Where is it easiest to open: Service Establishment Equipment and Supplies 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 668 | 9.6 | $65,783 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 375 | 10.6 | $61,689 | not matched | — |
| TX | 343 | 11.3 | $61,767 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| NY | 301 | 10.9 | $76,238 | not matched | — |
| IL | 232 | 11.1 | $66,224 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| PA | 187 | 12.0 | $60,836 | not matched | — |
| OH | 173 | 9.4 | $55,858 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| GA | 155 | 11.3 | $69,806 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 137 | 7.8 | $69,694 | not matched | — |
| NC | 133 | 10.6 | $57,458 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| MI | 133 | 12.3 | $57,866 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| AZ | 96 | 9.3 | $75,667 | not matched | — |
| CO | 96 | 8.5 | $67,876 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| WI | 89 | 14.6 | $67,012 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| IN | 88 | 11.2 | $65,778 | not matched | — |
| MO | 87 | 10.2 | $68,481 | not matched | — |
| MA | 82 | 8.4 | $78,675 | not matched | — |
| UT | 81 | 12.7 | $68,722 | not matched | — |
| VA | 81 | 9.2 | $74,003 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| TN | 80 | 13.6 | $58,621 | not matched | — |
| MD | 77 | 12.0 | $71,323 | not matched | — |
| WA | 75 | 9.4 | $71,722 | not matched | — |
| CT | 64 | 10.4 | $68,126 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| MN | 61 | 16.2 | $76,944 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| SC | 60 | 10.1 | $59,191 | not matched | — |
| IA | 58 | 12.8 | $65,540 | not matched | — |
| OR | 55 | 7.3 | $46,180 | not matched | — |
| NV | 51 | 14.2 | $68,954 | not matched | — |
| LA | 49 | 12.7 | $62,583 | not matched | — |
| OK | 47 | 14.5 | $48,344 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| KY | 45 | 13.9 | $48,750 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| AR | 43 | 7.9 | $55,721 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| AL | 40 | 14.9 | $63,075 | not matched | — |
| ID | 30 | 8.2 | $48,348 | not matched | — |
| KS | 28 | 15.0 | $56,200 | not matched | — |
| NE | 25 | 15.0 | $48,551 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| RI | 24 | 5.0 | $59,392 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| MS | 21 | 13.9 | $47,863 | not matched | — |
| NH | 18 | 13.8 | $73,496 | not matched | — |
| HI | 18 | 7.7 | $51,391 | not matched | — |
| MT | 16 | 5.4 | $35,279 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| NM | 15 | 12.7 | $63,753 | not matched | — |
| SD | 15 | 6.4 | $52,677 | not matched | — |
| ND | 14 | 7.2 | $55,752 | not matched | — |
| WV | 13 | 6.5 | $35,271 | not matched | — |
| DE | 11 | 3.9 | $41,744 | not matched | — |
| ME | 9 | 4.1 | $39,162 | not matched | — |
| AK | 9 | 6.3 | $47,807 | not matched | — |
| VT | 3 | 5.0 | $42,533 | not matched | — |
| WY | 3 | 6.3 | $30,316 | 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.