits and run a licensed contracting company. pla.in.gov (for plumbing only). HVAC licensure is based on the county where the work is.
Use AI tools to write proposals, draft contracts, respond to customer reviews, and automate administrative tasks — free from IU Kelley School of Business.
Key-person risk, succession planning, business interruption coverage, and disaster recovery — protect everything you've built.
Your path starts today
Quick-start checklist
Practical next steps drawn from the supplied guide.
01
Explore career pathways Visit IndianaCareers.org for career profiles, salary data, job outlooks, training requirements, and employer connections. https://www.indianacareers.org
02
Find an apprenticeship Visit IndianaApprenticeships.gov to find a registered apprenticeship program near you. https://indianaapprenticeships.gov
03
Prepare for an in-person introduction Put your resume and paperwork in order, then consider visiting a licensed contractor to express your interest. https://blog.kelley.iu.edu
04
Be honest and show commitment Explain your current experience, willingness to learn, and interest in completing apprenticeship and earning a license. https://scu.edu/mobi
05
Follow up If there is no current opening, ask when to check back—and follow through. https://inphcc.com
06
Keep pursuing the opportunity The guide emphasizes time, effort, and persistence in finding a chance to prove yourself. https://www.osha.gov/training
