Compare A Master Electrician ↔ B Journeyman Electrician

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2 moves

No pay difference shown for this route: electrical Apprentice: All Electricians (47-2111) at every experience level, the occupation apprentices are counted in (SOC Classification Principle 7). Mostly journeyman-level workers, so it is not apprentice pay and is never subtracted.

Gates on this route

Move 1, to Electrical Apprentice: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license.
Move 2, to Journeyman Electrician: Journeyman Electrician (TDLR) license, 8,000 h on the job (7,000 h to sit the exam).

Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Master Electrician to Electrical Apprentice
- O*NET lists Helpers--Electricians as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.65 (same lateral rule, started from this rung; target is the related occupation's role nearest this rung's level band).
- Gates: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license.
Move 2 B1 step up on Construction electrical
Electrical Apprentice to Journeyman Electrician
- Next rung on 'Construction electrical' (Start to Skilled). Texas: 8,000 hours to the license.
- Gates: Journeyman Electrician (TDLR) license, 8,000 h on the job (7,000 h to sit the exam).
- TDLR Journeyman application (by mail, non-refundable) $30 · PSI exam, both parts $78
  TDLR, PSI
  - TDLR: Apply for a New Journeyman Electrician License, read 2026-10-01
  - PSI candidate information bulletin for TDLR electricians (updated September 15, 2026), read 2026-10-01

Side by side

More than 40 hours a week: Journeyman Electrician 35%, Master Electrician 35%.

This level's pay

A $32.23 to $40.29/h City of Austin (incl. Austin Energy) pay range, 2025

B $40.75/h Houston union minimum (IBEW 716), 2026

No published schedule lists both jobs, so no level-specific difference is shown.

Occupation-wide pay all experience levels, not this level's pay; Texas median, base pay, $0 to $300k

$58,570no difference shown$58,570

Both jobs fall under one OEWS occupation (Electricians); OEWS does not split pay by level, so a difference would read $0.

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +14.4% Texas, 8,100 openings a year

B +14.4% Texas, 8,100 openings a year

Over 40 h a week

35%+0 pts35%

Physical load our index from O*NET, 1 to 5; A B; largest differences first

4.1 / 5+0.04.1 / 5

Outdoors, all weather+0.00Outdoors, all weather: A 4.13, B 4.13
Very hot or cold+0.00Very hot or cold: A 4.17, B 4.17
Cramped space+0.00Cramped space: A 4.4, B 4.4
High places+0.00High places: A 3.69, B 3.69
Hazardous conditions+0.00Hazardous conditions: A 4.59, B 4.59

Degree

A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 1% do).

B Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 1% do).

License

A Texas: Master Electrician license (TDLR): 2 years as a licensed Journeyman, 12,000 hours under a Texas Master Electrician, and a TDLR exam.

B Texas: Journeyman Electrician license (TDLR): 8,000 hours under a Texas Master Electrician (exam allowed at 7,000) and a TDLR exam.

Experience

A Most common related work experience: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (O*NET: 28%).

B Most common related work experience: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (O*NET: 28%).

Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5

You likely have: 6

Troubleshooting
Repairing
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Speaking
Active Learning

To build: 0

Make this your goal

Save Master Electrician to Journeyman Electrician as your goal. Each step then shows the hours you have logged toward it, your exam practice and your license, with the one thing to do next. Free with an account.