Where is it easiest to open: Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TX | 26 | 53.7 | $97,434 | not matched | — |
| IL | 11 | 39.2 | $84,429 | not matched | — |
| OH | 4 | 205.8 | $70,701 | licence | Weigher, Sampler, and Tester License |
| MI | 3 | 61.7 | $40,519 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 3 | 4.0 | $71,500 | not matched | — |
| OK | 3 | 42.7 | $75,789 | not matched | — |
| PA | 3 | 63.0 | $54,000 | not matched | — |
| CA | 3 | 11.0 | $74,273 | 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.