Where is it easiest to open: Metal Crown, Closure, and Other Metal Stamping (except Automotive)
28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IL | 92 | 43.3 | $72,350 | not matched | — |
| CA | 91 | 23.2 | $65,323 | not matched | — |
| OH | 70 | 29.5 | $57,879 | licence | Weigher, Sampler, and Tester License |
| CT | 60 | 43.1 | $70,329 | licence | Milk Examiner; Operator Of Weighing & Measuring Devic |
| WI | 54 | 61.8 | $65,159 | not matched | — |
| MI | 48 | 32.1 | $61,566 | not matched | — |
| NY | 41 | 31.7 | $67,388 | not matched | — |
| MN | 28 | 54.6 | $60,455 | licence | Bulk Milk Hauler & Sampler License |
| IN | 27 | 54.6 | $58,195 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 27 | 35.0 | $67,707 | not matched | — |
| TX | 25 | 40.8 | $59,579 | not matched | — |
| PA | 24 | 54.3 | $68,658 | not matched | — |
| MA | 24 | 29.4 | $59,803 | not matched | — |
| RI | 17 | 26.9 | $60,683 | not matched | — |
| FL | 12 | 39.2 | $55,590 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 8 | 48.4 | $62,444 | not matched | — |
| NC | 7 | 45.1 | $69,206 | exam | Antifreeze Registration; Livestock Market |
| OR | 7 | 21.0 | $53,082 | not matched | — |
| GA | 6 | 42.3 | $59,937 | not matched | — |
| WA | 6 | 19.7 | $59,627 | not matched | — |
| MO | 3 | 5.7 | $44,529 | not matched | — |
| AR | 3 | 5.3 | $42,625 | exam | Class A and B Hydrostatic Testing Tech |
| KS | 3 | 49.0 | $38,966 | not matched | — |
| KY | 3 | 73.0 | $44,342 | not matched | — |
| AL | 3 | 87.0 | $38,207 | not matched | — |
| SC | 3 | 27.0 | $44,728 | not matched | — |
| TN | 3 | 96.7 | $72,514 | not matched | — |
| UT | 3 | 16.0 | $44,479 | 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.