Where is it easiest to open: Iron and Steel Forging
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 15 | 89.7 | $75,533 | not matched | — |
| IL | 15 | 49.3 | $84,011 | not matched | — |
| TX | 15 | 67.7 | $84,444 | not matched | — |
| MI | 15 | 90.5 | $65,186 | not matched | — |
| OH | 13 | 70.0 | $79,415 | licence | Weigher, Sampler, and Tester License |
| PA | 7 | 86.0 | $95,659 | not matched | — |
| MA | 4 | 84.8 | $89,531 | not matched | — |
| WI | 4 | 264.0 | $92,193 | 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.