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Where is it easiest to open: Distilleries
39 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 35-3011” (soc) for Bartenders. 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 | 71 | 8.6 | $71,476 | not matched | — |
| TX | 60 | 25.4 | $78,280 | not matched | — |
| CO | 58 | 12.7 | $46,780 | not matched | — |
| NY | 55 | 8.3 | $48,357 | not matched | — |
| PA | 51 | 12.1 | $47,714 | not matched | — |
| KY | 39 | 132.4 | $76,664 | not matched | — |
| TN | 38 | 41.6 | $36,250 | not matched | — |
| WA | 36 | 7.3 | $63,626 | not matched | — |
| FL | 31 | 15.1 | $69,825 | not matched | — |
| IL | 27 | 31.2 | $84,876 | exam | INTERTRACK EMPLOYEE |
| OR | 24 | 13.1 | $56,000 | licence | Alcohol Service Permit; Food Handler Cards |
| MI | 22 | 17.0 | $35,971 | exam | Casino Employees Level 3; Horse Racing Occupational License |
| NC | 19 | 7.4 | $32,908 | licence | Air Carrier; Airport Central Storage |
| SC | 16 | 13.8 | $48,636 | not matched | — |
| MD | 14 | 21.4 | $74,224 | not matched | — |
| MN | 13 | 23.0 | $48,010 | not matched | — |
| ME | 13 | 6.5 | $37,776 | not matched | — |
| MA | 12 | 47.3 | $106,583 | exam | GAMING EMPLOYEE |
| VA | 11 | 12.0 | $33,409 | not matched | — |
| UT | 11 | 10.2 | $49,375 | not matched | — |
| IA | 9 | 18.6 | $49,641 | not matched | — |
| CT | 9 | 4.6 | $51,463 | not matched | — |
| MT | 9 | 10.3 | $30,699 | not matched | — |
| OH | 9 | 31.6 | $56,338 | licence | Alcohol Dealer Registration at Retail; Distilled Spirits Plant Permit |
| WI | 8 | 14.9 | $43,739 | not matched | — |
| MO | 8 | 17.4 | $46,079 | not matched | — |
| NV | 8 | 19.4 | $36,561 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 8 | 8.6 | $45,623 | not matched | — |
| NM | 8 | 6.6 | $31,509 | exam | Alcohol Server Permit; Staff Permit Employees |
| DE | 5 | 1.0 | $147,800 | not matched | — |
| LA | 5 | 6.0 | $32,333 | not matched | — |
| DC | 4 | 10.0 | $28,500 | not matched | — |
| AK | 4 | 5.2 | $16,810 | licence | Alcohol Server |
| GA | 4 | 9.8 | $41,872 | not matched | — |
| AL | 3 | 14.7 | $35,159 | not matched | — |
| IN | 3 | 35.7 | $23,533 | exam | Bartender's Permit Type 300 (Restricte; Bartender's Permit Type 801 (Volunteer |
| HI | 3 | 4.7 | $44,000 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 3 | 6.0 | $30,944 | not matched | — |
| NH | 3 | 33.7 | $61,505 | 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.