Where is it easiest to open: Industrial 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 | 3,300 | 14.6 | $95,813 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| CA | 2,448 | 11.6 | $93,795 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 1,681 | 9.4 | $81,495 | not matched | — |
| IL | 1,292 | 19.7 | $99,203 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| OH | 1,266 | 16.9 | $87,743 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| PA | 1,060 | 17.6 | $89,777 | not matched | — |
| MI | 1,013 | 18.4 | $91,916 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| NC | 851 | 16.5 | $92,104 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| NY | 841 | 12.7 | $92,869 | not matched | — |
| GA | 765 | 17.4 | $92,048 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 646 | 14.0 | $97,368 | not matched | — |
| LA | 599 | 13.4 | $82,590 | not matched | — |
| WI | 566 | 16.2 | $93,153 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| IN | 550 | 18.9 | $85,069 | not matched | — |
| WA | 506 | 14.2 | $91,980 | not matched | — |
| OK | 506 | 11.4 | $78,726 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| TN | 485 | 14.0 | $89,364 | not matched | — |
| MO | 451 | 17.4 | $95,185 | not matched | — |
| MN | 413 | 18.1 | $106,751 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| MA | 408 | 17.8 | $112,234 | not matched | — |
| CO | 406 | 11.4 | $89,992 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| SC | 394 | 12.1 | $85,216 | not matched | — |
| AL | 361 | 11.7 | $88,266 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 355 | 16.6 | $115,642 | not matched | — |
| VA | 315 | 14.3 | $88,884 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| CT | 274 | 14.2 | $93,464 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| OR | 257 | 17.5 | $95,072 | not matched | — |
| KY | 254 | 19.0 | $88,574 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| MD | 234 | 19.4 | $114,408 | not matched | — |
| KS | 233 | 16.3 | $79,814 | not matched | — |
| UT | 220 | 12.5 | $90,833 | not matched | — |
| IA | 199 | 17.1 | $81,375 | not matched | — |
| AR | 197 | 14.4 | $73,853 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| NV | 150 | 12.3 | $74,282 | not matched | — |
| NM | 145 | 10.2 | $97,067 | not matched | — |
| ND | 138 | 10.7 | $93,024 | not matched | — |
| MS | 134 | 10.1 | $70,081 | not matched | — |
| WV | 108 | 12.4 | $70,726 | not matched | — |
| NH | 105 | 12.6 | $101,743 | not matched | — |
| WY | 104 | 6.3 | $86,436 | not matched | — |
| NE | 103 | 13.5 | $84,080 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| ID | 99 | 16.0 | $99,770 | not matched | — |
| RI | 70 | 9.2 | $104,039 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| DE | 66 | 11.8 | $78,326 | not matched | — |
| MT | 65 | 9.7 | $89,238 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| ME | 64 | 12.7 | $76,164 | not matched | — |
| AK | 46 | 8.2 | $82,857 | not matched | — |
| SD | 45 | 10.1 | $76,689 | not matched | — |
| HI | 31 | 10.2 | $78,271 | not matched | — |
| VT | 19 | 9.3 | $113,256 | 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.