Where is it easiest to open: Plastics Materials and Basic Forms and Shapes 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 | 295 | 10.0 | $87,129 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| TX | 214 | 16.6 | $102,508 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| FL | 159 | 7.6 | $76,665 | not matched | — |
| IL | 112 | 17.2 | $98,670 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| NY | 108 | 13.2 | $114,208 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 98 | 9.4 | $111,489 | not matched | — |
| OH | 98 | 26.7 | $90,109 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| MI | 83 | 15.2 | $93,006 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| PA | 71 | 23.4 | $86,117 | not matched | — |
| GA | 57 | 10.4 | $122,840 | not matched | — |
| MA | 48 | 13.3 | $92,620 | not matched | — |
| NC | 47 | 11.7 | $94,668 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| MN | 42 | 12.2 | $86,134 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| AZ | 40 | 8.9 | $81,972 | not matched | — |
| CT | 39 | 17.7 | $119,722 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| WA | 37 | 11.0 | $81,189 | not matched | — |
| TN | 35 | 7.5 | $90,909 | not matched | — |
| MO | 31 | 9.7 | $70,576 | not matched | — |
| CO | 28 | 8.5 | $100,745 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| IN | 28 | 18.5 | $90,333 | not matched | — |
| WI | 27 | 10.4 | $64,748 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| SC | 26 | 17.1 | $63,996 | not matched | — |
| AL | 24 | 8.8 | $79,881 | not matched | — |
| OR | 20 | 10.2 | $65,254 | not matched | — |
| UT | 20 | 9.8 | $71,687 | not matched | — |
| NV | 19 | 10.6 | $81,832 | not matched | — |
| KS | 16 | 8.1 | $85,698 | not matched | — |
| OK | 14 | 20.3 | $62,141 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| LA | 13 | 12.5 | $72,779 | not matched | — |
| MD | 13 | 10.6 | $97,297 | not matched | — |
| NH | 13 | 5.2 | $101,403 | not matched | — |
| KY | 12 | 27.2 | $102,426 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| IA | 9 | 28.1 | $104,482 | not matched | — |
| NE | 7 | 14.0 | $71,857 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| NM | 7 | 4.3 | $75,800 | not matched | — |
| DE | 7 | 21.1 | $86,034 | not matched | — |
| AR | 6 | 6.3 | $53,342 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| HI | 5 | 5.4 | $77,778 | not matched | — |
| WY | 4 | 6.5 | $82,346 | not matched | — |
| ME | 4 | 10.2 | $35,659 | not matched | — |
| ID | 4 | 12.8 | $63,686 | not matched | — |
| RI | 4 | 19.5 | $168,846 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| ND | 3 | 11.3 | $58,206 | 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.