Compare A Construction Laborer ↔ B HVAC Technician

Compare with

Your route

2 moves · +$17,140 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels

Gates on this route

Move 1, to Facilities Technician: license depends on the work (No state license for in-house maintenance (1305.003(a)(8)); electrical work beyond that needs a 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
Construction Laborer to Facilities Technician +$6,050 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- Skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.78 (one of the 3 most similar occupations, r >= 0.6).
- Gates: license depends on the work (No state license for in-house maintenance (1305.003(a)(8)); electrical work beyond that needs a TDLR license).
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Facilities Technician to HVAC Technician +$11,090 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.76 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- 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, $17,140 more a year than all Construction Laborers ($40,620), every experience level.

More than 40 hours a week: HVAC Technician 17%, Construction Laborer 18%.

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

$40,620+$17,140$57,760

Gates on the route: Facilities Technician: license depends on the work (No state license for in-house maintenance (1305.003(a)(8)); electrical work beyond that needs a 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 +12.2% Texas, 15,270 openings a year

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

Over 40 h a week

18%-1 pts17%

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

3.0 / 5+0.13.2 / 5

Keeping balance+1.22Keeping balance: A 1.59, B 2.81
High places+1.17High places: A 2.21, B 3.38
Climbing ladders+1.11Climbing ladders: A 1.76, B 2.87
Very hot or cold-1.04Very hot or cold: A 4.48, B 3.44
Standing-0.97Standing: A 4.65, B 3.68

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 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 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: none (O*NET: 43%).

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: 4

Active Listening
Coordination
Operation and Control
Speaking

To build: 6

Troubleshooting +1.50
Installation +1.37
Systems Analysis +1.24
Repairing +1.13
Systems Evaluation +1.12
Active Learning +0.88

Make this your goal

Save Construction Laborer 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.