Tool · free, no account
Where is it easiest to open: Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations
51 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 39-2021” (soc) for Animal Caretakers. 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 | 914 | 13.9 | $65,289 | not matched | — |
| NY | 426 | 14.0 | $69,717 | licence | Farrier; Groom |
| FL | 322 | 8.0 | $49,014 | exam | General Individual Occupational; Professional Individual Occupational |
| TX | 306 | 10.3 | $50,300 | exam | Racing --Assistant Farrier/Plater/Blac; Racing --Assistant Starter |
| WA | 297 | 8.7 | $56,895 | exam | Animal Massage |
| MA | 279 | 11.4 | $63,954 | licence | HORSE Racing |
| CO | 266 | 10.2 | $68,579 | exam | Occupational Registration (groom, pony; Pet Animal Care and Facilities |
| PA | 256 | 11.5 | $44,712 | not matched | — |
| OR | 251 | 10.5 | $65,364 | not matched | — |
| VA | 184 | 20.6 | $84,441 | not matched | — |
| IL | 177 | 11.2 | $58,584 | licence | BLACKSMITH FARRIER; EXERCISE PERSON |
| WI | 163 | 9.6 | $41,756 | not matched | — |
| OH | 163 | 11.8 | $40,968 | not matched | — |
| NC | 161 | 9.4 | $48,109 | licence | Animal Contact Exhibit Permit; Animal Shelter Registration |
| ME | 159 | 6.5 | $57,521 | licence | Animal Kennels, Boarding; Animal Kennels, Breeding |
| MD | 147 | 12.8 | $64,948 | not matched | — |
| DC | 145 | 35.7 | $109,350 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 144 | 11.4 | $45,525 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 132 | 8.0 | $44,107 | licence | GROOM |
| MT | 129 | 10.1 | $59,730 | not matched | — |
| MI | 129 | 12.2 | $49,931 | exam | Horse Racing Occupational License |
| MN | 124 | 16.2 | $60,399 | licence | Animal Chiropractic Registration; Animal Exhibition Permit |
| GA | 110 | 9.0 | $53,346 | not matched | — |
| CT | 100 | 7.5 | $91,462 | not matched | — |
| VT | 100 | 8.0 | $58,189 | not matched | — |
| MO | 95 | 11.3 | $51,538 | not matched | — |
| TN | 94 | 12.1 | $49,805 | exam | ANIMAL CHEMICAL CAPTURE CERTIFICATION |
| IN | 93 | 8.7 | $35,405 | exam | Falconry License |
| SC | 92 | 11.6 | $45,199 | not matched | — |
| ID | 81 | 7.3 | $50,657 | not matched | — |
| NH | 81 | 17.5 | $50,447 | not matched | — |
| NM | 75 | 7.8 | $54,117 | not matched | — |
| AK | 73 | 7.2 | $66,730 | licence | Animal Facility License/Commercial or |
| LA | 62 | 7.5 | $55,195 | licence | Horse Racing Occupations (Jockey, Hot |
| AL | 62 | 7.5 | $38,542 | not matched | — |
| UT | 60 | 9.5 | $51,175 | not matched | — |
| NV | 59 | 8.3 | $49,522 | not matched | — |
| WY | 57 | 5.3 | $59,653 | not matched | — |
| HI | 51 | 9.5 | $60,544 | not matched | — |
| KY | 47 | 9.4 | $46,214 | not matched | — |
| NE | 42 | 14.3 | $50,922 | not matched | — |
| RI | 41 | 8.4 | $50,222 | not matched | — |
| WV | 35 | 8.1 | $50,555 | not matched | — |
| OK | 34 | 6.8 | $49,541 | licence | Horse Racing Blacksmith |
| SD | 32 | 6.0 | $37,482 | not matched | — |
| KS | 31 | 12.6 | $35,186 | not matched | — |
| DE | 31 | 14.8 | $44,972 | not matched | — |
| AR | 27 | 11.6 | $78,538 | licence | Horseshoer |
| MS | 24 | 6.2 | $57,267 | not matched | — |
| IA | 24 | 8.0 | $46,290 | not matched | — |
| ND | 16 | 12.6 | $72,178 | 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.