Where is it easiest to open: Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services
27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OK | 227 | 1.4 | $57,491 | licence | Architect |
| TX | 133 | 13.0 | $125,772 | exam | ARCHITECT |
| FL | 39 | 8.2 | $64,298 | licence | Architect |
| CA | 31 | 4.5 | $92,225 | licence | Architects (Architectural Practice) |
| CO | 28 | 7.2 | $107,754 | exam | Architect |
| AZ | 13 | 9.2 | $101,807 | licence | Architect |
| NV | 8 | 2.4 | $75,579 | not matched | — |
| PA | 6 | 15.2 | $79,769 | exam | Architect |
| SC | 6 | 0.7 | $129,500 | licence | Architect; Architect Construction Manager |
| MT | 6 | 1.7 | $147,900 | licence | Architects and Landscape - Architect E; Architects & Landscape - Architect |
| VA | 5 | 109.2 | $107,049 | exam | Architect License |
| IL | 5 | 2.2 | $91,909 | exam | ARCHITECT |
| LA | 5 | 12.0 | $62,800 | exam | Architect |
| MA | 4 | 8.0 | $66,344 | licence | ARCHITECT |
| KS | 4 | 22.5 | $57,622 | exam | Architect |
| NC | 4 | 3.0 | $46,833 | exam | Architect (By Exam); Architect by Reciprocity |
| WA | 3 | 22.0 | $148,106 | exam | Architect |
| AR | 3 | 1.0 | $41,667 | exam | Architect |
| CT | 3 | 7.3 | $66,273 | licence | Architect |
| DE | 3 | 1.3 | $50,000 | exam | Architect |
| ID | 3 | 1.3 | $74,250 | exam | Architect |
| MD | 3 | 16.7 | $122,080 | licence | ARCHITECT; ARCHITECT CORPORATION |
| MN | 3 | 3.7 | $118,909 | licence | Architect |
| MS | 3 | 7.3 | $39,273 | licence | Architect |
| NJ | 3 | 1.7 | $51,200 | exam | ARCHITECT |
| NY | 3 | 12.3 | $116,027 | exam | Architect |
| AK | 3 | 0.3 | $66,000 | licence | Architect |
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.