Where is it easiest to open: Industrial Supplies 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 | 1,199 | 10.1 | $91,492 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| TX | 1,040 | 12.7 | $86,985 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| FL | 460 | 7.5 | $76,654 | not matched | — |
| IL | 420 | 21.2 | $109,291 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| PA | 381 | 12.4 | $93,919 | not matched | — |
| OH | 367 | 23.3 | $87,494 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| NY | 366 | 9.9 | $80,125 | not matched | — |
| GA | 292 | 13.9 | $93,039 | not matched | — |
| MI | 278 | 12.2 | $87,953 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| NJ | 270 | 15.1 | $97,908 | not matched | — |
| NC | 265 | 13.8 | $89,122 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| IN | 236 | 9.5 | $76,070 | not matched | — |
| LA | 217 | 11.6 | $81,882 | not matched | — |
| WA | 216 | 10.9 | $84,042 | not matched | — |
| AL | 192 | 11.9 | $85,046 | not matched | — |
| WI | 172 | 13.2 | $89,246 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| SC | 163 | 13.7 | $84,494 | not matched | — |
| TN | 161 | 9.7 | $74,790 | not matched | — |
| MO | 156 | 14.3 | $113,076 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 152 | 8.4 | $73,262 | not matched | — |
| MN | 135 | 14.5 | $93,731 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| MA | 120 | 10.9 | $83,789 | not matched | — |
| CO | 120 | 11.5 | $82,083 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| CT | 112 | 8.9 | $87,851 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| OK | 109 | 11.5 | $74,698 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| KY | 99 | 10.3 | $74,321 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| OR | 90 | 11.7 | $89,239 | not matched | — |
| VA | 87 | 12.4 | $81,664 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| AR | 76 | 6.0 | $69,823 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| KS | 76 | 9.0 | $77,204 | not matched | — |
| IA | 75 | 10.5 | $84,319 | not matched | — |
| UT | 67 | 18.1 | $81,638 | not matched | — |
| MD | 64 | 7.0 | $90,367 | not matched | — |
| WV | 52 | 9.8 | $69,873 | not matched | — |
| MS | 50 | 8.8 | $80,791 | not matched | — |
| ID | 49 | 9.8 | $79,021 | not matched | — |
| NV | 46 | 10.1 | $62,258 | not matched | — |
| NM | 43 | 9.6 | $65,978 | not matched | — |
| NH | 38 | 10.9 | $91,222 | not matched | — |
| ME | 31 | 9.2 | $78,028 | not matched | — |
| MT | 29 | 7.1 | $71,302 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| WY | 22 | 7.3 | $72,944 | not matched | — |
| NE | 22 | 10.4 | $82,227 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| RI | 21 | 7.4 | $96,026 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| ND | 21 | 7.7 | $71,578 | not matched | — |
| DE | 17 | 22.9 | $81,303 | not matched | — |
| HI | 16 | 8.8 | $85,660 | not matched | — |
| AK | 14 | 7.1 | $76,939 | not matched | — |
| SD | 11 | 11.6 | $88,742 | not matched | — |
| VT | 11 | 5.6 | $88,323 | not matched | — |
| DC | 4 | 2.5 | $129,000 | 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.