Compare A Computer Repair Technician ↔ B Structured Cabling 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 Fiber Optic Technician: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
Move 3, to Structured Cabling 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
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 Fiber Optic Technician
- 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).
Move 3 Transfer move to the side
Fiber Optic Technician to Structured Cabling Technician
- Same O*NET occupation (49-9052.00 Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers): O*NET lists both job titles under it; same tasks and skills data.
- 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, $30,260 more a year than all Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers ($45,480), every experience level.

Structured Cabling Technician: 30% work more than 40 hours a week, about 1.6 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+$30,260$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)).

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +7.4% Texas, 790 openings a year

B +4.3% Texas, 810 openings a year

Over 40 h a week

19%+11 pts30%

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

2.2 / 5+1.33.5 / 5

Outdoors, all weather+2.70Outdoors, all weather: A 2.25, B 4.95
High places+2.22High places: A 1.26, B 3.48
Hazardous equipment+2.09Hazardous equipment: A 1.59, B 3.68
Climbing ladders+2.04Climbing ladders: A 1.22, B 3.26
Very hot or cold+1.88Very hot or cold: A 2.55, B 4.43

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: 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 6 months, up to and including 1 year (O*NET: 40%).

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: 0

Make this your goal

Save Computer Repair Technician to Structured Cabling 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.