Where is it easiest to open: Sewage Treatment Facilities
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NY | 45 | 10.1 | $90,171 | not matched | — |
| TX | 40 | 18.6 | $78,631 | exam | BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY TESTER; FIRE SPRINKLER RESPONSIBLE MANAGING EM |
| FL | 12 | 10.6 | $59,457 | exam | Certified Plumbing Contractor; Certified Pool/Spa Contractor |
| HI | 12 | 6.2 | $89,014 | exam | Plumber |
| PA | 10 | 38.7 | $121,468 | licence | Plumbing Inspector (UCC); Plumbing Plans Examiner (UCC) |
| AZ | 9 | 6.6 | $50,441 | not matched | — |
| LA | 5 | 3.2 | $48,812 | exam | Medical (Gas Piping Installer); Plumber, Journeyman |
| CT | 4 | 13.0 | $103,731 | exam | Auto Fire Sprinkler Layout Technician; Backflow Prevention Device Tester |
| IN | 3 | 3.3 | $62,800 | exam | Backflow Prevention and Cross Connecti; Journeyman Plumber |
| IL | 3 | 4.3 | $70,231 | exam | FIRE SPRINKLERS CONTRACTORS; PLUMBER |
| CA | 3 | 6.0 | $46,389 | licence | Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fi; Machinery and Pumps Limited Specialty |
| NJ | 3 | 5.3 | $53,438 | exam | LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION CONTRACTOR; PLUMBER |
| MN | 3 | 20.3 | $51,787 | licence | Backflow Prevention Certification; Certified Pipelayer |
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.