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Where is it easiest to open: Natural Gas Distribution
47 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 47-2152” (soc) for Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters. 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 | 165 | 64.3 | $139,309 | licence | Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fi; Machinery and Pumps Limited Specialty |
| TX | 163 | 69.9 | $137,630 | exam | BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY TESTER; FIRE SPRINKLER RESPONSIBLE MANAGING EM |
| PA | 156 | 25.6 | $110,679 | licence | Plumbing Inspector (UCC); Plumbing Plans Examiner (UCC) |
| OH | 90 | 44.1 | $102,586 | licence | Plumber and Pipefitter License |
| NY | 70 | 57.6 | $120,811 | not matched | — |
| IL | 64 | 64.2 | $100,171 | exam | FIRE SPRINKLERS CONTRACTORS; PLUMBER |
| NJ | 50 | 61.7 | $138,187 | exam | LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION CONTRACTOR; PLUMBER |
| WI | 46 | 27.2 | $123,155 | exam | AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER CONTRACTOR; AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER CONTRACTOR, M |
| MA | 41 | 54.0 | $146,887 | exam | GAS FITTER (Apprentice, Journeyman, Ma; PIPEFITTER |
| OK | 30 | 89.4 | $126,764 | exam | Commercial Installation of Water Well ; Plumbing Contractor |
| CT | 30 | 50.2 | $133,090 | exam | Auto Fire Sprinkler Layout Technician; Backflow Prevention Device Tester |
| MI | 28 | 57.2 | $112,949 | exam | Boiler Installer; Boiler Repairer |
| FL | 27 | 48.9 | $132,049 | exam | Certified Plumbing Contractor; Certified Pool/Spa Contractor |
| IN | 26 | 43.0 | $104,230 | exam | Backflow Prevention and Cross Connecti; Journeyman Plumber |
| CO | 23 | 14.9 | $717,927 | exam | Journeyman Plumber; Master Plumber |
| AZ | 21 | 41.0 | $88,432 | not matched | — |
| MO | 19 | 130.5 | $106,822 | not matched | — |
| LA | 16 | 6.1 | $122,041 | exam | Medical (Gas Piping Installer); Plumber, Journeyman |
| WV | 15 | 48.3 | $106,166 | not matched | — |
| GA | 14 | 132.6 | $134,595 | exam | Journeyman Plumber; Master Plumber - Non-Restricted |
| NC | 13 | 16.5 | $90,819 | exam | Boiler Or Pressure Vessel Inspections; Corporate Irrigation Contractor |
| MN | 12 | 61.5 | $102,633 | licence | Backflow Prevention Certification; Certified Pipelayer |
| NM | 11 | 39.1 | $107,937 | licence | Plumber |
| KS | 9 | 64.4 | $93,109 | not matched | — |
| NE | 9 | 12.6 | $111,531 | licence | Plumber; Underground Storage Tank Occupations |
| ND | 8 | 45.8 | $102,863 | exam | Contractors, Monitoring Well; Contractors, Pump and Pitless Unit |
| NV | 8 | 123.2 | $83,638 | not matched | — |
| VA | 8 | 201.1 | $134,467 | exam | Plumbers License |
| WY | 7 | 11.3 | $110,532 | exam | CLASS A STORAGE TANK OPERATOR; CLASS B STORAGE TANK OPERATOR |
| MS | 7 | 41.1 | $80,660 | not matched | — |
| TN | 7 | 26.6 | $84,043 | exam | LIMITED LICENSED PLUMBERS; SPRINKLER SYS CONTRACTOR, RESPONSIBL |
| AL | 7 | 84.9 | $80,503 | licence | Certified Journeyman Gas Fitter; Certified Journeyman Plumber |
| AR | 6 | 31.7 | $73,326 | exam | Apprentice Plumber; Backflow Preventer Testing Technician |
| ID | 5 | 63.6 | $73,531 | exam | Apprentice Plumber; Backflow Assembly Testers |
| DC | 5 | 70.6 | $184,711 | exam | PLUMBERS; Tankerman |
| OR | 5 | 138.2 | $137,819 | licence | Apprentice, Registered (Construction T; Backflow Assembly Tester Certification |
| NH | 5 | 97.8 | $122,916 | exam | Plumber, Apprentice; Plumber, Journeyman |
| ME | 5 | 16.8 | $99,298 | exam | Plumber, Journeyman; Plumber, Journeyman in Training |
| RI | 4 | 76.2 | $134,374 | exam | Fire Protection Sprinkler Fitter; Irrigator |
| HI | 4 | 92.8 | $70,755 | exam | Plumber |
| MT | 3 | 5.0 | $90,533 | exam | Plumbers - Journeyman Plumber; Plumbers - Master Plumber |
| KY | 3 | 23.3 | $105,029 | exam | Boiler Contractor; Certified Monitoring Well Driller |
| SC | 3 | 23.7 | $107,324 | licence | Boiler Registration; Fire Sprinkler Branch Company |
| AK | 3 | 65.7 | $116,741 | licence | Contractor, Gas Piping, Plumbing & She; Gas Piping and Plumbing, Journeyman & |
| UT | 3 | 301.0 | $98,484 | licence | PLUMBERS |
| WA | 3 | 35.7 | $103,402 | licence | Plumber |
| MD | 3 | 13.7 | $87,610 | licence | APPRENTICE NATURAL GAS FITTER; APPRENTICE PLUBMBER/GAS FITTER |
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.