Where is it easiest to open: Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
43 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 | 275 | 13.0 | $58,844 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| NY | 198 | 15.1 | $77,546 | not matched | — |
| TX | 144 | 32.5 | $100,481 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| FL | 113 | 9.4 | $63,659 | not matched | — |
| PA | 95 | 64.4 | $76,642 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 95 | 20.8 | $131,908 | not matched | — |
| IL | 68 | 29.5 | $113,881 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| WA | 48 | 15.8 | $59,172 | not matched | — |
| MI | 39 | 17.7 | $45,999 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| NC | 36 | 22.7 | $51,018 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| MA | 35 | 8.3 | $65,474 | not matched | — |
| OH | 33 | 16.7 | $53,225 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| AZ | 30 | 27.6 | $47,909 | not matched | — |
| CO | 28 | 13.2 | $66,163 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| HI | 25 | 8.6 | $47,005 | not matched | — |
| GA | 24 | 28.2 | $55,652 | not matched | — |
| MD | 23 | 20.7 | $96,212 | not matched | — |
| UT | 20 | 29.5 | $57,636 | not matched | — |
| MN | 19 | 8.8 | $82,072 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| NV | 18 | 26.6 | $59,990 | not matched | — |
| VA | 17 | 29.0 | $102,389 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| MO | 17 | 42.7 | $61,844 | not matched | — |
| WI | 14 | 34.2 | $46,084 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| NM | 12 | 40.0 | $23,204 | not matched | — |
| AL | 11 | 17.8 | $54,842 | not matched | — |
| IN | 11 | 4.9 | $47,241 | not matched | — |
| TN | 11 | 14.7 | $51,130 | not matched | — |
| CT | 10 | 21.6 | $64,991 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| OR | 10 | 5.6 | $49,071 | not matched | — |
| KY | 8 | 21.0 | $69,095 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| RI | 8 | 56.0 | $74,754 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| DE | 6 | 7.8 | $63,723 | not matched | — |
| NE | 4 | 4.2 | $56,824 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| OK | 4 | 7.8 | $63,387 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| AR | 4 | 25.5 | $181,392 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| KS | 3 | 2.3 | $27,286 | not matched | — |
| SC | 3 | 1.7 | $12,800 | not matched | — |
| NH | 3 | 1.3 | $87,500 | not matched | — |
| ID | 3 | 6.3 | $47,421 | not matched | — |
| DC | 3 | 5.7 | $81,000 | not matched | — |
| LA | 3 | 6.0 | $58,889 | not matched | — |
| ME | 3 | 9.3 | $50,679 | not matched | — |
| IA | 3 | 6.7 | $45,750 | 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.