Compare A Pipelayer ↔ B HVAC Technician

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Your route

2 moves

No pay difference shown for this route: electrical Apprentice: All Electricians (47-2111) at every experience level, the occupation apprentices are counted in (SOC Classification Principle 7). Mostly journeyman-level workers, so it is not apprentice pay and is never subtracted.

Gates on this route

Move 1, to Electrical Apprentice: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license.
Move 2, to HVAC Technician: 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.

Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Pipelayer to Electrical Apprentice
- Skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.82 (one of the 3 most similar occupations, r >= 0.6).
- Gates: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license.
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Electrical Apprentice to HVAC Technician
- Skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.86 (one of the 3 most similar occupations, r >= 0.6).
- Gates: 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.

Side by side

All Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: Texas median $57,760, $12,140 more a year than all Pipelayers ($45,620), every experience level.

More than 40 hours a week: HVAC Technician 17%, Pipelayer 17%.

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

$45,620+$12,140$57,760

Gates on the route: Electrical Apprentice: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license; HVAC Technician: 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.

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +0.2% Texas, 480 openings a year

B +13.0% Texas, 3,350 openings a year

Over 40 h a week

17%-1 pts17%

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

3.1 / 5+0.03.2 / 5

High places+2.07High places: A 1.31, B 3.38
Hazardous conditions+1.25Hazardous conditions: A 2.14, B 3.39
Kneeling or crawling-1.14Kneeling or crawling: A 2.89, B 1.75
Walking or running-0.86Walking or running: A 3.31, B 2.45
Cramped space-0.74Cramped space: A 3.42, B 2.68

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: 0% do).

License

A Texas: yard water lines and building sewers for 1-2 family homes are plumbing (TSBPE Residential Utilities Installer registration). Utility mains and most private site mains are exempt (1301.053, 1301.059).

B 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.

Experience

A Most common related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET: 19%).

B Most common related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (O*NET: 39%).

Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5

You likely have: 6

Judgment and Decision Making
Active Listening
Coordination
Operation and Control
Quality Control Analysis
Speaking

To build: 6

Systems Evaluation +1.24
Systems Analysis +1.12
Active Learning +1.00
Troubleshooting +1.00
Operations Monitoring +0.75
Complex Problem Solving +0.74

Make this your goal

Save Pipelayer to HVAC 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 and the 6 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.