Tool · free, no account
Where is it easiest to open: Support Activities for Animal Production
48 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 39-2021” (soc) for Animal Caretakers. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 501 | 3.8 | $41,596 | not matched | — |
| FL | 408 | 3.6 | $40,853 | exam | General Individual Occupational; Professional Individual Occupational |
| TX | 254 | 3.2 | $37,317 | exam | Racing --Assistant Farrier/Plater/Blac; Racing --Assistant Starter |
| NY | 230 | 4.5 | $44,361 | licence | Farrier; Groom |
| WA | 149 | 3.6 | $34,114 | exam | Animal Massage |
| CO | 132 | 3.4 | $38,033 | exam | Occupational Registration (groom, pony; Pet Animal Care and Facilities |
| PA | 128 | 4.4 | $41,658 | not matched | — |
| MA | 118 | 4.1 | $36,276 | licence | HORSE Racing |
| KY | 115 | 7.8 | $53,384 | not matched | — |
| WI | 113 | 18.6 | $62,304 | not matched | — |
| OR | 105 | 2.3 | $33,379 | not matched | — |
| IL | 94 | 3.0 | $36,128 | licence | BLACKSMITH FARRIER; EXERCISE PERSON |
| VA | 93 | 2.9 | $34,236 | not matched | — |
| OH | 90 | 5.3 | $27,242 | not matched | — |
| MN | 89 | 3.8 | $28,018 | licence | Animal Chiropractic Registration; Animal Exhibition Permit |
| NC | 88 | 3.8 | $43,175 | licence | Animal Contact Exhibit Permit; Animal Shelter Registration |
| AZ | 77 | 3.0 | $40,472 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 73 | 4.2 | $40,331 | licence | GROOM |
| MI | 72 | 8.2 | $51,893 | exam | Horse Racing Occupational License |
| IN | 71 | 4.8 | $29,493 | exam | Falconry License |
| MD | 60 | 3.5 | $34,203 | not matched | — |
| MO | 54 | 4.1 | $21,397 | not matched | — |
| CT | 53 | 4.5 | $38,546 | not matched | — |
| MT | 53 | 3.0 | $27,270 | not matched | — |
| GA | 49 | 2.3 | $32,796 | not matched | — |
| ID | 45 | 3.5 | $40,641 | not matched | — |
| UT | 42 | 2.9 | $17,492 | not matched | — |
| SC | 39 | 4.7 | $29,407 | not matched | — |
| IA | 31 | 15.8 | $46,741 | not matched | — |
| TN | 29 | 13.2 | $91,679 | exam | ANIMAL CHEMICAL CAPTURE CERTIFICATION |
| NV | 26 | 3.6 | $29,140 | not matched | — |
| KS | 25 | 3.8 | $24,284 | not matched | — |
| NH | 24 | 3.8 | $15,911 | not matched | — |
| OK | 21 | 2.8 | $55,458 | licence | Horse Racing Blacksmith |
| LA | 17 | 4.5 | $30,987 | licence | Horse Racing Occupations (Jockey, Hot |
| ME | 17 | 3.5 | $20,847 | licence | Animal Kennels, Boarding; Animal Kennels, Breeding |
| DE | 17 | 3.8 | $39,484 | not matched | — |
| NE | 16 | 4.3 | $28,101 | not matched | — |
| NM | 14 | 2.6 | $42,472 | not matched | — |
| AL | 13 | 4.1 | $25,189 | not matched | — |
| AR | 9 | 15.8 | $47,211 | licence | Horseshoer |
| RI | 9 | 1.9 | $34,118 | not matched | — |
| VT | 9 | 1.2 | $39,545 | not matched | — |
| WY | 8 | 1.1 | $48,444 | not matched | — |
| HI | 8 | 1.1 | $19,222 | not matched | — |
| SD | 6 | 1.7 | $26,700 | not matched | — |
| MS | 5 | 7.0 | $41,571 | not matched | — |
| WV | 3 | 4.3 | $19,538 | 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.