Where is it easiest to open: Logging
41 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 53-3032” (soc) for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers. A blank gate means NO RECORD MATCHED, which is not the same as no licence.
| State | Operators | Avg staff | Pay / employee | Gate | Licence titles matched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR | 558 | 8.5 | $66,748 | licence | Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Truck Eq; School Bus Driver Certificate |
| AL | 446 | 7.2 | $55,446 | exam | CDL Class A |
| WA | 387 | 8.1 | $78,271 | exam | Commercial Driver |
| NC | 375 | 5.9 | $51,343 | exam | Classified Drivers License (Non-commer; Commercial Driver License (Class A, B |
| ME | 372 | 5.2 | $56,985 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL); Driver Education Instructor, School |
| GA | 365 | 7.6 | $55,189 | not matched | — |
| MS | 348 | 7.1 | $53,370 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| AR | 286 | 6.0 | $52,173 | exam | Commercial Driver (Tractor-Trailer Tru; Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cylinder Deliv |
| MI | 265 | 5.4 | $50,965 | exam | Chauffeur License; Commercial Driver License (C.D.L.) |
| VA | 246 | 6.1 | $52,120 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL); Tow Truck Driver Registration |
| SC | 241 | 8.2 | $55,718 | not matched | — |
| ID | 235 | 4.4 | $63,551 | exam | Commercial Drivers |
| LA | 233 | 7.3 | $58,034 | licence | Truck Driver, Certified |
| CA | 221 | 6.4 | $99,140 | licence | Commercial Driver License |
| WI | 212 | 3.1 | $47,861 | exam | SCHOOL BUS DRIVER |
| PA | 184 | 3.5 | $51,947 | not matched | — |
| NY | 163 | 3.4 | $48,598 | exam | Bus Driver; Certified Examiner - Bus Driver |
| TX | 146 | 7.2 | $54,183 | exam | TOW TRUCK OPERATOR |
| WV | 142 | 3.1 | $38,519 | not matched | — |
| MT | 131 | 3.0 | $58,425 | exam | Bus Drivers; Taxi Drivers |
| FL | 124 | 9.8 | $54,030 | exam | Teaching Driver Education |
| MN | 124 | 5.5 | $47,753 | licence | Commercial Driver's License (CDL); Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Haza |
| NH | 72 | 4.5 | $59,935 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| VT | 67 | 2.2 | $42,041 | exam | Commercial Driver |
| TN | 63 | 5.9 | $42,310 | exam | COMMERCIAL DRIVER |
| OH | 58 | 4.7 | $40,912 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| MO | 48 | 2.1 | $38,544 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| MD | 32 | 4.2 | $55,993 | licence | BUS DRIVER, SCHOOL; BUS DRIVER, TRANSIT AND INTERCITY |
| OK | 31 | 7.6 | $47,308 | not matched | — |
| IN | 29 | 2.7 | $37,949 | not matched | — |
| MA | 29 | 2.6 | $56,387 | exam | BUS DRIVER; COMMERCIAL DRIVERS |
| SD | 19 | 2.2 | $58,098 | licence | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| CO | 15 | 2.7 | $73,366 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| KY | 14 | 3.6 | $31,240 | exam | Driver, Hazardous Materials Endorsemen; Licensed Commercial Driver (CDL) |
| IA | 12 | 3.4 | $55,293 | not matched | — |
| AK | 12 | 8.2 | $84,520 | licence | Bus Driver, School; Vehicle for Hire Permit in City of Fai |
| IL | 7 | 1.9 | $50,000 | exam | COMMERCIAL DRIVER (TRUCK AND BUS OPERA; DRIVER |
| NM | 6 | 3.0 | $43,167 | exam | Commercial Vehicle Drivers License |
| AZ | 5 | 10.6 | $65,830 | licence | Commercial Driver (CDL) |
| WY | 4 | 1.2 | $81,200 | exam | SCHOOL BUS DRIVER; TRUCK DRIVER |
| NV | 3 | 0.3 | $167,000 | not matched | — |
Axes are shown side by side and deliberately NOT collapsed into a ranking. A composite would be a score with no measured interval, and an unmeasured score is the thing this product exists to argue against. A high licence gate is a cost to enter and a moat once cleared — which of those matters more is the operator's call, not ours.
Licence data courtesy of CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. Free to read, no account, always — a condition of the data licence as well as our own position.