Compare A Ironworker ↔ B Residential Wireman

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3 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 Boilermaker: license not checked yet, experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (O*NET, most common).
Move 2, to Electrical Apprentice: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license.
Move 3, to Residential Wireman: Residential Wireman (TDLR) license.

Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Ironworker to Boilermaker
- O*NET lists Boilermakers as a related occupation (Primary-Long); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.71.
- Gates: license not checked yet, experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (O*NET, most common).
- Skills to build: Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Equipment Selection
Move 2 Transfer move to the side
Boilermaker to Electrical Apprentice
- O*NET lists Helpers--Electricians as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.63 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- Gates: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license.
Move 3 B3 step up on Residential wiring (Texas)
Electrical Apprentice to Residential Wireman
- Next rung on 'Residential wiring (Texas)' (Start to Skilled). O*NET lists Electricians as a related occupation (Primary-Short).
- Gates: Residential Wireman (TDLR) license.

Side by side

All Electricians: Texas median $58,570, $6,330 more a year than all Structural Iron and Steel Workers ($52,240), every experience level.

More than 40 hours a week: Residential Wireman 35%, Ironworker 34%.

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

$52,240+$6,330$58,570

Gates on the route: Boilermaker: license not checked yet, experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years (O*NET, most common); Electrical Apprentice: Electrical Apprentice (TDLR) license; Residential Wireman: Residential Wireman (TDLR) license.

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +3.6% Texas, 850 openings a year

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

Over 40 h a week

34%+2 pts35%

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

3.4 / 5+0.74.1 / 5

Hazardous conditions+1.66Hazardous conditions: A 2.93, B 4.59
Keeping balance+1.65Keeping balance: A 2.2, B 3.85
Cramped space+1.45Cramped space: A 2.95, B 4.4
Outdoors, all weather+1.26Outdoors, all weather: A 2.87, B 4.13
Climbing ladders+1.13Climbing ladders: A 3.07, B 4.2

Degree

A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 7% do).

B Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 1% 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: Residential Wireman license (TDLR): 4,000 hours or an approved CTE program, plus an exam. Homes and apartments up to four stories only.

Experience

A Most common related work experience: none (O*NET: 57%).

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

Repairing +1.62
Troubleshooting +1.62
Installation +1.50
Systems Analysis +1.00
Writing +1.00
Equipment Maintenance +0.88

Make this your goal

Save Ironworker to Residential Wireman 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.