Compare A Network Systems Administrator ↔ B Fiber Optic Technician

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Your route

2 moves · -$25,500 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels

Gates on this route

Move 1, to Low-Voltage Technician: license not checked yet.
Move 2, to Fiber Optic Technician: 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)), experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET, most common).

Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Network Systems Administrator to Low-Voltage Technician -$41,870 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.80.
- Gates: license not checked yet.
- Skills to build: Installation, Repairing
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Low-Voltage Technician to Fiber Optic Technician +$16,370 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers as a related occupation (Primary-Short); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.83.
- 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)), experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET, most common).

Side by side

All Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers: Texas median $75,740, $25,500 less a year than all Network and Computer Systems Administrators ($101,240), every experience level.

More than 40 hours a week: Fiber Optic Technician 30%, Network Systems Administrator 40%.

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

$101,240-$25,500$75,740

Gates on the route: Low-Voltage Technician: license not checked yet; Fiber Optic Technician: 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)), experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET, most common).

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +6.3% Texas, 1,880 openings a year

B +4.3% Texas, 810 openings a year

Over 40 h a week

40%-10 pts30%

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

1.7 / 5+1.83.5 / 5

Outdoors, all weather+3.35Outdoors, all weather: A 1.6, B 4.95
Very hot or cold+2.93Very hot or cold: A 1.5, B 4.43
Hazardous equipment+2.51Hazardous equipment: A 1.17, B 3.68
High places+1.88High places: A 1.6, B 3.48
Cramped space+1.77Cramped space: A 1.8, B 3.57

Degree

A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 30% 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 2 years, up to and including 4 years (O*NET: 43%).

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 Network Systems Administrator to Fiber Optic 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.