Compare A HVAC Technician ↔ B Journeyman Electrician
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2 moves · +$810 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 Journeyman Electrician: Journeyman Electrician (TDLR) license.
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 Journeyman Electrician -$1,270 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Electricians as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.82 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- Gates: Journeyman Electrician (TDLR) license.
Side by side
All Electricians: Texas median $58,570, $810 more a year than all Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers ($57,760), every experience level.
Journeyman Electrician: 35% work more than 40 hours a week, about 2.1 times the share for HVAC Technician (17%).
This level's pay
A No headline record for this level
B $40.75/h Houston union minimum (IBEW 716), 2026
No published schedule lists both jobs, so no level-specific difference is shown.
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; Journeyman Electrician: Journeyman Electrician (TDLR) license.
Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation
A +13.0% Texas, 3,350 openings a year
B +14.4% Texas, 8,100 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+1.04.1 / 5
- Kneeling or crawling+2.00Kneeling or crawling: A 1.75, B 3.75
- Walking or running+1.78Walking or running: A 2.45, B 4.23
- Cramped space+1.72Cramped space: A 2.68, B 4.4
- Climbing ladders+1.33Climbing ladders: A 2.87, B 4.2
- Bending or twisting+1.23Bending or twisting: A 3.45, B 4.68
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: 1% 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 Texas: Journeyman Electrician license (TDLR): 8,000 hours under a Texas Master Electrician (exam allowed at 7,000) and a TDLR exam.
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: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (O*NET: 28%).
Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5
You likely have: 6
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Installation
- Judgment and Decision Making
To build: 1
- Learning Strategies +0.62
Make this your goal
Save HVAC Technician to Journeyman Electrician 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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