Where is it easiest to open: Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation
15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AK | 72 | 11.9 | $110,763 | licence | Marine Pilot |
| FL | 54 | 43.4 | $137,119 | licence | Deputy Harbor Pilot; State Pilot |
| LA | 52 | 56.8 | $107,069 | not matched | — |
| TX | 32 | 55.0 | $134,545 | not matched | — |
| WA | 29 | 101.2 | $118,882 | not matched | — |
| CA | 19 | 34.9 | $95,202 | licence | For-Hire Vessel Operator License |
| NY | 15 | 50.2 | $150,341 | exam | Public Vessel Operator |
| HI | 13 | 47.8 | $143,034 | not matched | — |
| VA | 9 | 68.4 | $76,791 | not matched | — |
| MN | 5 | 34.8 | $268,224 | licence | Pilot-Escort Driver Certification |
| GA | 4 | 8.8 | $72,057 | not matched | — |
| OR | 4 | 2.5 | $146,900 | licence | Maritime Pilot Apprentice Trainee; Maritime Pilot Trainee |
| PA | 3 | 35.7 | $188,720 | not matched | — |
| OH | 3 | 115.3 | $87,029 | licence | Captain's License |
| MI | 3 | 41.0 | $194,967 | licence | Sport Trolling (Charter Captains) |
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.