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.
Iron/Steel Contractor (Commercial)
License required in 26 states
23rd most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
53rd most heavily regulated occupation among moderate-income occupations
What They Do
Iron and steel contractors contract with clients to raise, place and unite iron or steel girders, columns and other structural members to form completed structures or structural frameworks. They may also erect metal storage tanks and assemble prefabricated metal buildings. Typically, only contractors require licenses, not the steel fabricators or welders who work for them. In some states, licensing requirements differ based on the setting. Those with a residential license may work only on residential properties, while those with a commercial license may work on commercial properties. Other states require the same license regardless of the setting, and this report records that license in both settings. Many states have contract minimums before the contractor’s license applies. See Appendix B for details.Licensing
Twenty-six states license iron and steel contractors working on commercial properties. Eleven states require between two and five years of experience working under a licensed contractor. Alabama and Mississippi require completion of three contracted jobs. Thirteen states require no experience. On average, states require 525 days of education and experience, $368 in fees ($1,078 in Nevada), and about one exam. These high barriers give commercial iron/steel contractors the 23rd most burdensome requirements of the 102 occupations studied.
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 | Arkansas | 26 | $180 | 1825 | 5 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | Nevada | 26 | $1,078 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 3 | Arizona | 26 | $886 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 4 | California | 26 | $579 | 1460 | 4 years | 3 | 0 | 18 | |
| 5 | Hawaii | 26 | $615 | 1460 | 4 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 6 | Oregon | 26 | $385 | 1463 | 16 clock hours | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 7 | Florida | 26 | $364 | 1460 | 4 years | 1 | 0 | 18 | |
| 8 | New Mexico | 26 | $318 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| 9 | Virginia | 26 | $320 | 731 | 8 clock hours | 2 years | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | Utah | 26 | $354 | 733 | 20 clock hours | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | South Carolina | 26 | $310 | 730 | 2 years | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 12 | Mississippi | 26 | $640 | 67 | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 13 | Alabama | 26 | $492 | 67 | 3 jobs, contractors | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | Louisiana | 26 | $460 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 15 | Rhode Island | 26 | $200 | 1 | 5 clock hours | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 16 | West Virginia | 26 | $174 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 17 | D C | 26 | $655 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 18 | North Dakota | 26 | $125 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | ||
| 19 | Tennessee | 26 | $305 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 20 | Connecticut | 26 | $500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 21 | North Carolina | 26 | $145 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 22 | Alaska | 26 | $300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 23 | Washington | 26 | $113 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 24 | Iowa | 26 | $50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 25 | Idaho | 26 | $30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 26 | Nebraska | 26 | $0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |