Where is it easiest to open: Architectural Services
51 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 17-1011” (soc) for Architects, Except Landscape and Naval. 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 | 3,709 | 7.8 | $108,104 | licence | Architects (Architectural Practice) |
| NY | 2,076 | 8.4 | $99,942 | exam | Architect |
| FL | 1,729 | 5.7 | $91,239 | licence | Architect |
| TX | 1,607 | 9.9 | $101,568 | exam | ARCHITECT |
| IL | 920 | 9.2 | $99,832 | exam | ARCHITECT |
| CO | 826 | 6.6 | $97,732 | exam | Architect |
| MA | 726 | 10.3 | $108,190 | licence | ARCHITECT |
| WA | 708 | 9.0 | $97,687 | exam | Architect |
| NJ | 647 | 6.3 | $95,046 | exam | ARCHITECT |
| PA | 638 | 9.7 | $96,843 | exam | Architect |
| NC | 598 | 7.6 | $100,999 | exam | Architect (By Exam); Architect by Reciprocity |
| GA | 559 | 9.2 | $104,200 | exam | Registered Architect |
| AZ | 539 | 6.5 | $95,808 | licence | Architect |
| OH | 515 | 10.5 | $89,947 | exam | Architect |
| VA | 412 | 9.4 | $101,610 | exam | Architect License |
| MI | 410 | 8.0 | $101,353 | exam | Architects |
| OR | 355 | 9.3 | $86,686 | licence | Architect |
| MD | 335 | 8.2 | $95,614 | licence | ARCHITECT; ARCHITECT CORPORATION |
| MO | 311 | 13.9 | $102,073 | exam | Architect |
| SC | 293 | 5.8 | $97,185 | licence | Architect; Architect Construction Manager |
| MN | 292 | 13.9 | $98,029 | licence | Architect |
| LA | 278 | 6.5 | $76,490 | exam | Architect |
| UT | 256 | 7.4 | $85,055 | licence | ARCHITECT |
| TN | 256 | 11.1 | $104,972 | exam | PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECT |
| CT | 239 | 7.2 | $101,804 | licence | Architect |
| WI | 218 | 12.4 | $100,918 | exam | ARCHITECT |
| IN | 198 | 11.4 | $84,598 | exam | Architect |
| AL | 191 | 6.5 | $99,555 | exam | Registered Architect |
| OK | 176 | 8.6 | $93,092 | licence | Architect |
| DC | 171 | 18.9 | $113,803 | exam | ARCHITECTURE |
| NV | 168 | 6.7 | $97,388 | not matched | — |
| ID | 162 | 5.4 | $74,072 | exam | Architect |
| HI | 152 | 6.4 | $99,938 | exam | Architect |
| MT | 152 | 6.8 | $86,266 | licence | Architects and Landscape - Architect E; Architects & Landscape - Architect |
| KS | 126 | 10.9 | $90,012 | exam | Architect |
| AR | 125 | 10.4 | $89,397 | exam | Architect |
| KY | 118 | 13.0 | $71,482 | exam | Architect |
| ME | 115 | 6.0 | $92,988 | exam | Architect |
| NM | 111 | 7.4 | $71,763 | exam | Licensed Architect |
| IA | 97 | 11.3 | $95,622 | licence | Architect, Licensed |
| NE | 92 | 14.1 | $96,747 | licence | Architect; Architectural Engineer |
| MS | 78 | 6.4 | $94,102 | licence | Architect |
| VT | 78 | 4.8 | $89,822 | exam | Architect |
| RI | 77 | 6.0 | $84,254 | exam | Architect |
| NH | 69 | 5.6 | $97,689 | exam | Architect |
| WY | 55 | 5.3 | $72,890 | exam | ARCHITECT |
| ND | 33 | 13.1 | $82,991 | exam | Architects |
| AK | 31 | 6.5 | $121,270 | licence | Architect |
| SD | 29 | 8.2 | $82,979 | licence | Architect |
| DE | 28 | 6.0 | $94,605 | exam | Architect |
| WV | 16 | 10.2 | $74,720 | 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.