Compare A Audio Video Technician ↔ B Fiber Optic Technician

Compare with

Your route

2 moves · +$26,300 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels

Gates on this route

Move 1, to Audio Video Installer: license depends on the work (No TDLR electrician license for fiber, cabling and communications circuits (1305.003(a)(12)). Alarm or access control work may need a DPS license: not checked (site unreachable 2026-10-03)), experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (O*NET, most common).
Move 2, to Fiber Optic Technician: 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
Audio Video Technician to Audio Video Installer -$1,670 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.71.
- Gates: license depends on the work (No TDLR electrician license for fiber, cabling and communications circuits (1305.003(a)(12)). Alarm or access control work may need a DPS license: not checked (site unreachable 2026-10-03)), experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (O*NET, most common).
- Skills to build: Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Installation
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Audio Video Installer to Fiber Optic Technician +$27,970 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.76.
- 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 Line Installers and Repairers: Texas median $75,740, $26,300 more a year than all Audio and Video Technicians ($49,440), every experience level.

More than 40 hours a week: Fiber Optic Technician 30%, Audio Video Technician 21%.

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

$49,440+$26,300$75,740

Gates on the route: Audio Video Installer: license depends on the work (No TDLR electrician license for fiber, cabling and communications circuits (1305.003(a)(12)). Alarm or access control work may need a DPS license: not checked (site unreachable 2026-10-03)), experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (O*NET, most common).

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +8.8% Texas, 460 openings a year

B +4.3% Texas, 810 openings a year

Over 40 h a week

21%+9 pts30%

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

1.8 / 5+1.63.5 / 5

Outdoors, all weather+3.52Outdoors, all weather: A 1.43, B 4.95
Very hot or cold+3.02Very hot or cold: A 1.41, B 4.43
Hazardous equipment+1.98Hazardous equipment: A 1.7, B 3.68
High places+1.81High places: A 1.67, B 3.48
Bending or twisting+1.72Bending or twisting: A 1.91, B 3.63

Degree

A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 43% do).

B Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 2% do).

License

A 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).

B No TDLR electrician license for fiber, cabling and communications circuits (1305.003(a)(12)). Alarm or access control work may need a DPS license: not checked (site unreachable 2026-10-03).

Experience

A Most common related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET: 37%).

B Most common related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET: 29%).

Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5

You likely have: 6

Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Quality Control Analysis
Speaking
Active Listening
Coordination

To build: 3

Repairing +0.75
Equipment Maintenance +0.62
Installation +0.50

Make this your goal

Save Audio Video Technician to Fiber Optic Technician 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 3 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.