Where is it easiest to open: Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies (Hydronics) 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 639 | 14.9 | $89,137 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| TX | 500 | 13.0 | $85,669 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| FL | 388 | 12.2 | $87,239 | not matched | — |
| NY | 310 | 10.1 | $80,138 | not matched | — |
| PA | 227 | 15.8 | $89,157 | not matched | — |
| OH | 217 | 19.2 | $95,108 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| NC | 212 | 13.7 | $86,966 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| IL | 194 | 17.6 | $89,671 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| NJ | 156 | 15.2 | $79,160 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 156 | 10.8 | $79,787 | not matched | — |
| MA | 154 | 14.1 | $85,006 | not matched | — |
| WA | 146 | 14.0 | $79,459 | not matched | — |
| GA | 143 | 20.6 | $79,169 | not matched | — |
| MI | 141 | 14.9 | $84,447 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| CO | 129 | 12.9 | $82,274 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| VA | 126 | 12.1 | $78,313 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| MD | 122 | 15.2 | $90,535 | not matched | — |
| MO | 101 | 13.8 | $94,368 | not matched | — |
| WI | 99 | 16.3 | $83,108 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| UT | 96 | 12.0 | $80,247 | not matched | — |
| IN | 91 | 14.4 | $91,106 | not matched | — |
| TN | 91 | 15.7 | $81,314 | not matched | — |
| CT | 79 | 14.6 | $86,586 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| MN | 77 | 13.1 | $83,810 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| OK | 75 | 9.6 | $73,925 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| OR | 72 | 13.3 | $83,016 | not matched | — |
| AL | 66 | 11.8 | $116,219 | not matched | — |
| LA | 65 | 12.5 | $81,418 | not matched | — |
| ID | 61 | 11.2 | $71,704 | not matched | — |
| SC | 58 | 10.5 | $93,754 | not matched | — |
| NV | 54 | 10.4 | $71,477 | not matched | — |
| IA | 52 | 14.5 | $74,069 | not matched | — |
| NE | 48 | 9.4 | $100,836 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| KS | 47 | 12.8 | $90,441 | not matched | — |
| NH | 42 | 14.3 | $82,998 | not matched | — |
| AR | 39 | 12.7 | $84,438 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| NM | 37 | 9.7 | $75,978 | not matched | — |
| ME | 33 | 14.6 | $80,068 | not matched | — |
| DE | 30 | 6.7 | $81,305 | not matched | — |
| KY | 24 | 12.0 | $75,907 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| HI | 22 | 12.2 | $72,907 | not matched | — |
| RI | 21 | 12.3 | $78,015 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| MT | 21 | 18.7 | $85,048 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| WV | 21 | 6.7 | $101,468 | not matched | — |
| WY | 20 | 6.7 | $74,813 | not matched | — |
| MS | 19 | 8.9 | $97,718 | not matched | — |
| SD | 18 | 9.8 | $89,695 | not matched | — |
| AK | 16 | 13.2 | $79,439 | not matched | — |
| ND | 12 | 8.7 | $84,048 | not matched | — |
| VT | 10 | 15.7 | $71,834 | not matched | — |
| DC | 3 | 6.7 | $69,750 | 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.