Where is it easiest to open: Tobacco Product and Electronic Cigarette Merchant Wholesalers
39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL | 236 | 15.6 | $74,629 | not matched | — |
| CA | 218 | 20.7 | $67,595 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| NY | 74 | 12.5 | $54,474 | not matched | — |
| IL | 65 | 7.0 | $65,919 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| TX | 64 | 32.9 | $57,970 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| PA | 62 | 31.0 | $62,916 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 57 | 13.4 | $74,731 | not matched | — |
| MI | 38 | 37.6 | $86,877 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| NC | 37 | 97.1 | $91,299 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| NV | 33 | 22.8 | $57,076 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 28 | 23.4 | $109,388 | not matched | — |
| GA | 28 | 19.5 | $62,532 | not matched | — |
| TN | 27 | 10.9 | $52,253 | not matched | — |
| OH | 25 | 32.7 | $48,593 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| SC | 23 | 12.5 | $69,955 | not matched | — |
| IN | 20 | 17.5 | $53,449 | not matched | — |
| MN | 18 | 16.4 | $58,532 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| MD | 17 | 29.9 | $56,508 | not matched | — |
| VA | 17 | 126.7 | $110,659 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| CO | 15 | 30.9 | $69,871 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| CT | 14 | 9.5 | $91,165 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| LA | 13 | 12.5 | $44,599 | not matched | — |
| WA | 13 | 46.0 | $64,468 | not matched | — |
| OK | 12 | 16.8 | $39,776 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| KY | 12 | 14.3 | $49,017 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| MA | 10 | 8.6 | $59,558 | not matched | — |
| UT | 9 | 51.8 | $70,444 | not matched | — |
| WI | 8 | 6.0 | $59,354 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| MS | 7 | 3.6 | $38,200 | not matched | — |
| OR | 7 | 62.7 | $53,704 | not matched | — |
| MO | 6 | 3.5 | $57,619 | not matched | — |
| NM | 4 | 50.5 | $35,243 | not matched | — |
| NH | 3 | 13.0 | $50,154 | not matched | — |
| NE | 3 | 145.0 | $57,432 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| AL | 3 | 35.0 | $12,981 | not matched | — |
| ID | 3 | 110.3 | $57,042 | not matched | — |
| DE | 3 | 1.3 | $23,250 | not matched | — |
| RI | 3 | 6.3 | $33,211 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| AK | 3 | 65.0 | $46,544 | 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.