Compare A Network Architect ↔ B Fire Alarm Technician
ShareYour route
2 moves · -$81,040 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
Gates on this route
- Move 1, to Low-Voltage Technician: license not checked yet.
- Move 2, to Fire Alarm Technician: license not checked yet.
Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Network Architect to Low-Voltage Technician -$73,940 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.70 (O*NET related occupation beyond the 6 drawn laterals).
- Gates: license not checked yet.
Move 2 L1 step up on Low-voltage and life-safety systems
Low-Voltage Technician to Fire Alarm Technician -$7,100 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- Next rung on 'Low-voltage and life-safety systems' (Skilled to Skilled). O*NET lists Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers as a related occupation (Primary-Long).
- Gates: license not checked yet.
Side by side
All Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers: Texas median $52,270, $81,040 less a year than all Computer Network Architects ($133,310), every experience level.
More than 40 hours a week: Fire Alarm Technician 57%, Network Architect 60%.
Occupation-wide pay all experience levels, not this level's pay; Texas median, base pay, $0 to $300k
Gates on the route: Low-Voltage Technician: license not checked yet; Fire Alarm Technician: license not checked yet.
Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation
A +23.4% Texas, 1,100 openings a year
B +21.6% Texas, 1,300 openings a year
Over 40 h a week
Physical load our index from O*NET, 1 to 5; A B; largest differences first
1.6 / 5+1.22.9 / 5
- Very hot or cold+2.04Very hot or cold: A 1.45, B 3.49
- Climbing ladders+2.01Climbing ladders: A 1.45, B 3.46
- Outdoors, all weather+1.83Outdoors, all weather: A 1.6, B 3.43
- Standing+1.78Standing: A 2.55, B 4.33
- High places+1.71High places: A 1.4, B 3.11
Degree
A Most people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher (O*NET: 65%).
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 No TDLR electrician license for fire alarm circuits (1305.003(a)(12)). The fire alarm license from the State Fire Marshal (TDI) was 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: 35%).
B Most common related work experience: over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (O*NET: 41%).
Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5
You likely have: 6
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Operations Monitoring
To build: 2
- Installation +1.63
- Repairing +0.88
Make this your goal
Save Network Architect to Fire Alarm 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 2 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.
Share your route
One number, the route and its gate go on the card; nothing about you. Your device's dark mode picks the dark card.
Save routes and track your hours with ET Member. Saved routes, your gap plan and alerts when pay, license rules or exams change.
