Where is it easiest to open: Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers
49 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 | 906 | 11.6 | $65,805 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| TX | 660 | 14.5 | $57,259 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| FL | 381 | 8.4 | $61,129 | not matched | — |
| NY | 379 | 13.1 | $63,175 | not matched | — |
| PA | 339 | 13.6 | $61,443 | not matched | — |
| IL | 306 | 19.0 | $71,833 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| OH | 291 | 15.9 | $64,670 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| NJ | 237 | 18.9 | $74,649 | not matched | — |
| GA | 222 | 14.5 | $61,865 | not matched | — |
| MI | 191 | 13.0 | $74,994 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| NC | 182 | 14.7 | $57,053 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| WI | 143 | 16.3 | $59,071 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| AL | 140 | 15.0 | $55,330 | not matched | — |
| MA | 139 | 14.0 | $69,904 | not matched | — |
| MO | 134 | 13.5 | $65,139 | not matched | — |
| IN | 126 | 17.4 | $83,225 | not matched | — |
| TN | 119 | 16.9 | $56,213 | not matched | — |
| WA | 111 | 13.8 | $69,305 | not matched | — |
| SC | 107 | 16.6 | $50,179 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 105 | 15.7 | $51,923 | not matched | — |
| MN | 91 | 12.9 | $66,951 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| KY | 80 | 15.7 | $68,845 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| CO | 74 | 14.5 | $67,485 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| MD | 74 | 22.6 | $79,345 | not matched | — |
| IA | 73 | 11.9 | $66,865 | not matched | — |
| CT | 59 | 15.1 | $84,062 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| OR | 56 | 22.1 | $67,705 | not matched | — |
| LA | 55 | 14.9 | $59,054 | not matched | — |
| VA | 50 | 15.7 | $70,480 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| WV | 43 | 10.7 | $44,361 | not matched | — |
| UT | 41 | 22.6 | $66,368 | not matched | — |
| NV | 41 | 10.2 | $66,624 | not matched | — |
| ME | 38 | 8.8 | $58,421 | not matched | — |
| KS | 37 | 14.7 | $62,541 | not matched | — |
| OK | 35 | 18.0 | $57,984 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| NH | 35 | 15.6 | $64,433 | not matched | — |
| AR | 35 | 18.3 | $58,847 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| ID | 29 | 14.2 | $51,232 | not matched | — |
| MS | 28 | 10.6 | $47,337 | not matched | — |
| HI | 25 | 13.5 | $63,012 | not matched | — |
| NM | 24 | 14.6 | $53,029 | not matched | — |
| RI | 22 | 14.3 | $61,895 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| ND | 22 | 9.8 | $77,523 | not matched | — |
| NE | 21 | 15.4 | $58,133 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| MT | 12 | 12.0 | $66,951 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| DE | 11 | 14.2 | $43,590 | not matched | — |
| WY | 10 | 12.6 | $57,635 | not matched | — |
| SD | 3 | 16.3 | $56,020 | not matched | — |
| AK | 3 | 2.7 | $39,625 | 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.