Where is it easiest to open: Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
35 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 | 308 | 13.2 | $64,590 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 220 | 9.2 | $63,668 | not matched | — |
| NY | 216 | 6.7 | $57,159 | not matched | — |
| ME | 147 | 7.4 | $66,391 | not matched | — |
| MA | 117 | 17.1 | $78,919 | not matched | — |
| WA | 92 | 11.9 | $53,160 | not matched | — |
| LA | 89 | 6.6 | $38,427 | not matched | — |
| TX | 73 | 10.2 | $48,594 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| NJ | 63 | 10.3 | $69,679 | not matched | — |
| MD | 39 | 14.5 | $66,326 | not matched | — |
| NC | 33 | 14.8 | $54,719 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| HI | 25 | 19.2 | $53,816 | not matched | — |
| RI | 24 | 7.4 | $79,781 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| PA | 24 | 31.8 | $56,662 | not matched | — |
| CO | 22 | 1.2 | $21,556 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| VA | 21 | 7.8 | $62,848 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| GA | 20 | 8.2 | $62,427 | not matched | — |
| AK | 19 | 4.0 | $70,645 | not matched | — |
| IL | 18 | 17.4 | $67,575 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| CT | 15 | 6.2 | $63,946 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| NV | 13 | 23.5 | $51,490 | not matched | — |
| MI | 12 | 38.7 | $51,793 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| SC | 11 | 11.6 | $47,836 | not matched | — |
| AL | 8 | 18.2 | $41,411 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 8 | 14.8 | $63,619 | not matched | — |
| NH | 8 | 11.5 | $73,033 | not matched | — |
| OR | 8 | 4.8 | $43,842 | not matched | — |
| OH | 6 | 9.5 | $62,404 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| MS | 5 | 4.2 | $50,095 | not matched | — |
| DC | 5 | 28.6 | $95,916 | not matched | — |
| MN | 5 | 26.2 | $65,053 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| KY | 3 | 1.3 | $30,250 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| NE | 3 | 6.0 | $65,333 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| WI | 3 | 9.7 | $34,517 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| DE | 3 | 3.7 | $51,364 | 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.