Where is it easiest to open: Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing
13 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 51-4121” (soc) for Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PA | 25 | 406.4 | $112,884 | not matched | — |
| CA | 20 | 3.3 | $65,288 | licence | Welding Contractor |
| TX | 17 | 70.7 | $117,408 | licence | VETERINARIAN |
| OH | 10 | 372.4 | $107,541 | not matched | — |
| MI | 10 | 25.9 | $71,174 | not matched | — |
| IN | 7 | 1799.6 | $114,694 | not matched | — |
| AR | 4 | 741.2 | $148,500 | not matched | — |
| NC | 4 | 409.2 | $95,831 | not matched | — |
| NV | 3 | 4.7 | $90,429 | not matched | — |
| CO | 3 | 391.3 | $92,426 | not matched | — |
| AL | 3 | 225.7 | $121,258 | not matched | — |
| NY | 3 | 47.7 | $96,378 | exam | Field Welder |
| TN | 3 | 200.3 | $139,235 | 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.