Where is it easiest to open: Inland Water Freight Transportation
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LA | 124 | 44.1 | $91,072 | not matched | — |
| FL | 22 | 2.9 | $56,703 | licence | Deputy Harbor Pilot; State Pilot |
| TX | 18 | 112.0 | $125,394 | not matched | — |
| KY | 10 | 246.4 | $92,763 | not matched | — |
| NY | 7 | 9.9 | $73,391 | exam | Public Vessel Operator |
| TN | 6 | 70.5 | $117,277 | not matched | — |
| MO | 5 | 62.0 | $59,019 | not matched | — |
| CA | 4 | 10.2 | $57,341 | licence | For-Hire Vessel Operator License |
| IL | 4 | 23.8 | $84,979 | not matched | — |
| PA | 3 | 39.3 | $76,653 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 3 | 1.7 | $79,000 | not matched | — |
| MI | 3 | 1.0 | $37,667 | licence | Sport Trolling (Charter Captains) |
| VA | 3 | 13.7 | $55,146 | 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.