Where is it easiest to open: Paint, Varnish, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
42 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 | 212 | 13.1 | $78,442 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 163 | 7.3 | $70,584 | not matched | — |
| TX | 161 | 6.1 | $62,236 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| NY | 103 | 9.3 | $77,744 | not matched | — |
| OH | 56 | 24.8 | $78,585 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| PA | 51 | 11.3 | $61,431 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 51 | 24.6 | $107,106 | not matched | — |
| IL | 47 | 25.1 | $83,568 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| WA | 41 | 6.4 | $85,364 | not matched | — |
| GA | 39 | 7.6 | $70,949 | not matched | — |
| MI | 38 | 7.7 | $73,244 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| OR | 36 | 13.8 | $88,497 | not matched | — |
| MO | 35 | 19.2 | $79,797 | not matched | — |
| IN | 29 | 13.0 | $69,376 | not matched | — |
| NC | 28 | 8.4 | $71,555 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| AZ | 28 | 7.4 | $65,524 | not matched | — |
| MD | 26 | 7.8 | $61,369 | not matched | — |
| LA | 26 | 7.4 | $78,990 | not matched | — |
| UT | 24 | 8.0 | $69,157 | not matched | — |
| CO | 23 | 5.5 | $60,047 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| TN | 22 | 15.5 | $64,162 | not matched | — |
| MA | 21 | 16.9 | $73,907 | not matched | — |
| AL | 20 | 3.5 | $91,087 | not matched | — |
| SC | 18 | 5.8 | $65,857 | not matched | — |
| WI | 18 | 8.9 | $62,281 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| NV | 17 | 12.4 | $63,210 | not matched | — |
| OK | 16 | 6.4 | $53,863 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| MN | 15 | 7.8 | $60,974 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| VA | 14 | 5.7 | $70,662 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| CT | 11 | 12.6 | $69,209 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| NE | 11 | 5.3 | $76,086 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| KY | 10 | 4.4 | $71,750 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| ID | 8 | 3.0 | $87,417 | not matched | — |
| DE | 7 | 2.6 | $68,500 | not matched | — |
| HI | 5 | 9.2 | $79,196 | not matched | — |
| NM | 4 | 5.0 | $53,700 | not matched | — |
| RI | 4 | 10.2 | $68,122 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| IA | 4 | 5.0 | $87,950 | not matched | — |
| KS | 3 | 4.3 | $60,462 | not matched | — |
| ME | 3 | 7.0 | $44,810 | not matched | — |
| WV | 3 | 6.0 | $71,111 | not matched | — |
| AR | 3 | 32.0 | $82,552 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
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.