Where is it easiest to open: Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers
51 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TX | 1,053 | 17.1 | $92,664 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| CA | 978 | 13.7 | $84,064 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 464 | 11.7 | $85,133 | not matched | — |
| IL | 444 | 20.2 | $92,854 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| OH | 426 | 20.8 | $85,318 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| NY | 383 | 10.4 | $95,873 | not matched | — |
| PA | 341 | 18.4 | $97,879 | not matched | — |
| MI | 264 | 23.7 | $89,113 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| NJ | 236 | 12.9 | $107,123 | not matched | — |
| GA | 208 | 20.0 | $92,857 | not matched | — |
| NC | 200 | 16.5 | $83,013 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| IN | 190 | 24.8 | $80,655 | not matched | — |
| WA | 185 | 18.1 | $82,281 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 148 | 10.2 | $74,598 | not matched | — |
| AL | 142 | 22.0 | $91,622 | not matched | — |
| CO | 142 | 17.2 | $77,961 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| MO | 135 | 18.0 | $99,217 | not matched | — |
| TN | 124 | 18.3 | $87,825 | not matched | — |
| LA | 124 | 15.5 | $86,093 | not matched | — |
| OK | 123 | 18.7 | $74,417 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| WI | 109 | 23.3 | $64,871 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| MA | 106 | 15.5 | $101,117 | not matched | — |
| CT | 101 | 20.9 | $95,187 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| OR | 96 | 16.3 | $76,114 | not matched | — |
| SC | 91 | 22.8 | $62,955 | not matched | — |
| MD | 88 | 14.6 | $74,874 | not matched | — |
| UT | 71 | 17.6 | $84,290 | not matched | — |
| MN | 70 | 23.2 | $96,557 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| VA | 68 | 13.9 | $77,524 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| KY | 62 | 16.9 | $82,235 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| AR | 59 | 19.3 | $75,321 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| NV | 47 | 11.4 | $80,833 | not matched | — |
| KS | 42 | 28.8 | $73,315 | not matched | — |
| IA | 37 | 25.0 | $85,445 | not matched | — |
| NM | 32 | 8.9 | $64,469 | not matched | — |
| NE | 29 | 21.2 | $66,597 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| DE | 28 | 10.4 | $67,368 | not matched | — |
| NH | 28 | 14.1 | $81,922 | not matched | — |
| ID | 22 | 10.5 | $68,332 | not matched | — |
| RI | 20 | 8.8 | $80,349 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| MS | 19 | 12.1 | $61,891 | not matched | — |
| WV | 16 | 16.6 | $49,635 | not matched | — |
| ME | 14 | 10.6 | $70,527 | not matched | — |
| ND | 14 | 31.1 | $76,360 | not matched | — |
| WY | 14 | 12.9 | $73,572 | not matched | — |
| HI | 13 | 12.8 | $84,139 | not matched | — |
| MT | 13 | 12.7 | $59,115 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| AK | 9 | 6.0 | $85,000 | not matched | — |
| SD | 5 | 18.0 | $124,900 | not matched | — |
| VT | 3 | 15.0 | $55,444 | not matched | — |
| DC | 3 | 14.0 | $65,595 | 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.