Where is it easiest to open: Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
28 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 | 197 | 16.0 | $83,824 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| NY | 102 | 33.1 | $78,733 | not matched | — |
| FL | 102 | 11.1 | $72,923 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 42 | 29.5 | $91,238 | not matched | — |
| TX | 36 | 8.1 | $62,674 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| AZ | 20 | 19.3 | $58,705 | not matched | — |
| PA | 17 | 14.5 | $52,879 | not matched | — |
| IL | 16 | 26.8 | $76,967 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| GA | 15 | 24.9 | $94,279 | not matched | — |
| MI | 14 | 20.5 | $61,683 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| MO | 10 | 18.5 | $63,400 | not matched | — |
| WA | 10 | 2.5 | $62,240 | not matched | — |
| CT | 8 | 22.9 | $84,071 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| NV | 7 | 8.4 | $51,695 | not matched | — |
| NE | 7 | 2.3 | $67,562 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| HI | 7 | 2.9 | $58,200 | not matched | — |
| KY | 6 | 29.8 | $73,883 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| MN | 5 | 34.6 | $85,734 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| DE | 4 | 4.8 | $149,789 | not matched | — |
| UT | 4 | 1.5 | $18,167 | not matched | — |
| KS | 4 | 55.2 | $92,231 | not matched | — |
| WI | 3 | 5.7 | $102,765 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| CO | 3 | 1.3 | $47,000 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| ID | 3 | 2.3 | $62,286 | not matched | — |
| IN | 3 | 15.7 | $47,000 | not matched | — |
| MD | 3 | 19.7 | $61,475 | not matched | — |
| MA | 3 | 70.3 | $167,744 | not matched | — |
| OK | 3 | 3.3 | $68,000 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
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.