Where is it easiest to open: Transportation Equipment and Supplies (except Motor Vehicle) Merchant Wholesalers
41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL | 536 | 12.0 | $98,335 | not matched | — |
| CA | 292 | 14.2 | $92,492 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| TX | 192 | 23.0 | $90,263 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| WA | 73 | 12.4 | $96,245 | not matched | — |
| IL | 66 | 22.6 | $111,329 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| NJ | 66 | 20.1 | $110,174 | not matched | — |
| NY | 61 | 9.4 | $97,084 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 58 | 15.7 | $120,552 | not matched | — |
| GA | 36 | 14.4 | $121,586 | not matched | — |
| LA | 36 | 13.7 | $86,327 | not matched | — |
| NC | 31 | 10.7 | $84,859 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| KS | 31 | 14.0 | $76,257 | not matched | — |
| CT | 29 | 18.9 | $115,038 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| VA | 29 | 34.3 | $153,894 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| OH | 26 | 14.3 | $62,603 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| TN | 19 | 8.7 | $82,470 | not matched | — |
| MI | 18 | 9.8 | $92,102 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| IN | 16 | 7.6 | $69,066 | not matched | — |
| SC | 16 | 15.1 | $55,905 | not matched | — |
| AL | 15 | 48.5 | $76,176 | not matched | — |
| MN | 15 | 7.2 | $107,611 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| MO | 15 | 7.2 | $69,324 | not matched | — |
| OK | 15 | 17.5 | $95,225 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| PA | 15 | 8.6 | $63,946 | not matched | — |
| NV | 14 | 8.0 | $111,759 | not matched | — |
| OR | 13 | 17.5 | $84,456 | not matched | — |
| IA | 12 | 20.5 | $134,492 | not matched | — |
| MD | 11 | 8.9 | $78,235 | not matched | — |
| WI | 8 | 6.0 | $56,792 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| KY | 8 | 6.9 | $54,873 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| CO | 6 | 8.0 | $91,062 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| ME | 6 | 3.2 | $96,684 | not matched | — |
| ID | 6 | 53.0 | $91,428 | not matched | — |
| DE | 6 | 6.0 | $69,806 | not matched | — |
| HI | 5 | 4.8 | $72,167 | not matched | — |
| UT | 5 | 13.0 | $42,846 | not matched | — |
| MA | 4 | 3.5 | $49,571 | not matched | — |
| MS | 3 | 1.3 | $59,500 | not matched | — |
| ND | 3 | 14.7 | $109,341 | not matched | — |
| DC | 3 | 4.0 | $276,333 | not matched | — |
| AR | 3 | 15.3 | $62,065 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain 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.