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Where is it easiest to open: Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)
47 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 17-2141” (soc) for Mechanical Engineers. 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 | 1,561 | 41.4 | $207,877 | licence | Engineer In Training (E.I.T.); General Engineering Contractor |
| MA | 682 | 51.9 | $226,809 | exam | ENGINEER-IN-TRAINING; ENGINEER, PROFESSIONAL |
| MD | 278 | 25.7 | $159,462 | licence | ENGINEER IN TRAINING; PE FIRM CORPORATION |
| NY | 256 | 44.8 | $111,666 | exam | Professional Engineer |
| TX | 234 | 15.3 | $190,828 | licence | ENGINEER, PROFESSIONAL; PODIATRIST |
| NC | 223 | 29.4 | $157,501 | exam | Engineer Privilege; Professional Engineer |
| FL | 215 | 10.7 | $131,660 | licence | Engineering Intern; Professional Engineer |
| PA | 174 | 43.4 | $173,234 | exam | Professional Engineer |
| NJ | 156 | 61.8 | $198,781 | exam | ENGINEER-IN-TRAINING; PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER |
| WA | 121 | 45.9 | $167,354 | licence | Engineer; Mechanical Engineer |
| CO | 114 | 12.4 | $139,915 | exam | Engineer Intern; Professional Engineer |
| CT | 93 | 23.8 | $178,446 | exam | Engineer-in-training; Professional Engineer |
| IL | 89 | 19.7 | $468,465 | licence | ENGINEER, INTERN; ENGINEER, PROFESSIONAL |
| DE | 74 | 29.0 | $280,897 | exam | Engineer, Professional |
| OH | 69 | 50.6 | $121,060 | licence | Professional Engineer; Professional Engineers and Surveyors |
| VA | 68 | 38.1 | $108,708 | exam | Engineer, Professional License |
| GA | 66 | 8.3 | $108,222 | exam | Engineer In-Training; Professional Engineer |
| AZ | 65 | 21.8 | $114,151 | licence | Engineer/Mechanical |
| MI | 65 | 12.4 | $148,181 | exam | Engineer, Licensed Professional; Stationary Engineer |
| UT | 64 | 24.8 | $123,829 | licence | PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER |
| MN | 61 | 19.4 | $166,198 | licence | Engineer-In-Training; Professional Engineer |
| TN | 44 | 15.0 | $151,944 | exam | ENGINEER INTERNS; PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER |
| WI | 43 | 34.2 | $162,349 | licence | DESIGNER OF ENGINEERING SYSTEMS - HVAC; DESIGNER OF ENGINEERING SYSTEMS - Plum |
| IN | 43 | 10.8 | $135,330 | exam | Engineer Intern; Professional Engineer |
| MO | 38 | 26.6 | $95,189 | licence | Engineer Intern; Professional Engineer |
| OR | 37 | 10.6 | $87,724 | licence | Engineer, Licensed Professional |
| IA | 27 | 23.1 | $111,827 | not matched | — |
| NV | 27 | 12.5 | $124,243 | not matched | — |
| KY | 25 | 5.2 | $61,267 | exam | Hoist Engineer; Professional Engineer |
| DC | 23 | 20.7 | $108,891 | licence | PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS |
| KS | 23 | 16.0 | $119,751 | exam | Professional Engineer |
| AL | 22 | 25.8 | $103,451 | exam | Licensed Professional Engineer |
| SC | 15 | 6.8 | $107,225 | licence | Engineer Construction Manager; Engineering and Land Surveying |
| OK | 15 | 31.7 | $81,059 | licence | Engineer Intern |
| NH | 14 | 21.2 | $149,734 | exam | Engineer, Professional |
| LA | 14 | 13.6 | $116,958 | exam | Engineer, Professional |
| NE | 12 | 14.7 | $86,682 | licence | Engineer, Professional; Mechanical Engineer |
| AR | 10 | 10.3 | $129,990 | exam | Engineer Intern; Professional Engineer |
| ME | 9 | 180.6 | $90,218 | exam | Engineer, Professional (All Discipline |
| NM | 7 | 9.0 | $119,238 | exam | Engineering Intern Certification; Professional Engineers |
| MT | 7 | 6.4 | $147,978 | licence | Prof Eng Prof Land Surveyors - Enginee; Prof Eng Prof Land Surveyors - Enginee |
| ID | 6 | 12.5 | $49,267 | exam | Engineer; Engineer Intern |
| RI | 6 | 25.5 | $171,706 | exam | Engineer, Professional |
| HI | 6 | 29.0 | $99,552 | exam | Engineer |
| VT | 4 | 7.0 | $83,536 | exam | Professional Engineer |
| ND | 3 | 11.3 | $105,853 | exam | Engineers |
| SD | 3 | 9.0 | $136,074 | licence | Engineer, Professional |
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.