Where is it easiest to open: Deep Sea Freight Transportation
12 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 53-5021” (soc) for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels. 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 | 78 | 35.8 | $93,966 | licence | Deputy Harbor Pilot; State Pilot |
| CA | 41 | 22.9 | $117,778 | licence | For-Hire Vessel Operator License |
| TX | 26 | 22.2 | $154,078 | not matched | — |
| NY | 16 | 7.3 | $204,359 | exam | Public Vessel Operator |
| NJ | 14 | 8.3 | $78,371 | not matched | — |
| LA | 8 | 20.9 | $144,066 | not matched | — |
| WA | 6 | 27.8 | $167,611 | not matched | — |
| MD | 5 | 27.2 | $163,647 | licence | PILOT IN TRAINING; PILOT OF UNLIMITED DRAUGHT |
| VA | 4 | 92.0 | $179,704 | not matched | — |
| MA | 4 | 10.0 | $144,900 | not matched | — |
| NC | 3 | 28.0 | $112,512 | licence | For-Hire Blanket Captains Coastal Recr |
| CT | 3 | 2.7 | $114,125 | 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.