102 Lower-income Occupations
For its 2017 report License to Work, the Institute for Justice documented the requirements to get a license for 102 lower-income occupations across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read more about the research methods.
State Profiles
For its 2017 report License to Work, the Institute for Justice documented the requirements to get a license for 102 lower-income occupations across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Read more about the research methods.
Select A State
What is Occupational Licensing?
An “occupational license” is, put simply, government permission to work in a particular field. To earn the license, an aspiring worker must clear various hurdles, such as earning a certain amount of education or training or passing an exam. In the 1950s, only one in 20 U.S. workers needed the government’s permission to pursue their chosen occupation. Today, that figure stands at almost one in four.
Bartender
License required in 13 states
84th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
78th most heavily regulated occupation among moderate-income occupations
What They Do
Bartenders or mixologists mix and serve drinks to patrons directly or through waitstaff.Licensing
Thirteen states license bartenders. On average, these laws require $7 in fees, half a day of education and about one exam. Twelve states require a short course lasting between two and five hours, and nine states require an exam. Of the 102 occupations studied, bartender has the 84th most burdensome licensing requirements and ranks as the 78th most widely and onerously licensed occupation.
License to Work
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2017.
States Ranked by Average Licensing Burden for 102 Lower-Income Occupations
More Burdensome Less Burdensom
Based on data released in November 2017| Burden Rank | State | States Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | 13 | $0 | 1 | 5 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 21 | |
| 2 | Tennessee | 13 | $20 | 1 | 5 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 3 | New Mexico | 13 | $0 | 1 | 4.5 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 21 | |
| 4 | Alaska | 13 | $0 | 1 | 4 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 21 | |
| 5 | Oregon | 13 | $26 | 1 | 3.75 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 21 | |
| 6 | Utah | 13 | $0 | 1 | 3 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 21 | |
| 6 | Washington | 13 | $0 | 1 | 3 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 21 | |
| 8 | Vermont | 13 | $0 | 1 | 3 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 8 | Wisconsin | 13 | $0 | 1 | 3 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 10 | Indiana | 13 | $45 | 0 | 2 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 19 | |
| 11 | Louisiana | 13 | $0 | 0 | 2 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 13 | $0 | 0 | 2 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 13 | Kansas | 13 | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |