Where is it easiest to open: Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MN | 10 | 17.7 | $117,932 | licence | Backflow Prevention Certification; Certified Pipelayer |
| MD | 7 | 11.9 | $119,880 | licence | APPRENTICE NATURAL GAS FITTER; APPRENTICE PLUBMBER/GAS FITTER |
| CA | 6 | 2.2 | $113,000 | licence | Boiler, Hot Water Heating and Steam Fi; Machinery and Pumps Limited Specialty |
| PA | 5 | 17.0 | $99,953 | licence | Plumbing Inspector (UCC); Plumbing Plans Examiner (UCC) |
| TX | 5 | 41.6 | $117,543 | exam | BACKFLOW PREVENTION ASSEMBLY TESTER; FIRE SPRINKLER RESPONSIBLE MANAGING EM |
| MA | 3 | 38.0 | $125,553 | exam | GAS FITTER (Apprentice, Journeyman, Ma; PIPEFITTER |
| IL | 3 | 11.7 | $165,771 | exam | FIRE SPRINKLERS CONTRACTORS; PLUMBER |
| AZ | 3 | 5.3 | $162,188 | 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.