Where is it easiest to open: Machine Shops
50 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 | 2,211 | 12.5 | $68,225 | not matched | — |
| TX | 1,212 | 11.6 | $67,158 | not matched | — |
| OH | 1,094 | 13.4 | $63,774 | licence | Weigher, Sampler, and Tester License |
| MI | 915 | 14.4 | $62,549 | not matched | — |
| PA | 888 | 14.5 | $63,474 | not matched | — |
| IL | 789 | 13.9 | $66,400 | not matched | — |
| WI | 648 | 17.3 | $61,981 | not matched | — |
| NY | 564 | 13.1 | $61,829 | not matched | — |
| IN | 550 | 13.1 | $59,230 | not matched | — |
| MN | 460 | 17.2 | $62,511 | licence | Bulk Milk Hauler & Sampler License |
| FL | 431 | 8.0 | $57,084 | not matched | — |
| NC | 411 | 11.0 | $55,501 | exam | Antifreeze Registration; Livestock Market |
| MA | 401 | 15.5 | $70,701 | not matched | — |
| WA | 315 | 13.8 | $66,158 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 314 | 15.8 | $66,838 | not matched | — |
| CT | 313 | 12.5 | $69,603 | licence | Milk Examiner; Operator Of Weighing & Measuring Devic |
| GA | 293 | 12.9 | $68,919 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 293 | 9.4 | $69,272 | not matched | — |
| OR | 261 | 11.5 | $63,806 | not matched | — |
| TN | 258 | 13.0 | $62,208 | not matched | — |
| OK | 251 | 14.0 | $67,938 | not matched | — |
| SC | 246 | 10.8 | $57,272 | not matched | — |
| CO | 245 | 10.0 | $63,287 | exam | Certified Weigher's License; Egg Seller |
| AL | 237 | 14.3 | $61,720 | not matched | — |
| MO | 232 | 15.8 | $56,512 | not matched | — |
| LA | 216 | 15.0 | $72,249 | exam | Measurer- Sampler, Dairy Products |
| UT | 196 | 14.7 | $61,494 | not matched | — |
| VA | 174 | 11.7 | $60,916 | not matched | — |
| KY | 156 | 13.9 | $68,656 | not matched | — |
| NH | 142 | 13.0 | $66,765 | exam | Weighmaster |
| KS | 138 | 17.5 | $60,923 | not matched | — |
| AR | 137 | 12.7 | $52,840 | exam | Class A and B Hydrostatic Testing Tech |
| ID | 111 | 6.5 | $53,151 | not matched | — |
| MD | 105 | 12.2 | $71,171 | not matched | — |
| IA | 89 | 18.7 | $61,095 | exam | Sampling Technician |
| ME | 84 | 16.1 | $64,711 | licence | Dairy License; Weighmaster, Public |
| NE | 64 | 9.5 | $53,699 | not matched | — |
| WV | 62 | 13.7 | $58,200 | not matched | — |
| MS | 59 | 19.5 | $53,047 | not matched | — |
| NM | 58 | 7.7 | $60,291 | not matched | — |
| NV | 56 | 9.9 | $49,122 | not matched | — |
| RI | 45 | 10.1 | $65,485 | not matched | — |
| MT | 45 | 6.9 | $52,965 | not matched | — |
| SD | 39 | 10.1 | $60,335 | not matched | — |
| VT | 29 | 9.2 | $49,955 | licence | Weights and Measures Dealer/Repairer |
| ND | 28 | 8.7 | $59,918 | not matched | — |
| DE | 24 | 10.2 | $67,180 | not matched | — |
| WY | 24 | 14.2 | $86,988 | licence | CATHODIC PROTECTION TESTER |
| AK | 10 | 4.1 | $44,244 | not matched | — |
| HI | 4 | 9.2 | $64,081 | 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.