CPA (Certified Public Accountant) vs Teacher (K-12)

Side-by-side license comparison

Live DataLast updated: April 13, 2026·Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

Easier to Obtain

Teacher (K-12)

Lower Fee

Teacher (K-12)

Detailed Comparison

Metric	CPA (Certified Public Accountant)	Teacher (K-12)
Category	Finance	Education
Median Salary	$86,080	$65,090
Avg Initial Fee	$398	$199
Difficulty	Very High	High
Education	150 credit hours + 1-2 years experience	Bachelor's + Student Teaching
Exam	CPA Exam (4 parts)	Praxis or State Test
Time to License	5-6 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 5 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	40 hrs	60 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

CPA (Certified Public Accountant)

Median Salary$86,080

Avg Salary$86,080

Avg License Fee$398

Teacher (K-12)

Median Salary$65,090

Avg Salary$65,090

Avg License Fee$199

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) earns $20,990 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $209,900 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

CPA (Certified Public Accountant)View all 53 state requirements Teacher (K-12)View all 53 state requirements

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LicenseWize Editorial TeamData Specialists

The LicenseWize editorial team aggregates and verifies licenses data from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.

✓ Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements

Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or Teacher (K-12)?

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) has a higher median salary at $86,080 per year, compared to $65,090 for Teacher (K-12) — a difference of $20,990 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or a Teacher (K-12)?

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) licensing is rated Very High difficulty, while Teacher (K-12) is rated High. CPA (Certified Public Accountant) requires 150 credit hours + 1-2 years experience and typically takes 5-6 years, compared to Bachelor's + Student Teaching and 4-5 years for Teacher (K-12).

Which license costs more: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or Teacher (K-12)?

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) has a higher average initial fee of $398, while Teacher (K-12) averages $199 — a difference of $199.

Do all states require a license for CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and Teacher (K-12)?

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Teacher (K-12) requires it in 53 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or Teacher (K-12)?

CPA (Certified Public Accountant) typically takes 5-6 years from start to licensure, while Teacher (K-12) takes 4-5 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	CPA (Certified Public Accountant)	Teacher (K-12)
Category	Finance	Education
Median Salary	$86,080	$65,090
Avg Initial Fee	$398	$199
Difficulty	Very High	High
Education	150 credit hours + 1-2 years experience	Bachelor's + Student Teaching
Exam	CPA Exam (4 parts)	Praxis or State Test
Time to License	5-6 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 5 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	40 hrs	60 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	53 of 53