Compare A Sheet Metal Worker ↔ B Journeyman Electrician
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2 moves · +$4,330 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 Journeyman Electrician: Journeyman Electrician (TDLR) license.
Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Sheet Metal Worker to Plumber +$5,600 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.92.
- 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 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, $4,330 more a year than all Sheet Metal Workers ($54,240), every experience level.
More than 40 hours a week: Journeyman Electrician 35%, Sheet Metal Worker 28%.
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, experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (O*NET, most common); Journeyman Electrician: Journeyman Electrician (TDLR) license.
Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation
A +5.3% Texas, 950 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
2.9 / 5+1.24.1 / 5
- Climbing ladders+2.48Climbing ladders: A 1.72, B 4.2
- Hazardous conditions+1.64Hazardous conditions: A 2.95, B 4.59
- Cramped space+1.63Cramped space: A 2.77, B 4.4
- Outdoors, all weather+1.62Outdoors, all weather: A 2.51, B 4.13
- Keeping balance+1.59Keeping balance: A 2.26, B 3.85
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: HVAC duct work is done under a TDLR-licensed A/C contractor; helping with A/C maintenance or repair needs TDLR technician registration. Other sheet metal work: no license at agencies checked.
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: none (O*NET: 47%).
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
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Complex Problem Solving
- Coordination
- Monitoring
- Operations Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
To build: 6
- Troubleshooting +1.12
- Persuasion +0.88
- Service Orientation +0.75
- Writing +0.75
- Installation +0.63
- Repairing +0.62
Make this your goal
Save Sheet Metal Worker 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 6 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.
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