Where is it easiest to open: Lumber, Plywood, Millwork, and Wood Panel Merchant Wholesalers
49 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 41-4012” (soc) for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products. 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 | 698 | 16.0 | $80,005 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 532 | 17.1 | $75,930 | not matched | — |
| TX | 529 | 20.9 | $79,079 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| NY | 303 | 13.3 | $73,841 | not matched | — |
| NC | 260 | 19.7 | $79,939 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| WA | 258 | 18.2 | $90,283 | not matched | — |
| PA | 218 | 25.2 | $73,173 | not matched | — |
| GA | 210 | 22.3 | $81,190 | not matched | — |
| OR | 204 | 16.6 | $131,012 | not matched | — |
| OH | 194 | 16.0 | $73,430 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| NJ | 173 | 20.4 | $79,161 | not matched | — |
| IL | 170 | 20.4 | $88,483 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| CO | 142 | 19.0 | $84,030 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| MI | 131 | 18.6 | $81,218 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| AL | 129 | 17.2 | $81,308 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 125 | 17.5 | $71,143 | not matched | — |
| TN | 121 | 19.5 | $80,343 | not matched | — |
| MA | 117 | 17.4 | $93,661 | not matched | — |
| VA | 114 | 26.7 | $76,514 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| IN | 111 | 16.4 | $72,930 | not matched | — |
| MO | 102 | 17.8 | $74,423 | not matched | — |
| MN | 100 | 36.6 | $111,384 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| MD | 99 | 24.6 | $83,520 | not matched | — |
| WI | 89 | 25.4 | $72,358 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| SC | 87 | 19.0 | $74,707 | not matched | — |
| ID | 74 | 14.8 | $140,305 | not matched | — |
| UT | 73 | 19.6 | $85,833 | not matched | — |
| CT | 68 | 19.9 | $74,549 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| OK | 60 | 19.9 | $77,343 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| LA | 56 | 15.9 | $73,497 | not matched | — |
| NV | 53 | 16.6 | $75,882 | not matched | — |
| MT | 52 | 13.4 | $69,425 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| KS | 49 | 24.9 | $77,289 | not matched | — |
| IA | 45 | 25.0 | $51,726 | not matched | — |
| MS | 44 | 15.9 | $84,392 | not matched | — |
| NH | 41 | 17.2 | $103,711 | not matched | — |
| KY | 40 | 21.9 | $74,654 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| HI | 34 | 8.0 | $66,938 | not matched | — |
| AR | 30 | 17.5 | $63,567 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| NE | 28 | 10.8 | $83,411 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| DE | 21 | 13.6 | $76,888 | not matched | — |
| ME | 20 | 20.2 | $89,062 | not matched | — |
| SD | 18 | 16.0 | $111,208 | not matched | — |
| NM | 18 | 15.9 | $67,470 | not matched | — |
| RI | 17 | 16.8 | $68,434 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| AK | 9 | 18.1 | $69,098 | not matched | — |
| ND | 7 | 24.7 | $73,936 | not matched | — |
| WV | 6 | 11.3 | $66,235 | not matched | — |
| VT | 5 | 8.8 | $94,977 | 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.