Where is it easiest to open: Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers
49 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 | 575 | 22.2 | $100,422 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| NY | 260 | 27.4 | $141,073 | not matched | — |
| FL | 245 | 35.9 | $106,631 | not matched | — |
| TX | 165 | 43.8 | $74,347 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| IL | 93 | 32.4 | $108,512 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| MA | 72 | 32.0 | $101,186 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 71 | 46.0 | $121,769 | not matched | — |
| NC | 67 | 35.3 | $59,292 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| CO | 66 | 35.1 | $76,716 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| WA | 63 | 31.8 | $69,762 | not matched | — |
| GA | 48 | 68.3 | $79,740 | not matched | — |
| MD | 47 | 38.3 | $88,512 | not matched | — |
| PA | 46 | 13.2 | $85,261 | not matched | — |
| CT | 46 | 41.8 | $159,875 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| VA | 43 | 18.9 | $76,107 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| OR | 41 | 29.0 | $76,521 | not matched | — |
| OH | 39 | 39.4 | $67,044 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| AZ | 34 | 48.6 | $79,462 | not matched | — |
| NV | 33 | 45.6 | $104,797 | not matched | — |
| TN | 32 | 57.9 | $79,981 | not matched | — |
| MN | 29 | 48.3 | $95,461 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| MO | 29 | 42.6 | $76,182 | not matched | — |
| MI | 27 | 51.4 | $67,077 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| WI | 27 | 65.2 | $76,288 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| LA | 22 | 44.8 | $74,601 | not matched | — |
| HI | 21 | 27.8 | $75,146 | not matched | — |
| RI | 20 | 17.4 | $86,729 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| ID | 20 | 35.9 | $52,819 | not matched | — |
| DC | 19 | 24.6 | $93,036 | not matched | — |
| SC | 17 | 45.8 | $73,644 | not matched | — |
| KS | 16 | 39.9 | $62,005 | not matched | — |
| KY | 16 | 63.8 | $137,389 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| IN | 15 | 77.6 | $79,107 | not matched | — |
| DE | 15 | 28.1 | $79,986 | not matched | — |
| OK | 14 | 87.8 | $63,154 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| IA | 13 | 27.5 | $60,230 | not matched | — |
| NE | 9 | 82.6 | $68,883 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| NH | 9 | 17.3 | $86,237 | not matched | — |
| AL | 9 | 86.7 | $73,977 | not matched | — |
| ME | 8 | 12.0 | $53,208 | not matched | — |
| AR | 7 | 82.1 | $69,205 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| SD | 6 | 35.2 | $70,905 | not matched | — |
| ND | 5 | 37.4 | $74,829 | not matched | — |
| NM | 5 | 88.0 | $68,039 | not matched | — |
| UT | 4 | 12.2 | $61,959 | not matched | — |
| AK | 3 | 101.3 | $69,388 | not matched | — |
| MT | 3 | 16.0 | $45,562 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| VT | 3 | 12.7 | $66,658 | not matched | — |
| MS | 3 | 58.7 | $61,750 | 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.