Where is it easiest to open: Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining
3 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 17-2151” (soc) for Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZ | 14 | 314.4 | $91,131 | licence | Engineer/Geological; Engineer/Geophysical |
| MO | 3 | 129.0 | $72,426 | licence | Engineer Intern; Professional Engineer |
| NM | 3 | 346.3 | $89,043 | exam | Engineering Intern Certification; Professional Engineers |
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.