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.
Upholsterer
License required in 10 states
99th most burdensome licensing requirements among moderate-income occupations
80th most heavily regulated occupation among moderate-income occupations
What They Do
Upholsterers make, repair or replace upholstery for household furniture or transportation vehicles. This report looks at what is required to run one’s own upholstery business only.Licensing
Ten states require upholsterers to obtain a license to work. The only requirement is payment of a fee, which ranges from $10 in West Virginia to $360 in California. On average, states charge $102—the 99th most burdensome requirements. However, because 10 states license upholsterers, upholsterer ranks as the 80th 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 | California | 10 | $360 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2 | Rhode Island | 10 | $180 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 3 | New York | 10 | $150 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 4 | Connecticut | 10 | $75 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 5 | Utah | 10 | $65 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 6 | Maryland | 10 | $50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 6 | Ohio | 10 | $50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 10 | $50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9 | Virginia | 10 | $25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 10 | West Virginia | 10 | $10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |