Compare A Residential Wireman ↔ B HVAC Technician

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Your route

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, experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (O*NET, most common).
Move 2, to HVAC Technician: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician registration (TDLR), Certified Technician (TDLR, voluntary), Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor (TDLR, Class A or B), EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (Type I, II, III or Universal) license.

Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Residential Wireman to Plumber +$1,270 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 = 0.82 (same lateral rule, started from this rung; target is the related occupation's role nearest this rung's level band).
- Gates: Journeyman Plumber (TSBPE), Tradesman Plumber-Limited (TSBPE) license, experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (O*NET, most common).
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Plumber to HVAC Technician -$2,080 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.89.
- Gates: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician registration (TDLR), Certified Technician (TDLR, voluntary), Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor (TDLR, Class A or B), EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (Type I, II, III or Universal) license.
- Skills to build: Operations Monitoring, Equipment Maintenance, Installation

Side by side

All Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers: Texas median $57,760, $810 less a year than all Electricians ($58,570), every experience level.

Residential Wireman: 35% work more than 40 hours a week, about 2.1 times the share for HVAC Technician (17%).

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

$58,570-$810$57,760

Gates on the route: Plumber: Journeyman Plumber (TSBPE), Tradesman Plumber-Limited (TSBPE) license, experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (O*NET, most common); HVAC Technician: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician registration (TDLR), Certified Technician (TDLR, voluntary), Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractor (TDLR, Class A or B), EPA Section 608 Technician Certification (Type I, II, III or Universal) license.

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +14.4% Texas, 8,100 openings a year

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

Over 40 h a week

35%-19 pts17%

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

4.1 / 5-1.03.2 / 5

Kneeling or crawling-2.00Kneeling or crawling: A 3.75, B 1.75
Walking or running-1.78Walking or running: A 4.23, B 2.45
Cramped space-1.72Cramped space: A 4.4, B 2.68
Climbing ladders-1.33Climbing ladders: A 4.2, B 2.87
Bending or twisting-1.23Bending or twisting: A 4.68, B 3.45

Degree

A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 1% do).

B Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 0% do).

License

A Texas: Residential Wireman license (TDLR): 4,000 hours or an approved CTE program, plus an exam. Homes and apartments up to four stories only.

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 6 months, up to and including 1 year (O*NET: 28%).

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

Troubleshooting
Critical Thinking
Repairing
Equipment Maintenance
Installation
Reading Comprehension

To build: 1

Operations Monitoring +0.63

Make this your goal

Save Residential Wireman 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 1 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.