Where is it easiest to open: Construction and Mining (except Oil Well) Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
50 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 | 391 | 27.1 | $102,443 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| CA | 304 | 19.5 | $94,458 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 287 | 21.8 | $93,078 | not matched | — |
| IL | 167 | 19.1 | $91,105 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| PA | 158 | 17.8 | $99,621 | not matched | — |
| OH | 145 | 24.6 | $91,821 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| GA | 144 | 25.6 | $104,917 | not matched | — |
| NY | 104 | 16.6 | $83,545 | not matched | — |
| TN | 99 | 30.4 | $135,245 | not matched | — |
| CO | 99 | 26.4 | $103,429 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| WA | 96 | 14.4 | $89,674 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 95 | 34.9 | $113,874 | not matched | — |
| WI | 91 | 22.0 | $99,456 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| NC | 80 | 41.0 | $99,831 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| KY | 75 | 27.7 | $91,695 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| AL | 72 | 35.9 | $91,973 | not matched | — |
| VA | 72 | 28.7 | $100,603 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| OR | 71 | 16.6 | $106,631 | not matched | — |
| MI | 69 | 20.1 | $89,622 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| IA | 67 | 24.0 | $89,573 | not matched | — |
| MN | 66 | 32.4 | $98,456 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| NJ | 66 | 19.6 | $100,735 | not matched | — |
| SC | 65 | 23.1 | $88,637 | not matched | — |
| UT | 64 | 27.8 | $109,787 | not matched | — |
| MO | 64 | 37.9 | $100,420 | not matched | — |
| NV | 64 | 29.1 | $112,750 | not matched | — |
| LA | 57 | 16.7 | $94,325 | not matched | — |
| IN | 57 | 22.2 | $90,333 | not matched | — |
| WV | 56 | 20.4 | $81,921 | not matched | — |
| MA | 53 | 24.3 | $94,967 | not matched | — |
| MD | 44 | 32.8 | $98,748 | not matched | — |
| KS | 42 | 28.6 | $101,099 | not matched | — |
| ND | 35 | 22.9 | $102,633 | not matched | — |
| ME | 35 | 15.0 | $84,803 | not matched | — |
| CT | 33 | 16.5 | $100,505 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| WY | 30 | 29.7 | $111,205 | not matched | — |
| AR | 29 | 27.8 | $88,160 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| MS | 29 | 33.8 | $90,727 | not matched | — |
| ID | 29 | 30.9 | $98,895 | not matched | — |
| OK | 27 | 49.7 | $96,321 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| NH | 24 | 15.6 | $100,099 | not matched | — |
| MT | 24 | 24.3 | $103,154 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| AK | 23 | 22.8 | $93,070 | not matched | — |
| NM | 21 | 24.5 | $98,405 | not matched | — |
| HI | 20 | 11.8 | $87,213 | not matched | — |
| NE | 19 | 18.1 | $88,387 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| SD | 14 | 33.4 | $110,146 | not matched | — |
| DE | 9 | 10.9 | $95,949 | not matched | — |
| VT | 4 | 26.8 | $80,215 | not matched | — |
| RI | 4 | 6.0 | $101,958 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
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.