General Contractor 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

General Contractor

Easier to Obtain

General Contractor

Lower Fee

Teacher (K-12)

Detailed Comparison

Metric	General Contractor	Teacher (K-12)
Category	Trades	Education
Median Salary	$101,480	$65,090
Avg Initial Fee	$359	$199
Difficulty	Medium-High	High
Education	Experience-based (2-5 years)	Bachelor's + Student Teaching
Exam	State Contractor Exam	Praxis or State Test
Time to License	3-6 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 5 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	14 hrs	60 hrs
States Requiring	41 of 53	53 of 53

Salary Comparison

General Contractor

Median Salary$101,480

Avg Salary$101,480

Avg License Fee$359

Teacher (K-12)

Median Salary$65,090

Avg Salary$65,090

Avg License Fee$199

General Contractor earns $36,390 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $363,900 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

General ContractorView 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: General Contractor or Teacher (K-12)?

General Contractor has a higher median salary at $101,480 per year, compared to $65,090 for Teacher (K-12) — a difference of $36,390 annually.

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

General Contractor licensing is rated Medium-High difficulty, while Teacher (K-12) is rated High. General Contractor requires Experience-based (2-5 years) and typically takes 3-6 years, compared to Bachelor's + Student Teaching and 4-5 years for Teacher (K-12).

Which license costs more: General Contractor or Teacher (K-12)?

General Contractor has a higher average initial fee of $359, while Teacher (K-12) averages $199 — a difference of $160.

Do all states require a license for General Contractor and Teacher (K-12)?

General Contractor requires licensing in 41 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: General Contractor or Teacher (K-12)?

General Contractor typically takes 3-6 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	General Contractor	Teacher (K-12)
Category	Trades	Education
Median Salary	$101,480	$65,090
Avg Initial Fee	$359	$199
Difficulty	Medium-High	High
Education	Experience-based (2-5 years)	Bachelor's + Student Teaching
Exam	State Contractor Exam	Praxis or State Test
Time to License	3-6 years	4-5 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 5 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	14 hrs	60 hrs
States Requiring	41 of 53	53 of 53