Where is it easiest to open: Dairy Product (except Dried or Canned) Merchant Wholesalers
36 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 | 223 | 16.4 | $69,120 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| NY | 172 | 13.2 | $76,773 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 114 | 29.8 | $85,934 | not matched | — |
| FL | 100 | 15.8 | $61,100 | not matched | — |
| TX | 94 | 32.4 | $75,193 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| IL | 66 | 22.1 | $111,610 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| WI | 59 | 37.2 | $64,689 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| PA | 44 | 14.3 | $71,811 | not matched | — |
| MA | 27 | 33.1 | $95,498 | not matched | — |
| NC | 24 | 31.3 | $58,944 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| AZ | 22 | 27.0 | $84,307 | not matched | — |
| OH | 21 | 24.6 | $59,039 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| GA | 17 | 49.6 | $63,700 | not matched | — |
| WA | 17 | 67.5 | $67,883 | not matched | — |
| CO | 17 | 37.0 | $81,447 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| MI | 16 | 27.9 | $66,553 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| MD | 14 | 31.5 | $67,798 | not matched | — |
| MN | 13 | 21.2 | $116,891 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| CT | 12 | 6.8 | $131,122 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| TN | 10 | 15.7 | $56,045 | not matched | — |
| SC | 9 | 13.0 | $48,590 | not matched | — |
| LA | 9 | 8.7 | $52,731 | not matched | — |
| MO | 9 | 16.1 | $156,421 | not matched | — |
| IN | 9 | 18.3 | $45,630 | not matched | — |
| NV | 7 | 4.7 | $65,424 | not matched | — |
| VA | 7 | 26.3 | $69,875 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| OK | 6 | 13.7 | $58,378 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| HI | 5 | 38.4 | $199,385 | not matched | — |
| KS | 5 | 6.6 | $315,939 | not matched | — |
| NM | 5 | 28.2 | $51,418 | not matched | — |
| OR | 4 | 12.0 | $79,271 | not matched | — |
| KY | 4 | 22.5 | $71,556 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| UT | 4 | 27.2 | $71,440 | not matched | — |
| AL | 3 | 29.7 | $60,697 | not matched | — |
| DE | 3 | 14.3 | $67,442 | not matched | — |
| ME | 3 | 17.7 | $56,113 | 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.