Compare A Telecommunications Systems Engineer ↔ B Fiber Optic Technician
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1 move · -$57,570 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
Gates on this route
- Move 1, 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)).
Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Telecommunications Systems Engineer to Fiber Optic Technician -$57,570 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.80 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- 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)).
Side by side
All Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers: Texas median $75,740, $57,570 less a year than all Telecommunications Engineering Specialists ($133,310), every experience level.
Telecommunications Systems Engineer: 48% work more than 40 hours a week, about 1.6 times the share for Fiber Optic Technician (30%).
Occupation-wide pay all experience levels, not this level's pay; Texas median, base pay, $0 to $300k
Gates on the route: 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)).
Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation
A +23.4% Texas, 1,100 openings a year
B +4.3% Texas, 810 openings a year
Over 40 h a week
Physical load our index from O*NET, 1 to 5; A B; largest differences first
2.5 / 5+1.03.5 / 5
- Very hot or cold+1.88Very hot or cold: A 2.55, B 4.43
- Outdoors, all weather+1.79Outdoors, all weather: A 3.16, B 4.95
- Hazardous equipment+1.75Hazardous equipment: A 1.93, B 3.68
- Bending or twisting+1.34Bending or twisting: A 2.29, B 3.63
- Cramped space+1.31Cramped space: A 2.26, B 3.57
Degree
A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 32% 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: 39%).
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: 1
- Equipment Maintenance +0.50
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