Where is it easiest to open: Meat and Meat Product 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 328 | 21.1 | $78,581 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| NY | 304 | 17.7 | $72,370 | not matched | — |
| TX | 136 | 41.7 | $76,021 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| IL | 123 | 26.8 | $75,463 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| NJ | 110 | 23.4 | $74,388 | not matched | — |
| FL | 103 | 14.8 | $71,609 | not matched | — |
| PA | 54 | 28.4 | $61,411 | not matched | — |
| CO | 45 | 18.6 | $69,484 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| WA | 36 | 25.9 | $65,123 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 35 | 18.5 | $68,331 | not matched | — |
| MI | 34 | 38.1 | $78,032 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| MA | 29 | 22.8 | $69,390 | not matched | — |
| GA | 27 | 32.0 | $91,080 | not matched | — |
| OH | 26 | 42.8 | $68,259 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| MD | 25 | 27.2 | $68,429 | not matched | — |
| NC | 23 | 24.3 | $55,833 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| NV | 21 | 22.8 | $56,456 | not matched | — |
| OR | 17 | 31.0 | $67,499 | not matched | — |
| WI | 17 | 22.6 | $97,924 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| MN | 15 | 17.1 | $60,817 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| TN | 14 | 9.9 | $60,000 | not matched | — |
| CT | 14 | 18.0 | $56,913 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| UT | 13 | 23.3 | $44,726 | not matched | — |
| MO | 12 | 27.2 | $51,454 | not matched | — |
| IN | 11 | 23.9 | $71,156 | not matched | — |
| KS | 11 | 11.7 | $67,171 | not matched | — |
| VA | 10 | 13.5 | $58,193 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| NE | 10 | 6.9 | $65,478 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| IA | 9 | 115.0 | $62,237 | not matched | — |
| LA | 9 | 78.8 | $28,535 | not matched | — |
| HI | 7 | 16.6 | $44,259 | not matched | — |
| AR | 7 | 74.9 | $94,637 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| OK | 6 | 97.7 | $90,340 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| RI | 6 | 28.3 | $63,847 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| NM | 5 | 57.6 | $67,236 | not matched | — |
| AK | 4 | 17.0 | $46,485 | not matched | — |
| ID | 4 | 10.5 | $35,238 | not matched | — |
| AL | 4 | 9.5 | $47,158 | not matched | — |
| DE | 3 | 3.7 | $152,909 | not matched | — |
| SC | 3 | 11.7 | $38,800 | not matched | — |
| MT | 3 | 9.7 | $66,069 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
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.