journeyman

journeyman
    n 1: a skilled worker who practices some trade or handicraft
         [syn: {craftsman}, {artisan}, {journeyman}, {artificer}]
    

Journeyman \Jour"ney*man\, n.; pl. {Journeymen}.
   1. Formerly, a man hired to work by the day; now, commonly,
      one who has finished an apprenticeship and is a competent
      worker in a handicraft or trade, but has not received
      recognition as a master; -- distinguished from
      {apprentice} and from {master workman}.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

            I have thought some of nature's journeymen had made
            men, and not made them well.          --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Hence: A competent and experienced worker who performs
      adequately but without a high level of expertise or
      imagination.
      [PJC]
    

87 Moby Thesaurus words for "journeyman":
      Admirable Crichton, adept, ancestors, apprentice, architect,
      artificer, artisan, artist, attache, author, authority, begetter,
      beginner, builder, conceiver, connaisseur, connoisseur,
      constructor, consultant, cordon bleu, crack shot, craftsman,
      craftswoman, creator, dead shot, designer, deviser, diplomat,
      diplomatist, discoverer, effector, elder statesman, engenderer,
      engineer, executor, executrix, experienced hand, expert,
      expert consultant, father, founder, generator, graduate, grower,
      handicraftsman, handy man, inaugurator, industrialist, initiator,
      instigator, institutor, introducer, inventor, maker, manufacturer,
      marksman, master, master carpenter, master craftsman, mechanic,
      mother, no slouch, organizer, originator, past master, planner,
      politician, precursor, prentice, prime mover, pro, producer,
      professional, professor, proficient, raiser, realizer, savant,
      shaper, shark, sharp, sire, smith, statesman, technical adviser,
      technician, wright