While many states have legalized marijuana recreationally, medically, or both, finding work within this industry is still a bit more complicated than finding typical HVAC jobs. The majority of contractors are hired onto projects because they are trusted by the grow house owner, marijuana farmer, or dispensary owner. Marijuana industry jobs usually come to the contractors through word-of-mouth.

“Customers come to me — I don’t go and search them out,” said Ken Osborne, president, Dick’s Heating & Air Conditioning, East Wenatchee, Washington. “I was first approached by a former neighbor, who was then a vegetable grower, who wanted to embark on a marijuana outdoor grow operation. He trusted me because he knew me, and that is why he chose me to do the project. There are still a lot of shady people out there trying to get involved in the industry. I know personally, because I’ve been burned before working with the type, so it helps to know somebody; he had a lot of trust in me.”