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Data-Driven Career Research
Before you invest months getting licensed, know how competitive your target market actually is. This index shows how many licensed professionals exist per resident in every state — so you can find the states with the most opportunity.
Did you know?
For every home inspector in the US, there are 15 CDL truck drivers — making trucking the most saturated trade and home inspection the least.
We use BLS payroll employment data (OEWS May 2024) as our primary data source — covering 10 professions including electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, CDL drivers, home inspectors, cosmetologists, barbers, CPAs, insurance agents, and surveyors. This is the most reliable count of working professionals.
For professions with very high self-employment rates where BLS data is unreliable (real estate agents, general contractors), we collect active license counts directly from state licensing boards — because BLS data significantly undercounts these workers.
Saturation ratio: Population ÷ Employment. A ratio of 1:300 means one professional for every 300 residents — more competitive than 1:600.
Sorted by national saturation — most crowded professions first.
| Profession | National Employment | National Ratio | Most Saturated | Most Opportunity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CDL Truck Drivers | 2,070,390 | 1 per 164 | North Dakota | District Of Columbia | All States → |
| Electricians | 742,710 | 1 per 458 | Wyoming | South Carolina | All States → |
| Plumbers | 456,180 | 1 per 746 | Massachusetts | Georgia | All States → |
| HVAC Technicians | 396,760 | 1 per 857 | Idaho | District Of Columbia | All States → |
| Home Inspectors | 137,140 | 1 per 2,480 | New Jersey | Vermont | All States → |
Source: BLS OEWS May 2024 · US Census Vintage 2024 Population Estimates
Personalized Roadmap
A week-by-week plan to get licensed in your target state.
Once you know which state has the most opportunity, the next step is getting licensed there. Our personalized roadmaps give you an exact timeline, exam prep checklist, and step-by-step instructions — built for your target state.
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These professions have been registered with their BLS SOC codes. We're currently populating state-level employment data — check back soon for full saturation rankings.
BLS SOC: 39-5012 — State-level employment numbers are being collected.
View page →BLS SOC: 41-3021 — State-level employment numbers are being collected.
View page →BLS SOC: 17-1022 — State-level employment numbers are being collected.
View page →These professions have high self-employment rates, making BLS payroll data unreliable. We're collecting active license counts directly from state licensing boards.
High self-employment rate — BLS data undercounts independent agents. Collecting active license counts from state boards.
View page →Most GCs are self-employed — BLS payroll data severely undercounts this profession. Collecting active license counts from state boards.
View page →