Compare A Plumber Helper ↔ B Ironworker

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Your route

1 move · +$10,290 a year, Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels

Gates on this route

Move 1, to Ironworker: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).

Move 1 Transfer move to the side
Plumber Helper to Ironworker +$10,290 Texas medians of each whole occupation, all experience levels
- O*NET lists Structural Iron and Steel Workers as a related occupation (Supplemental); skills and knowledge profile similarity r = 0.86.
- Gates checked: no degree, license or hours gate found (O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for this job).
- Skills to build: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Coordination

Side by side

All Structural Iron and Steel Workers: Texas median $52,240, $10,290 more a year than all Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters ($41,950), every experience level.

More than 40 hours a week: Ironworker 34%, Plumber Helper 27%.

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

$41,950+$10,290$52,240

Gates checked: No degree, license or hours gate on these moves in O*NET 31.0 and the licensing agencies checked for each job.

Outlook 2024 to 2034 whole occupation

A +8.7% Texas, 800 openings a year

B +3.6% Texas, 850 openings a year

Over 40 h a week

27%+7 pts34%

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

3.6 / 5-0.23.4 / 5

Outdoors, all weather-1.25Outdoors, all weather: A 4.12, B 2.87
Hazardous equipment-0.83Hazardous equipment: A 4.46, B 3.63
Cramped space-0.68Cramped space: A 3.63, B 2.95
Protective gear+0.65Protective gear: A 2.82, B 3.47
Very hot or cold-0.49Very hot or cold: A 4.24, B 3.75

Degree

A Most people in this job do not hold a bachelor's degree (O*NET: 10% do).

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

License

A Texas: register as a Plumber's Apprentice with TSBPE ($15, age 16+) to assist with plumbing under a licensed plumber; hours count only after registering.

B 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).

Experience

A Most common related work experience: over 1 year, up to and including 2 years (O*NET: 38%).

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

Skills O*NET importance, 1 to 5

You likely have: 4

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Monitoring

To build: 4

Operations Monitoring +1.25
Operation and Control +1.12
Coordination +0.63
Time Management +0.50

Make this your goal

Save Plumber Helper to Ironworker 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 4 skills to build as a checklist. Free with an account.