Where is it easiest to open: Coastal and Great Lakes Passenger Transportation
9 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 | 47 | 12.6 | $95,189 | licence | Deputy Harbor Pilot; State Pilot |
| AK | 12 | 1.2 | $306,000 | licence | Marine Pilot |
| WA | 8 | 3.4 | $143,630 | not matched | — |
| CA | 8 | 35.4 | $64,053 | licence | For-Hire Vessel Operator License |
| NY | 6 | 6.7 | $55,150 | exam | Public Vessel Operator |
| NJ | 3 | 35.7 | $62,720 | not matched | — |
| RI | 3 | 2.3 | $156,143 | exam | Pilot, Ship |
| TX | 3 | 1.0 | $177,667 | not matched | — |
| MA | 3 | 61.3 | $70,630 | 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.