Where is it easiest to open: Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
47 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 | 806 | 14.6 | $89,623 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| TX | 525 | 14.6 | $72,582 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| FL | 406 | 9.4 | $67,799 | not matched | — |
| IL | 312 | 15.1 | $87,472 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| NY | 266 | 12.2 | $75,110 | not matched | — |
| OH | 217 | 23.8 | $54,526 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| PA | 191 | 17.5 | $78,415 | not matched | — |
| NC | 190 | 22.4 | $79,331 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| GA | 169 | 16.0 | $84,724 | not matched | — |
| MI | 151 | 20.0 | $80,136 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| NJ | 151 | 14.0 | $84,869 | not matched | — |
| IN | 123 | 22.1 | $79,123 | not matched | — |
| WA | 122 | 15.7 | $73,260 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 100 | 15.9 | $66,705 | not matched | — |
| MN | 96 | 19.4 | $75,821 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| TN | 89 | 16.3 | $133,310 | not matched | — |
| MA | 89 | 16.2 | $87,286 | not matched | — |
| CO | 86 | 20.0 | $63,159 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| WI | 76 | 40.4 | $74,112 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| MD | 67 | 18.3 | $84,702 | not matched | — |
| OR | 67 | 17.6 | $77,716 | not matched | — |
| NV | 66 | 16.7 | $79,056 | not matched | — |
| CT | 66 | 27.3 | $117,528 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| SC | 58 | 79.6 | $91,219 | not matched | — |
| MO | 58 | 17.6 | $73,296 | not matched | — |
| VA | 56 | 8.4 | $74,100 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| AL | 48 | 20.7 | $77,718 | not matched | — |
| UT | 47 | 17.4 | $63,838 | not matched | — |
| LA | 45 | 11.2 | $70,948 | not matched | — |
| OK | 44 | 21.3 | $74,713 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| IA | 33 | 24.0 | $62,889 | not matched | — |
| KS | 32 | 10.1 | $85,817 | not matched | — |
| NE | 29 | 11.4 | $68,242 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| AR | 25 | 28.0 | $65,575 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| KY | 22 | 18.0 | $66,775 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| NH | 21 | 11.3 | $73,468 | not matched | — |
| MS | 20 | 17.1 | $66,734 | not matched | — |
| ID | 17 | 20.9 | $60,629 | not matched | — |
| RI | 15 | 52.9 | $45,379 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| HI | 14 | 8.4 | $84,051 | not matched | — |
| NM | 14 | 14.5 | $74,365 | not matched | — |
| DE | 11 | 9.8 | $69,472 | not matched | — |
| ND | 7 | 2.9 | $74,500 | not matched | — |
| SD | 6 | 13.0 | $65,910 | not matched | — |
| ME | 6 | 8.3 | $63,300 | not matched | — |
| MT | 6 | 10.0 | $68,383 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| VT | 4 | 6.0 | $89,750 | 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.