Where is it easiest to open: Inland Water Passenger 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 | 47 | 4.7 | $40,707 | licence | Deputy Harbor Pilot; State Pilot |
| LA | 17 | 25.6 | $78,423 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 14 | 8.9 | $69,656 | not matched | — |
| NY | 12 | 42.6 | $70,861 | exam | Public Vessel Operator |
| CA | 11 | 11.8 | $39,715 | licence | For-Hire Vessel Operator License |
| WA | 10 | 17.1 | $78,421 | not matched | — |
| AK | 6 | 1.2 | $154,857 | licence | Marine Pilot |
| MA | 5 | 3.6 | $88,889 | not matched | — |
| TX | 5 | 3.2 | $129,812 | not matched | — |
| CT | 4 | 47.0 | $99,963 | not matched | — |
| ME | 3 | 5.0 | $52,467 | not matched | — |
| NC | 3 | 4.7 | $48,500 | licence | For-Hire Blanket Captains Coastal Recr |
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.