Electrician (Journeyman) vs Physical Therapist

Side-by-side license comparison

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

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Physical Therapist

Easier to Obtain

Electrician (Journeyman)

Lower Fee

Electrician (Journeyman)

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Electrician (Journeyman)	Physical Therapist
Category	Trades	Healthcare
Median Salary	$65,280	$99,710
Avg Initial Fee	$180	$313
Difficulty	Medium-High	High
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours)	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)
Exam	Journeyman Exam	NPTE
Time to License	4-5 years	7 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	24 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	40 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

Electrician (Journeyman)

Median Salary$65,280

Avg Salary$65,280

Avg License Fee$180

Physical Therapist

Median Salary$99,710

Avg Salary$99,710

Avg License Fee$313

Physical Therapist earns $34,430 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $344,300 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

Electrician (Journeyman)View all 53 state requirements Physical TherapistView 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: Electrician (Journeyman) or Physical Therapist?

Physical Therapist has a higher median salary at $99,710 per year, compared to $65,280 for Electrician (Journeyman) — a difference of $34,430 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Electrician (Journeyman) or a Physical Therapist?

Electrician (Journeyman) licensing is rated Medium-High difficulty, while Physical Therapist is rated High. Electrician (Journeyman) requires 4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours) and typically takes 4-5 years, compared to DPT (3 years post-bachelor) and 7 years for Physical Therapist.

Which license costs more: Electrician (Journeyman) or Physical Therapist?

Physical Therapist has a higher average initial fee of $313, while Electrician (Journeyman) averages $180 — a difference of $133.

Do all states require a license for Electrician (Journeyman) and Physical Therapist?

Electrician (Journeyman) requires licensing in 40 of 53 jurisdictions, while Physical Therapist requires it in 53 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Electrician (Journeyman) or Physical Therapist?

Electrician (Journeyman) typically takes 4-5 years from start to licensure, while Physical Therapist takes 7 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Electrician (Journeyman)	Physical Therapist
Category	Trades	Healthcare
Median Salary	$65,280	$99,710
Avg Initial Fee	$180	$313
Difficulty	Medium-High	High
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours)	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)
Exam	Journeyman Exam	NPTE
Time to License	4-5 years	7 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	24 hrs	30 hrs
States Requiring	40 of 53	53 of 53