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.
Crane Operator Occupational Licensing
License required in 16 states
55th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
Average Fee for License:$243
What They Do
Crane and heavy machine operators operate mechanical boom and cable equipment to lift and move materials, machines or products in many directions.
Crane Operator Licensing Overview
Sixteen states require a licence to work as a Crane Operator. On average, these laws require $243 in fees, 196 days of education and about 2 exam. Crane Operator Licenses have the 55th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.
Where is a Crane Operator the most regulated?
Out of the 16 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Crane Operator has the highest burden in New York. New York requires $150 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and no education.
Where is a Crane Operator the least regulated?
Out of the 16 states that require an occupational license, an occupational license for a Crane Operator has the lowest burden in Maryland. Maryland requires $0 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and no education.
Where is a Crane Operator license the most expensive?
An occupational license for a Crane Operator costs the most in New Jersey. New Jersey requires $540 in fees, 2 exams, 1000 clock hours experience, and no education.
Where is a Crane Operator license the least expensive?
An occupational license for a Crane Operator costs the least in Maryland. Maryland requires $0 in fees, 2 exams, no experience, and no education.
Where does it take the longest to obtain a Crane Operator license?
An occupational license for a Crane Operator takes the longest to obtain in New York. It takes 1095 days (3 years). New York requires $150 in fees, 2 exams, 3 years experience, and no education.
Where is it fastest to obtain a Crane Operator license?
An occupational license for a Crane Operator takes the least time to obtain in Hawaii, Pennsylvania, California, Minnesota, Nevada, Utah, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland (0 days).
What states require exams for a Crane Operator license?
To obtain an occupational license for a Crane Operator there is at least one exam required in: New York, District of Columbia, Connecticut, New Jersey, Montana, New Mexico, Hawaii, Washington, Pennsylvania, California, Minnesota, Nevada, Utah, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland. New Mexico requires 4 exams.
Eighteen states require a license to work as a crane operator. On average, these laws cost aspiring crane operators $225 in fees and 222 days in experience and require them to pass two exams—the 57th most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied. Because so few states license the occupation, it is only the 75th most widely and onerously licensed.
License requirements vary widely across states. New York has the most burdensome requirements at three years (1,095 days) of experience, two exams and $150 in fees. However, 10 states do not require any experience. Some states have different licenses for operating different types of cranes (which can be measured in terms of hoisting mechanism, weightlifting capability or boom length). In such cases, where license requirements differed, the least burdensome license was used. If license requirements did not differ, the broadest possible license was observed.
States Ranked by Average Licensing Burden for 102 Lower-Income Occupations
More Burdensome Less Burdensome
Based on data released in November 2022| Burden Rank | State | Occupations Licensed | Fees | Estimated Calendar Days Lost | Education | Experience | Exams | Minimum Grade | Minimum Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | 41 | $150 | 1095 | None | 3 years | 2 | 0 | 21 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 61 | $435 | 730 | None | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 3 | Connecticut | 65 | $150 | 730 | None | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 4 | New Jersey | 54 | $540 | 233 | None | 1000 clock hours | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 5 | Montana | 32 | $100 | 233 | None | 1000 clock hours | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 6 | New Mexico | 66 | $438 | 117 | None | 500 clock hours | 4 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | Hawaii | 64 | $390 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 21 |
| 8 | Washington | 76 | $240 | 4 | None | 24 clock hours | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 50 | $340 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | California | 75 | $240 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Minnesota | 35 | $240 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Nevada | 75 | $240 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Utah | 64 | $240 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| 14 | Massachusetts | 50 | $75 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 14 | Rhode Island | 70 | $75 | 0 | None | None | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 16 | Maryland | 58 | $0 | 0 | None | None | 2 | 0 | 0 |
License to Work
The data and information here come from IJ’s License to Work report, released in November 2022.
View Report