General Contractor License Cost Rankings

All states ranked by total initial licensing cost for general contractors. Find the cheapest and most expensive states to get licensed.

General contractor licensing costs vary dramatically from state to state. Some states charge under $200 for the complete initial licensing package, while others require over $1,000 in combined fees before you can legally take on projects. These costs cover only the application, license, and exam fees — you will also need to budget for surety bonds, liability insurance, and continuing education.

Cheapest State

Mississippi

$445 total

Most Expensive

Hawaii

$855 total

National Average

$581

31 states require license

State-by-State General Contractor License Costs

Rank	State	Application	License	Exam	Total Cost
1	Mississippi	$115	$235	$95	$445
2	Arkansas	$120	$240	$95	$455
3	West Virginia	$120	$240	$95	$455
4	Alabama	$125	$245	$100	$470
5	Louisiana	$130	$260	$105	$495
6	Tennessee	$130	$260	$105	$495
7	Idaho	$130	$265	$105	$500
8	New Mexico	$130	$265	$105	$500
9	South Carolina	$130	$265	$105	$500
10	Georgia	$135	$270	$110	$515
11	Michigan	$135	$270	$110	$515
12	North Dakota	$135	$270	$110	$515
13	Wisconsin	$135	$270	$110	$515
14	North Carolina	$140	$275	$110	$525
15	Arizona	$145	$285	$115	$545
16	Utah	$145	$285	$115	$545
17	Florida	$150	$300	$120	$570
18	Minnesota	$150	$300	$120	$570
19	Delaware	$160	$315	$125	$600
20	Nevada	$160	$315	$125	$600
21	Virginia	$160	$315	$125	$600
22	Rhode Island	$160	$325	$130	$615
23	Oregon	$165	$330	$130	$625
24	Maryland	$175	$345	$140	$660
25	Washington	$175	$345	$140	$660
26	Connecticut	$180	$360	$145	$685
27	Alaska	$190	$375	$150	$715
28	New Jersey	$190	$375	$150	$715
29	Massachusetts	$195	$390	$155	$740
30	California	$210	$420	$170	$800
31	Hawaii	$225	$450	$180	$855

What Affects General Contractor License Costs?

General contractor license fees tend to be among the highest of any trade because of the broad scope of work involved. States with NASCLA reciprocity may save you money if you plan to work across multiple states, since you can avoid retaking trade exams. Many states also tie their bond requirements to your license classification, which can add significant cost beyond the fees shown here.

Key Takeaways

The cheapest state is Mississippi at $445, while the most expensive is Hawaii at $855.
The national average is $581 and the median cost is $545.
These costs are initial licensing fees only — budget separately for surety bonds, insurance, and continuing education.

Costs shown are estimated initial licensing costs only. Actual fees may vary. Renewal fees, insurance, and bond costs are not included. Data last verified January 2026.