Compare A Communications Electrician Supervisor ↔ B Fiber Optic Technician
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4 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 Foreman: experience: over 10 years (O*NET, most common).
- Move 2, to Electrical Apprentice: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license.
- Move 3, to Lineworker (Power Line): Journeyman Lineman (TDLR) license.
- Move 4, to Fiber Optic Technician: 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 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET, most common).
Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Communications Electrician Supervisor to Electrical Foreman
- O*NET lists First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.78 (same lateral rule, started from this rung; target is the related occupation's role nearest this rung's level band).
- Gates: experience: over 10 years (O*NET, most common).
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Electrical Foreman to Electrical Apprentice
- O*NET lists Helpers--Electricians as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.70 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- Gates: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license.
Move 3 Transfer move to the side
Electrical Apprentice to Lineworker (Power Line)
- O*NET lists Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.80.
- Gates: Journeyman Lineman (TDLR) license.
Move 4 Transfer move to the side
Lineworker (Power Line) to Fiber Optic Technician
- O*NET lists Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.74.
- 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 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET, most common).
Side by side
All Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers: Texas median $75,740, $1,020 less a year than all First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers ($76,760), every experience level.
Communications Electrician Supervisor: 53% work more than 40 hours a week, about 1.8 times the share for Fiber Optic Technician (30%).
Occupation-wide pay all experience levels, not this level's pay; Texas median, base pay, $0 to $300k
Gates on the route: Electrical Foreman: experience: over 10 years (O*NET, most common); Electrical Apprentice: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license; Lineworker (Power Line): Journeyman Lineman (TDLR) license; Fiber Optic Technician: 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 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET, most common).
Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation
A +11.2% Texas, 6,510 openings a year
B +4.3% Texas, 810 openings a year
Over 40 h a week
Physical load our index from O*NET, 1 to 5; A B; largest differences first
2.6 / 5+0.93.5 / 5
- Outdoors, all weather+1.69Outdoors, all weather: A 3.26, B 4.95
- Climbing ladders+1.54Climbing ladders: A 1.72, B 3.26
- Cramped space+1.21Cramped space: A 2.36, B 3.57
- Kneeling or crawling+1.08Kneeling or crawling: A 2.32, B 3.4
- High places+1.05High places: A 2.43, B 3.48
Degree
A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 10% do).
B Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 2% do).
License
A 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).
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 2 years, up to and including 4 years (O*NET: 41%).
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: 1
- Installation +1.25
Make this your goal
Save Communications Electrician Supervisor 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 1 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.
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