Tool · free, no account
Where is it easiest to open: Cafeterias, Grill Buffets, and Buffets
46 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 35-3031” (soc) for Waiters and Waitresses. 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 | 437 | 11.0 | $24,289 | not matched | — |
| CA | 404 | 14.6 | $23,948 | not matched | — |
| TX | 403 | 22.3 | $22,965 | not matched | — |
| NY | 217 | 9.7 | $28,898 | not matched | — |
| GA | 196 | 19.5 | $19,046 | not matched | — |
| LA | 129 | 11.5 | $20,049 | not matched | — |
| OH | 103 | 12.3 | $20,809 | not matched | — |
| NC | 102 | 24.3 | $19,102 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 100 | 5.2 | $26,029 | not matched | — |
| TN | 95 | 16.3 | $23,946 | not matched | — |
| SC | 94 | 22.0 | $23,299 | not matched | — |
| AL | 84 | 13.1 | $21,429 | not matched | — |
| MI | 83 | 9.8 | $20,058 | exam | Casino Employees Level 3; Horse Racing Occupational License |
| VA | 78 | 17.9 | $24,011 | not matched | — |
| PA | 77 | 17.0 | $21,051 | not matched | — |
| IL | 74 | 13.0 | $24,505 | exam | INTERTRACK EMPLOYEE |
| MS | 66 | 14.8 | $20,594 | not matched | — |
| MD | 59 | 15.4 | $29,425 | not matched | — |
| IN | 59 | 20.2 | $19,576 | exam | Occupational Riverboat Gambling Licens |
| MO | 57 | 24.8 | $23,010 | not matched | — |
| AR | 52 | 16.2 | $21,637 | not matched | — |
| WA | 43 | 14.1 | $34,413 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 43 | 20.9 | $23,658 | not matched | — |
| WI | 40 | 18.0 | $20,399 | not matched | — |
| MA | 39 | 14.0 | $43,554 | exam | GAMING EMPLOYEE |
| CO | 36 | 22.9 | $25,121 | not matched | — |
| OK | 33 | 27.8 | $17,574 | licence | Employee |
| UT | 33 | 31.7 | $19,567 | not matched | — |
| KY | 28 | 21.9 | $19,104 | not matched | — |
| CT | 28 | 3.6 | $37,584 | not matched | — |
| MN | 27 | 14.7 | $24,871 | not matched | — |
| NV | 24 | 13.6 | $23,074 | not matched | — |
| NE | 22 | 19.0 | $19,760 | not matched | — |
| OR | 22 | 11.2 | $26,235 | licence | Food Handler Cards |
| DC | 19 | 4.1 | $28,364 | not matched | — |
| NM | 19 | 21.2 | $26,055 | licence | Staff Permit Employees |
| KS | 18 | 22.2 | $25,758 | licence | Level III Gaming Occupation |
| IA | 15 | 15.3 | $25,739 | not matched | — |
| WV | 14 | 5.9 | $27,098 | not matched | — |
| ID | 8 | 24.2 | $24,990 | not matched | — |
| HI | 6 | 3.8 | $50,217 | not matched | — |
| RI | 5 | 9.0 | $23,244 | not matched | — |
| AK | 5 | 14.6 | $30,986 | not matched | — |
| DE | 5 | 6.2 | $21,677 | not matched | — |
| ND | 4 | 10.0 | $22,750 | not matched | — |
| SD | 3 | 21.0 | $17,175 | 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.