Compare A Computer Repair Technician ↔ B Access Control Technician

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Your route

3 moves

No pay difference shown for this route: no single published pay schedule names every stop, and the occupation medians are not like for like on every move.

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)).
Move 2, to Fire Alarm Technician: license not checked yet.
Move 3, to Access Control Technician: license not checked yet.

Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Computer Repair Technician to Audio Video Installer
- O*NET lists Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.82 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- 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)).
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Audio Video Installer to Fire Alarm Technician
- O*NET lists Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.88.
- Gates: license not checked yet.
Move 3 Transfer move to the side
Fire Alarm Technician to Access Control Technician
- Same O*NET occupation (49-2098.00 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers): O*NET lists both job titles under it; same tasks and skills data.
- Gates: license not checked yet.

Side by side

All Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers: Texas median $52,270, $6,790 more a year than all Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers ($45,480), every experience level.

Access Control Technician: 57% work more than 40 hours a week, about 3.1 times the share for Computer Repair Technician (19%).

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

$45,480+$6,790$52,270

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)); Fire Alarm Technician: license not checked yet; Access Control Technician: license not checked yet.

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +7.4% Texas, 790 openings a year

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

Over 40 h a week

19%+39 pts57%

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

2.2 / 5+0.62.9 / 5

Climbing ladders+2.24Climbing ladders: A 1.22, B 3.46
High places+1.85High places: A 1.26, B 3.11
Protective gear+1.21Protective gear: A 1.1, B 2.31
Hazardous equipment+1.20Hazardous equipment: A 1.59, B 2.79
Outdoors, all weather+1.18Outdoors, all weather: A 2.25, B 3.43

Degree

A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 17% do).

B Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 0% 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 low-voltage access control circuits (1305.003(a)(12)). The DPS Private Security license was not checked: site unreachable 2026-10-03.

Experience

A Most common related work experience: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (O*NET: 40%).

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

Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5

You likely have: 6

Critical Thinking
Speaking
Active Listening
Complex Problem Solving
Judgment and Decision Making
Operations Monitoring

To build: 0

Make this your goal

Save Computer Repair Technician to Access Control 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. Free with an account.