Where is it easiest to open: Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
36 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 53-7071” (soc) for Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TX | 225 | 28.6 | $182,332 | not matched | — |
| LA | 150 | 7.9 | $135,312 | not matched | — |
| PA | 85 | 14.0 | $129,929 | not matched | — |
| WV | 49 | 18.0 | $122,434 | not matched | — |
| OH | 48 | 9.8 | $103,798 | licence | Alcohol Fuel Plant Permit |
| ND | 31 | 25.8 | $120,825 | not matched | — |
| FL | 30 | 5.1 | $137,773 | not matched | — |
| NM | 30 | 9.5 | $139,377 | not matched | — |
| OK | 29 | 20.5 | $184,719 | licence | Alternative Fuels Compression Technici; Alternative Fuels Equipment Technician |
| MS | 27 | 7.4 | $111,420 | not matched | — |
| WY | 27 | 10.9 | $111,536 | not matched | — |
| NY | 26 | 8.0 | $201,048 | not matched | — |
| CO | 20 | 22.6 | $145,969 | not matched | — |
| NE | 19 | 25.1 | $163,208 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 19 | 10.9 | $115,159 | not matched | — |
| IL | 16 | 8.3 | $160,992 | not matched | — |
| KS | 15 | 8.9 | $212,098 | not matched | — |
| MI | 14 | 9.0 | $170,079 | licence | Hazardous Waste and Liquid By-Products; Motor Fuels Service Person |
| CA | 12 | 12.4 | $202,174 | licence | Gas Tester Certification |
| AL | 9 | 22.9 | $146,432 | not matched | — |
| MN | 9 | 11.4 | $133,796 | not matched | — |
| UT | 8 | 41.2 | $143,500 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 7 | 10.7 | $138,293 | not matched | — |
| VA | 6 | 5.5 | $135,061 | not matched | — |
| MD | 6 | 2.2 | $123,538 | not matched | — |
| KY | 6 | 122.5 | $108,068 | not matched | — |
| CT | 5 | 18.2 | $189,934 | licence | Public Service Technician - Gas |
| AR | 4 | 6.5 | $84,038 | exam | Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cylinder Filli; Liquified Petroleum Gas Bulk Plant Ins |
| NV | 4 | 5.0 | $98,200 | not matched | — |
| MT | 4 | 7.5 | $153,733 | not matched | — |
| DC | 3 | 4.7 | $321,000 | not matched | — |
| TN | 3 | 6.0 | $148,722 | exam | L.P. GAS- MANAGER/ R.M.E. APPLICANT MA; L.P. GAS- MANAGER/ R.M.E. LICENSURE A |
| IN | 3 | 17.0 | $130,961 | not matched | — |
| WA | 3 | 10.7 | $136,781 | not matched | — |
| OR | 3 | 4.0 | $147,000 | licence | Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Truck Eq |
| IA | 3 | 10.0 | $100,133 | 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.