Electrician (Journeyman) vs Private Investigator

Side-by-side license comparison

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

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Electrician (Journeyman)

Easier to Obtain

Tie

Lower Fee

Electrician (Journeyman)

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Electrician (Journeyman)	Private Investigator
Category	Trades	Public Safety
Median Salary	$65,280	$59,380
Avg Initial Fee	$180	$253
Difficulty	Medium-High	Medium
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours)	Varies (often experience-based)
Exam	Journeyman Exam	State PI Exam (where required)
Time to License	4-5 years	1-3 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	24 hrs	12 hrs
States Requiring	40 of 53	33 of 53

Salary Comparison

Electrician (Journeyman)

Median Salary$65,280

Avg Salary$65,280

Avg License Fee$180

Private Investigator

Median Salary$59,380

Avg Salary$59,380

Avg License Fee$253

Electrician (Journeyman) earns $5,900 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $59,000 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

Electrician (Journeyman)View all 53 state requirements Private InvestigatorView 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 Private Investigator?

Electrician (Journeyman) has a higher median salary at $65,280 per year, compared to $59,380 for Private Investigator — a difference of $5,900 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Electrician (Journeyman) or a Private Investigator?

Electrician (Journeyman) licensing is rated Medium-High difficulty, while Private Investigator is rated Medium. Electrician (Journeyman) requires 4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours) and typically takes 4-5 years, compared to Varies (often experience-based) and 1-3 years for Private Investigator.

Which license costs more: Electrician (Journeyman) or Private Investigator?

Private Investigator has a higher average initial fee of $253, while Electrician (Journeyman) averages $180 — a difference of $73.

Do all states require a license for Electrician (Journeyman) and Private Investigator?

Electrician (Journeyman) requires licensing in 40 of 53 jurisdictions, while Private Investigator requires it in 33 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Electrician (Journeyman) or Private Investigator?

Electrician (Journeyman) typically takes 4-5 years from start to licensure, while Private Investigator takes 1-3 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Electrician (Journeyman)	Private Investigator
Category	Trades	Public Safety
Median Salary	$65,280	$59,380
Avg Initial Fee	$180	$253
Difficulty	Medium-High	Medium
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours)	Varies (often experience-based)
Exam	Journeyman Exam	State PI Exam (where required)
Time to License	4-5 years	1-3 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	24 hrs	12 hrs
States Requiring	40 of 53	33 of 53