General Contractor License Cost in California
In California, documented General Contractor license fees total $650 — application $450, license $200. Always confirm the current schedule with California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — Class B General Building Contractor before paying.
Figures below come from the same dataset as the full guide and list only what the state publishes. Anything not published is marked “varies — check the board” rather than guessed.
General Contractor license cost — California at a glance
| Pre-license education | Varies — check the board |
| Exam fee | Varies — check the board |
| Application fee | $450 |
| License fee | $200 |
| Documented fees total | $650 |
| BLS median annual wage | $114,990 (construction managers) |
Official source: California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — Class B General Building Contractor ↗
Fees vs. median pay
The BLS median annual wage for construction managers is $114,990.The BLS median annual wage for construction managers is $114,990. Documented General Contractor fees in California are $650 — about 0.6% of one year's median pay. The bigger investment is usually tuition and time.
Frequently asked questions
What does a General Contractor license cost in California?
Documented fees in California total $650: application $450, license $200. Pre-license education is the biggest variable cost and is set by each school, not the board.
Are the exam fee and the license fee the same thing in California?
No. The exam fee covers sitting for the test, while the application and license fees cover processing and issuing the credential. Each is listed separately in the table above where the state publishes it.
How much does General Contractor training cost in California?
Training-hour requirements for California are not published here — ask California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — Class B General Building Contractor for the approved programs and their costs.
Is a General Contractor license in California worth the cost?
The BLS median annual wage for construction managers is $114,990, so documented fees are roughly 0.6% of one year's median pay. Earnings vary widely by state and market — treat this as a planning estimate, not a promise.
Budget your General Contractor licensing in California
This page is informational and not legal advice. Fees, pass rates and retake rules change frequently — verify all figures with California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — Class B General Building Contractor and your exam vendor before paying (retrieved 2026-08-20).