Electrician (Journeyman) 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

Electrician (Journeyman)

Easier to Obtain

Electrician (Journeyman)

Lower Fee

Electrician (Journeyman)

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Electrician (Journeyman)	Teacher (K-12)
Category	Trades	Education
Median Salary	$65,280	$65,090
Avg Initial Fee	$180	$199
Difficulty	Medium-High	High
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours)	Bachelor's + Student Teaching
Exam	Journeyman Exam	Praxis or State Test
Time to License	4-5 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 5 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	24 hrs	60 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

Teacher (K-12)

Median Salary$65,090

Avg Salary$65,090

Avg License Fee$199

Electrician (Journeyman) earns $190 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $1,900 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

Electrician (Journeyman)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: Electrician (Journeyman) or Teacher (K-12)?

Electrician (Journeyman) has a higher median salary at $65,280 per year, compared to $65,090 for Teacher (K-12) — a difference of $190 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Electrician (Journeyman) or a Teacher (K-12)?

Electrician (Journeyman) licensing is rated Medium-High difficulty, while Teacher (K-12) is rated High. Electrician (Journeyman) requires 4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours) and typically takes 4-5 years, compared to Bachelor's + Student Teaching and 4-5 years for Teacher (K-12).

Which license costs more: Electrician (Journeyman) or Teacher (K-12)?

Teacher (K-12) has a higher average initial fee of $199, while Electrician (Journeyman) averages $180 — a difference of $19.

Do all states require a license for Electrician (Journeyman) and Teacher (K-12)?

Electrician (Journeyman) requires licensing in 40 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: Electrician (Journeyman) or Teacher (K-12)?

Electrician (Journeyman) typically takes 4-5 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	Electrician (Journeyman)	Teacher (K-12)
Category	Trades	Education
Median Salary	$65,280	$65,090
Avg Initial Fee	$180	$199
Difficulty	Medium-High	High
Education	4-5 year apprenticeship (8000 hours)	Bachelor's + Student Teaching
Exam	Journeyman Exam	Praxis or State Test
Time to License	4-5 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 3 yr	Every 5 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	24 hrs	60 hrs
States Requiring	40 of 53	53 of 53