Where is it easiest to open: Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining
5 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 51-9061” (soc) for Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers. 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 | 11 | 128.7 | $79,789 | not matched | — |
| PA | 6 | 58.5 | $95,681 | not matched | — |
| CA | 5 | 71.4 | $86,246 | not matched | — |
| UT | 5 | 124.8 | $102,176 | not matched | — |
| IL | 3 | 36.0 | $74,435 | 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.