Where is it easiest to open: Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water
35 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 | 605 | 4.2 | $36,639 | licence | Deputy Harbor Pilot; State Pilot |
| CA | 230 | 10.8 | $55,910 | licence | For-Hire Vessel Operator License |
| HI | 175 | 14.2 | $42,388 | not matched | — |
| AK | 146 | 3.2 | $125,153 | licence | Marine Pilot |
| NY | 86 | 8.5 | $77,493 | exam | Public Vessel Operator |
| SC | 68 | 4.6 | $48,176 | licence | Pilot |
| NC | 61 | 1.3 | $52,597 | licence | For-Hire Blanket Captains Coastal Recr |
| WA | 60 | 8.1 | $70,591 | not matched | — |
| MA | 56 | 6.3 | $75,025 | not matched | — |
| ME | 55 | 2.9 | $77,589 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 47 | 2.9 | $42,628 | not matched | — |
| TX | 40 | 8.7 | $28,218 | not matched | — |
| RI | 33 | 1.4 | $100,936 | exam | Pilot, Ship |
| LA | 30 | 15.4 | $44,998 | not matched | — |
| AL | 25 | 2.0 | $54,412 | exam | Licensed Ship Pilot |
| IL | 21 | 31.6 | $56,971 | not matched | — |
| DE | 17 | 1.8 | $87,067 | exam | Apprentice River Pilot ; River Pilot |
| OR | 16 | 7.6 | $41,074 | licence | Maritime Pilot Apprentice Trainee; Maritime Pilot Trainee |
| WI | 13 | 1.5 | $133,895 | not matched | — |
| VA | 13 | 6.5 | $46,869 | not matched | — |
| MD | 12 | 7.1 | $57,965 | licence | PILOT IN TRAINING; PILOT OF UNLIMITED DRAUGHT |
| CT | 11 | 1.8 | $82,850 | not matched | — |
| MN | 11 | 10.3 | $54,823 | licence | Pilot-Escort Driver Certification |
| OH | 10 | 1.9 | $130,842 | licence | Captain's License |
| PA | 10 | 10.3 | $40,369 | not matched | — |
| NH | 8 | 5.1 | $60,390 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 7 | 6.1 | $34,535 | not matched | — |
| MI | 7 | 2.6 | $129,722 | licence | Sport Trolling (Charter Captains) |
| GA | 6 | 20.8 | $27,520 | not matched | — |
| TN | 6 | 37.2 | $34,879 | not matched | — |
| VT | 5 | 2.8 | $118,143 | not matched | — |
| NV | 5 | 6.2 | $43,161 | not matched | — |
| DC | 4 | 22.8 | $54,418 | exam | Barge Supervisor; Chief Mate - Upper Level |
| CO | 4 | 1.0 | $75,250 | not matched | — |
| MS | 3 | 2.0 | $61,833 | licence | Agricultural Chief Pilot |
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.