Where is it easiest to open: Couriers and Express Delivery Services
51 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 53-3032” (soc) for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 1,334 | 94.0 | $54,742 | licence | Commercial Driver License |
| FL | 874 | 75.3 | $47,952 | exam | Teaching Driver Education |
| TX | 753 | 115.0 | $49,476 | exam | TOW TRUCK OPERATOR |
| NY | 660 | 69.2 | $63,895 | exam | Bus Driver; Certified Examiner - Bus Driver |
| TN | 444 | 87.1 | $53,093 | exam | COMMERCIAL DRIVER |
| NJ | 349 | 125.9 | $50,958 | exam | BUS DRIVER; HARNESS RACE DRIVER |
| PA | 341 | 120.6 | $55,246 | not matched | — |
| IL | 334 | 170.4 | $39,013 | exam | COMMERCIAL DRIVER (TRUCK AND BUS OPERA; DRIVER |
| NC | 306 | 100.3 | $43,752 | exam | Classified Drivers License (Non-commer; Commercial Driver License (Class A, B |
| GA | 274 | 151.4 | $67,038 | not matched | — |
| MI | 270 | 70.3 | $44,282 | exam | Chauffeur License; Commercial Driver License (C.D.L.) |
| OH | 261 | 116.3 | $40,558 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| WA | 239 | 63.6 | $52,909 | exam | Commercial Driver |
| AZ | 214 | 101.4 | $76,724 | licence | Commercial Driver (CDL) |
| CO | 204 | 105.5 | $49,494 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| MA | 201 | 96.5 | $47,469 | exam | BUS DRIVER; COMMERCIAL DRIVERS |
| MD | 196 | 106.6 | $39,603 | licence | BUS DRIVER, SCHOOL; BUS DRIVER, TRANSIT AND INTERCITY |
| IN | 187 | 120.9 | $61,989 | not matched | — |
| VA | 187 | 87.9 | $45,559 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL); Tow Truck Driver Registration |
| MO | 156 | 101.7 | $37,546 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| MN | 146 | 88.7 | $44,941 | licence | Commercial Driver's License (CDL); Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Haza |
| OR | 142 | 94.6 | $48,778 | licence | Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Truck Eq; School Bus Driver Certificate |
| KY | 132 | 355.0 | $82,905 | exam | Driver, Hazardous Materials Endorsemen; Licensed Commercial Driver (CDL) |
| WI | 131 | 88.9 | $44,907 | exam | SCHOOL BUS DRIVER |
| SC | 124 | 96.8 | $42,586 | not matched | — |
| AL | 122 | 66.7 | $48,194 | exam | CDL Class A |
| UT | 117 | 108.3 | $130,403 | licence | DRIVER - HEAVY TRUCK & TRACTOR TRAILER |
| CT | 108 | 89.7 | $39,698 | not matched | — |
| LA | 93 | 68.1 | $42,555 | licence | Truck Driver, Certified |
| AR | 91 | 103.3 | $44,063 | exam | Commercial Driver (Tractor-Trailer Tru; Liquefied Petroleum Gas Cylinder Deliv |
| NV | 90 | 94.6 | $50,648 | not matched | — |
| OK | 90 | 80.0 | $41,014 | not matched | — |
| KS | 85 | 137.3 | $48,750 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| IA | 67 | 82.4 | $39,376 | not matched | — |
| MS | 66 | 103.4 | $36,767 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| ID | 58 | 57.7 | $42,117 | exam | Commercial Drivers |
| NE | 56 | 59.3 | $45,575 | licence | Truck Driver (Heavy); Truck Driver (Light or Delivery Servic |
| NH | 55 | 56.7 | $52,499 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| NM | 55 | 58.9 | $44,590 | exam | Commercial Vehicle Drivers License |
| MT | 52 | 52.3 | $50,753 | exam | Bus Drivers; Taxi Drivers |
| DE | 43 | 68.4 | $57,574 | not matched | — |
| ME | 42 | 53.5 | $56,082 | exam | Commercial Drivers License (CDL); Driver Education Instructor, School |
| SD | 40 | 40.5 | $45,813 | licence | Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| WY | 39 | 20.5 | $52,830 | exam | SCHOOL BUS DRIVER; TRUCK DRIVER |
| ND | 39 | 52.1 | $44,628 | not matched | — |
| AK | 38 | 70.2 | $147,267 | licence | Bus Driver, School; Vehicle for Hire Permit in City of Fai |
| HI | 35 | 48.9 | $55,878 | not matched | — |
| RI | 25 | 97.6 | $39,016 | exam | Chauffeur / CDL; Commercial Drivers License (CDL) |
| WV | 20 | 70.3 | $45,711 | not matched | — |
| DC | 15 | 29.2 | $46,669 | exam | TRUCK DRIVER, HEAVY(CDL) |
| VT | 5 | 109.4 | $63,400 | exam | Commercial Driver |
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.