Compare A Computer Repair Technician ↔ B Telecommunications Systems Engineer

Compare with

Your route

2 moves · +$87,830 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)).
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
Computer Repair Technician to Audio Video Installer +$2,290 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- 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 Telecommunications Systems Engineer +$85,540 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Telecommunications Engineering Specialists as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.78 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- 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, $87,830 more a year than all Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers ($45,480), every experience level.

Telecommunications Systems Engineer: 48% work more than 40 hours a week, about 2.6 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+$87,830$133,310

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 +23.4% Texas, 1,100 openings a year

Over 40 h a week

19%+30 pts48%

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

2.2 / 5+0.22.5 / 5

High places+1.32High places: A 1.26, B 2.58
Climbing ladders+1.25Climbing ladders: A 1.22, B 2.47
Protective gear+1.22Protective gear: A 1.1, B 2.32
Cramped space-0.92Cramped space: A 3.18, B 2.26
Outdoors, all weather+0.91Outdoors, all weather: A 2.25, B 3.16

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: 32% 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 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: 40%).

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

Active Listening
Complex Problem Solving
Active Learning
Coordination
Judgment and Decision Making
Monitoring

To build: 4

Reading Comprehension +0.76
Systems Evaluation +0.74
Persuasion +0.50
Systems Analysis +0.50

Make this your goal

Save Computer Repair 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 4 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.