Where is it easiest to open: Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Merchant Wholesalers
45 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 | 1,204 | 18.8 | $79,399 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| NY | 504 | 10.0 | $65,395 | not matched | — |
| FL | 502 | 17.3 | $60,880 | not matched | — |
| TX | 430 | 21.2 | $48,624 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| NJ | 186 | 30.9 | $68,278 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 163 | 12.7 | $51,120 | not matched | — |
| WA | 152 | 51.7 | $55,730 | not matched | — |
| IL | 130 | 25.3 | $83,671 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| PA | 111 | 30.5 | $69,125 | not matched | — |
| MA | 109 | 28.1 | $77,505 | not matched | — |
| GA | 100 | 27.3 | $54,719 | not matched | — |
| MI | 80 | 27.9 | $68,385 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| OR | 56 | 42.8 | $63,135 | not matched | — |
| NC | 49 | 26.1 | $65,281 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| MD | 48 | 71.9 | $55,994 | not matched | — |
| OH | 45 | 25.4 | $53,722 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| HI | 42 | 23.2 | $54,259 | not matched | — |
| ID | 37 | 44.1 | $48,253 | not matched | — |
| CO | 32 | 30.2 | $59,323 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| VA | 31 | 14.3 | $56,410 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| MN | 29 | 58.6 | $64,675 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| MO | 28 | 67.1 | $45,040 | not matched | — |
| CT | 25 | 25.9 | $60,424 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| WI | 23 | 30.7 | $61,283 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| SC | 22 | 12.7 | $64,468 | not matched | — |
| NV | 20 | 31.4 | $52,110 | not matched | — |
| TN | 18 | 34.7 | $65,085 | not matched | — |
| UT | 17 | 25.2 | $50,051 | not matched | — |
| RI | 16 | 13.2 | $51,630 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| AL | 15 | 24.4 | $61,085 | not matched | — |
| IN | 14 | 42.7 | $63,047 | not matched | — |
| KY | 13 | 68.0 | $56,969 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| LA | 13 | 30.2 | $52,773 | not matched | — |
| OK | 11 | 23.4 | $43,619 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| ME | 10 | 16.4 | $74,628 | not matched | — |
| IA | 10 | 84.9 | $34,359 | not matched | — |
| AR | 9 | 15.7 | $82,518 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| MS | 9 | 12.4 | $48,446 | not matched | — |
| DE | 8 | 5.6 | $40,333 | not matched | — |
| NM | 5 | 8.6 | $73,488 | not matched | — |
| NH | 5 | 6.6 | $32,697 | not matched | — |
| AK | 4 | 67.5 | $68,470 | not matched | — |
| VT | 3 | 35.0 | $73,933 | not matched | — |
| NE | 3 | 13.0 | $91,103 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| ND | 3 | 13.0 | $54,692 | 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.