Compare A HVAC Technician ↔ B Construction Laborer
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2 moves · -$17,140 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
Gates on this route
- Move 1, to Plumber: Journeyman Plumber (TSBPE), Tradesman Plumber-Limited (TSBPE) license.
- Move 2, to Construction Laborer: 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
HVAC Technician to Plumber +$2,080 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.89.
- Gates: Journeyman Plumber (TSBPE), Tradesman Plumber-Limited (TSBPE) license.
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Plumber to Construction Laborer -$19,220 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Construction Laborers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.79 (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 Construction Laborers: Texas median $40,620, $17,140 less a year than all Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers ($57,760), every experience level.
More than 40 hours a week: Construction Laborer 18%, HVAC Technician 17%.
Occupation-wide pay all experience levels, not this level's pay; Texas median, base pay, $0 to $300k
Gates on the route: Plumber: Journeyman Plumber (TSBPE), Tradesman Plumber-Limited (TSBPE) license.
Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation
A +13.0% Texas, 3,350 openings a year
B +12.2% Texas, 15,270 openings a year
Over 40 h a week
Physical load our index from O*NET, 1 to 5; A B; largest differences first
3.2 / 5-0.13.0 / 5
- Keeping balance-1.22Keeping balance: A 2.81, B 1.59
- High places-1.17High places: A 3.38, B 2.21
- Climbing ladders-1.11Climbing ladders: A 2.87, B 1.76
- Very hot or cold+1.04Very hot or cold: A 3.44, B 4.48
- Standing+0.97Standing: A 3.68, B 4.65
Degree
A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 0% do).
B Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 0% do).
License
A Texas: TDLR A/C Technician registration ($20, age 16+) to work under a licensed A/C contractor; contractor license after 48 months. Federal EPA 608 certification to handle refrigerant.
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 4 years, up to and including 6 years (O*NET: 39%).
B Most common related work experience: none (O*NET: 43%).
Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5
You likely have: 5
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Coordination
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
To build: 0
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