Electrician (Journeyman) vs Real Estate Broker

Side-by-side license comparison

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

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Real Estate Broker

Easier to Obtain

Tie

Lower Fee

Electrician (Journeyman)

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Electrician (Journeyman)	Real Estate Broker
Category	Trades	Real Estate
Median Salary	$65,280	$86,490
Avg Initial Fee	$180	$298
Difficulty	Medium-High	Medium-High
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours)	Additional 60-90 hours + 2-3 years experience
Exam	Journeyman Exam	State Broker Exam
Time to License	4-5 years	3-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	24 hrs	24 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

Real Estate Broker

Median Salary$86,490

Avg Salary$86,490

Avg License Fee$298

Real Estate Broker earns $21,210 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $212,100 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

Electrician (Journeyman)View all 53 state requirements Real Estate BrokerView 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 Real Estate Broker?

Real Estate Broker has a higher median salary at $86,490 per year, compared to $65,280 for Electrician (Journeyman) — a difference of $21,210 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Electrician (Journeyman) or a Real Estate Broker?

Electrician (Journeyman) licensing is rated Medium-High difficulty, while Real Estate Broker is rated Medium-High. Electrician (Journeyman) requires 4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours) and typically takes 4-5 years, compared to Additional 60-90 hours + 2-3 years experience and 3-5 years for Real Estate Broker.

Which license costs more: Electrician (Journeyman) or Real Estate Broker?

Real Estate Broker has a higher average initial fee of $298, while Electrician (Journeyman) averages $180 — a difference of $118.

Do all states require a license for Electrician (Journeyman) and Real Estate Broker?

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

Which career is faster to enter: Electrician (Journeyman) or Real Estate Broker?

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

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Electrician (Journeyman)	Real Estate Broker
Category	Trades	Real Estate
Median Salary	$65,280	$86,490
Avg Initial Fee	$180	$298
Difficulty	Medium-High	Medium-High
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours)	Additional 60-90 hours + 2-3 years experience
Exam	Journeyman Exam	State Broker Exam
Time to License	4-5 years	3-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	24 hrs	24 hrs
States Requiring	40 of 53	53 of 53