Compare A Access Control Technician ↔ B Telecommunications Systems Engineer

Compare with

Your route

2 moves · +$81,040 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels

Gates on this route

Move 1, to Controls Technician: license depends on the work (Texas: power wiring needs a TDLR electrician license unless exempt: plant employees in petrochemical and oil and gas (1305.003(a)(14)), low-voltage controls (a)(12), in-house maintenance (a)(8)), experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (O*NET, most common).
Move 2, to Telecommunications Systems Engineer: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).

Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Access Control Technician to Controls Technician +$21,780 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.84 (same lateral rule, started from this rung; target is the related occupation's role nearest this rung's level band).
- Gates: license depends on the work (Texas: power wiring needs a TDLR electrician license unless exempt: plant employees in petrochemical and oil and gas (1305.003(a)(14)), low-voltage controls (a)(12), in-house maintenance (a)(8)), experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (O*NET, most common).
- Skills to build: Reading Comprehension, Systems Evaluation, Systems Analysis
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Controls Technician to Telecommunications Systems Engineer +$59,260 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- Skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.85 (one of the 3 most similar occupations, r >= 0.6).
- Gates checked: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).

Side by side

All Telecommunications Engineering Specialists: Texas median $133,310, $81,040 more a year than all Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers ($52,270), every experience level.

More than 40 hours a week: Telecommunications Systems Engineer 48%, Access Control Technician 57%.

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

$52,270+$81,040$133,310

Gates on the route: Controls Technician: license depends on the work (Texas: power wiring needs a TDLR electrician license unless exempt: plant employees in petrochemical and oil and gas (1305.003(a)(14)), low-voltage controls (a)(12), in-house maintenance (a)(8)), experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (O*NET, most common).

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +21.6% Texas, 1,300 openings a year

B +23.4% Texas, 1,100 openings a year

Over 40 h a week

57%-9 pts48%

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

2.9 / 5-0.42.5 / 5

Standing-1.20Standing: A 4.33, B 3.13
Climbing ladders-0.99Climbing ladders: A 3.46, B 2.47
Very hot or cold-0.94Very hot or cold: A 3.49, B 2.55
Hazardous equipment-0.86Hazardous equipment: A 2.79, B 1.93
Cramped space-0.68Cramped space: A 2.94, B 2.26

Degree

A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 0% do).

B Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 32% do).

License

A No TDLR electrician license for low-voltage access control circuits (1305.003(a)(12)). The DPS Private Security license was not checked: site unreachable 2026-10-03.

B No license for this job title at the 8 Texas and federal licensing agencies read on 2026-10-03 (TDLR, TSBPE, TCEQ, TCFP, TEA, TBPELS, NRC and EPA).

Experience

A Most common related work experience: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (O*NET: 41%).

B Most common related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (O*NET: 39%).

Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5

You likely have: 6

Judgment and Decision Making
Monitoring
Speaking
Time Management
Operations Monitoring
Quality Control Analysis

To build: 6

Persuasion +0.88
Reading Comprehension +0.76
Systems Analysis +0.63
Learning Strategies +0.62
Critical Thinking +0.50
Systems Evaluation +0.50

Make this your goal

Save Access Control Technician to Telecommunications Systems Engineer 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 and the 6 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.