Coverage varies by state, trade and authority. These are source snapshots, not a census of unique businesses or a live license check. Ratios cannot establish market saturation or contractor quality.
California vs Ohio: contractor markets, side by side
California has 223,427 roster records across the trades we cover; Ohio has 12,552. Counts come from the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB); market figures are U.S. Census aggregates.
| California | Ohio | |
|---|---|---|
| Covered roster records | 223,427 | 12,552 |
| Snapshot records per 10k residents | 54.8 | 10.7 |
| Residents | 40,805,409 | 11,774,683 |
| Households | 14,984,242 | 5,251,186 |
| ZIP-weighted income indicator | $97,970 | $71,229 |
| Housing units authorized (source year) | 103,856 (2025) | 33,640 (2025) |
| Top covered city by records | Los Angeles | Cincinnati |
California has the higher snapshot ratio: 54.8 source records per 10k residents against 10.7 in Ohio. Differences in source coverage affect this ratio; it does not measure contractors per square mile or competition for jobs.
The ZIP-weighted income indicator is higher in California: $97,970 against $71,229 in Ohio, using the Census estimates in this dataset. This indicator does not establish renovation budgets or likely sales.
Trade by trade
| Trade | California | Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 29,781 | 4,555 |
| Plumbers | 18,634 | 3,105 |
| HVAC Contractors | 12,571 | 4,988 |
| General Contractors | 121,774 | — |
| Roofing Contractors | 5,940 | — |
| Solar Contractors | 1,235 | — |
| Landscape Contractors | 12,976 | — |
| Pool Contractors | 3,041 | — |
| Fire-Protection Contractors | 2,332 | — |
| Carpenters | 1,116 | — |
| Concrete Contractors | 5,851 | — |
| Masons | 2,201 | — |
| Drywall Contractors | 3,432 | — |
| Tile Contractors | 6,630 | — |
| Excavating Contractors | 2,587 | — |
| Painters | 16,728 | — |
| Flooring Contractors | 7,312 | — |
Counts reflect the separate covered-trade snapshot. A “—” means no count is provided here; it says nothing about whether the trade exists or requires a license. These category counts are not reconciled with the headline roster totals.
Figures use separately generated snapshots: overall roster totals, trade counts and mapped-city counts can differ in scope and collection time and should not be added together or treated as a reconciled census. The displayed source refresh date does not date every aggregate. Population and households are sums of the covered ZIP estimates. The income indicator is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level household-income medians, not the state's household median. Census context can refer to a different period from the roster. Housing-unit authorizations refer to the displayed permit year; they are not completed projects. See the ACS estimate guidance and Building Permits Survey for the underlying statistical definitions.
Working one of these markets?
California vs Ohio: common questions
Does California or Ohio have more contractor records?
California has 223,427 covered records; Ohio has 12,552. These counts reflect different source coverage, not a census of operating businesses. Sources: California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and the Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB).
Which has the higher snapshot records-to-population ratio, California or Ohio?
California has the higher snapshot ratio: 54.8 snapshot records per 10k residents against 10.7 in Ohio.
Which has the higher ZIP-weighted income indicator, California or Ohio?
California: $97,970 against $71,229 in Ohio. This is a population-weighted average of ZIP-level income medians, not either state's household median.
Where does this California vs Ohio comparison data come from?
Roster counts derive from California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) and Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB); population, household, income, and permit figures are U.S. Census aggregates. Counts are snapshot records, not a census of unique companies. Source scope and dates differ between states.