Where is it easiest to open: Marine Cargo Handling
19 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 | 57 | 117.6 | $37,592 | licence | Deputy Harbor Pilot; State Pilot |
| TX | 55 | 73.0 | $66,077 | not matched | — |
| CA | 50 | 62.1 | $125,234 | licence | For-Hire Vessel Operator License |
| LA | 26 | 118.0 | $67,282 | not matched | — |
| WA | 20 | 19.1 | $132,086 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 20 | 195.0 | $167,993 | not matched | — |
| GA | 16 | 370.8 | $48,171 | not matched | — |
| AL | 13 | 75.9 | $72,221 | exam | Licensed Ship Pilot |
| MD | 12 | 168.8 | $57,396 | licence | PILOT IN TRAINING; PILOT OF UNLIMITED DRAUGHT |
| IL | 9 | 18.9 | $70,100 | not matched | — |
| PA | 8 | 161.5 | $55,467 | not matched | — |
| SC | 6 | 317.7 | $22,621 | licence | Pilot |
| OR | 5 | 223.0 | $66,228 | licence | Maritime Pilot Apprentice Trainee; Maritime Pilot Trainee |
| NC | 4 | 64.0 | $31,293 | licence | For-Hire Blanket Captains Coastal Recr |
| OH | 3 | 13.7 | $85,390 | licence | Captain's License |
| MS | 3 | 88.3 | $49,279 | licence | Agricultural Chief Pilot |
| HI | 3 | 243.3 | $156,233 | not matched | — |
| VA | 3 | 290.0 | $93,809 | not matched | — |
| DE | 3 | 33.0 | $38,424 | exam | Apprentice River Pilot ; River 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.