Where is it easiest to open: Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals)
47 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TX | 314 | 22.9 | $224,680 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| CA | 190 | 12.8 | $107,247 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 107 | 11.3 | $107,905 | not matched | — |
| NY | 90 | 12.0 | $172,223 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 58 | 10.1 | $114,990 | not matched | — |
| IL | 55 | 13.3 | $109,154 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| MI | 52 | 13.0 | $105,671 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| GA | 44 | 20.1 | $113,313 | not matched | — |
| CO | 41 | 27.2 | $87,387 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| PA | 40 | 13.0 | $115,197 | not matched | — |
| OK | 37 | 21.9 | $86,090 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| MA | 35 | 19.5 | $97,227 | not matched | — |
| OH | 34 | 63.3 | $64,157 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| MD | 33 | 8.9 | $113,973 | not matched | — |
| LA | 32 | 10.7 | $60,158 | not matched | — |
| CT | 31 | 10.5 | $138,592 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| WA | 29 | 13.8 | $145,012 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 28 | 7.9 | $91,820 | not matched | — |
| MO | 25 | 11.0 | $87,058 | not matched | — |
| WI | 24 | 9.8 | $86,158 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| IN | 24 | 11.0 | $121,943 | not matched | — |
| NC | 23 | 8.1 | $99,683 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| NV | 21 | 8.2 | $71,994 | not matched | — |
| SC | 19 | 11.2 | $117,335 | not matched | — |
| MN | 19 | 15.2 | $90,375 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| TN | 17 | 9.3 | $61,405 | not matched | — |
| AL | 15 | 6.5 | $82,866 | not matched | — |
| OR | 13 | 9.9 | $98,465 | not matched | — |
| RI | 13 | 4.2 | $694,127 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| MS | 11 | 6.8 | $125,587 | not matched | — |
| VA | 11 | 10.3 | $132,257 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| ME | 10 | 18.2 | $241,978 | not matched | — |
| NM | 9 | 6.0 | $54,259 | not matched | — |
| KS | 9 | 31.3 | $191,131 | not matched | — |
| IA | 9 | 10.1 | $96,077 | not matched | — |
| NH | 8 | 8.5 | $44,779 | not matched | — |
| WY | 7 | 15.0 | $85,971 | not matched | — |
| AK | 7 | 9.9 | $86,522 | not matched | — |
| UT | 7 | 10.9 | $198,921 | not matched | — |
| DE | 6 | 8.0 | $97,312 | not matched | — |
| KY | 6 | 13.0 | $117,410 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| AR | 6 | 5.5 | $116,000 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| SD | 6 | 11.7 | $82,986 | not matched | — |
| ND | 3 | 3.3 | $93,300 | not matched | — |
| MT | 3 | 5.0 | $147,733 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| HI | 3 | 6.7 | $91,450 | not matched | — |
| NE | 3 | 14.7 | $104,773 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
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.