Security and fire alarm systems installers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,800 | $18.65 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Mean (average) | $60,960 | $29.31 |
| 90th percentile | $81,150 | $39.01 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Security and fire alarm systems installers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 53 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,710 | $39,660 | $77,550 | 1,350 | 1.15 |
| Alaska | $79,870 | $49,990 | $79,880 | 110 | 0.61 |
| Arizona | $59,680 | $37,760 | $82,050 | 2,040 | 1.13 |
| Arkansas | $48,950 | $35,760 | $67,190 | 620 | 0.86 |
| California | $71,570 | $46,090 | $98,710 | 8,180 | 0.81 |
| Colorado | $62,250 | $46,310 | $95,920 | 1,950 | 1.22 |
| Connecticut | $75,410 | $43,940 | $90,390 | 540 | 0.57 |
| Delaware | $59,680 | $39,300 | $77,290 | 160 | 0.59 |
| District of Columbia | $58,460 | $46,730 | $93,610 | 210 | 0.54 |
| Florida | $60,070 | $38,570 | $75,770 | 8,320 | 1.51 |
| Georgia | $53,100 | $36,990 | $74,950 | 2,220 | 0.82 |
| Guam | $37,450 | $29,730 | $55,660 | 60 | 1.51 |
| Hawaii | $63,140 | $50,210 | $100,670 | 380 | 1.09 |
| Idaho | $49,180 | $35,360 | $76,290 | 340 | 0.72 |
| Illinois | $59,800 | $38,670 | $79,880 | 2,180 | 0.64 |
| Indiana | $58,070 | $41,350 | $78,540 | 1,930 | 1.09 |
| Iowa | $63,750 | $45,250 | $80,240 | 480 | 0.55 |
| Kansas | $61,480 | $46,740 | $76,770 | 740 | 0.92 |
| Kentucky | $60,700 | $45,120 | $75,550 | 1,080 | 0.97 |
| Louisiana | $54,730 | $36,490 | $71,640 | 1,170 | 1.09 |
| Maine | $64,080 | $48,310 | $79,340 | 240 | 0.69 |
| Maryland | $65,330 | $47,200 | $93,680 | 2,230 | 1.45 |
| Massachusetts | $78,530 | $48,740 | $103,820 | 1,690 | 0.84 |
| Michigan | $55,830 | $36,950 | $69,730 | 2,060 | 0.84 |
| Minnesota | $62,440 | $31,220 | $103,240 | 770 | 0.47 |
| Mississippi | $47,160 | $36,950 | $61,010 | 440 | 0.69 |
| Missouri | $54,620 | $41,560 | $75,550 | 1,790 | 1.1 |
| Montana | $58,800 | $49,410 | $98,370 | 190 | 0.68 |
| Nebraska | $48,000 | $42,150 | $76,900 | 490 | 0.87 |
| Nevada | $60,980 | $44,150 | $91,320 | 1,170 | 1.36 |
| New Hampshire | $61,530 | $38,890 | $78,690 | 500 | 1.32 |
| New Jersey | $63,140 | $43,680 | $86,430 | 2,740 | 1.15 |
| New Mexico | $58,350 | $34,900 | $77,220 | 630 | 1.3 |
| New York | $58,550 | $40,210 | $82,910 | 6,620 | 1.23 |
| North Carolina | $54,120 | $37,180 | $75,220 | 2,880 | 1.05 |
| North Dakota | $57,620 | $47,980 | $60,860 | 150 | 0.62 |
| Ohio | $61,860 | $46,240 | $77,980 | 2,440 | 0.79 |
| Oklahoma | $48,240 | $37,760 | $73,820 | 1,340 | 1.41 |
| Oregon | $75,710 | $48,580 | $101,280 | 950 | 0.87 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,500 | $38,290 | $80,260 | 2,650 | 0.79 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,280 | $27,040 | $47,620 | 600 | 1.14 |
| Rhode Island | $76,320 | $44,720 | $77,720 | 240 | 0.87 |
| South Carolina | $59,710 | $35,940 | $76,540 | 1,050 | 0.82 |
| South Dakota | $55,690 | $46,360 | $73,130 | 220 | 0.85 |
| Tennessee | $51,460 | $37,160 | $78,360 | 2,520 | 1.39 |
| Texas | $52,270 | $36,900 | $75,720 | 10,260 | 1.31 |
| Utah | $61,150 | $43,690 | $77,270 | 980 | 1.01 |
| Vermont | $60,080 | $44,280 | $82,220 | 110 | 0.63 |
| Virginia | $60,790 | $40,840 | $78,520 | 2,130 | 0.93 |
| Washington | $72,950 | $48,050 | $99,350 | 1,670 | 0.85 |
| West Virginia | $51,100 | $37,360 | $72,900 | 260 | 0.67 |
| Wisconsin | $61,130 | $45,030 | $78,880 | 770 | 0.47 |
| Wyoming | $59,800 | $39,880 | $80,110 | 150 | 0.95 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for security and fire alarm systems installers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 8,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.9%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for security and fire alarm systems installers
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Electrician CIP 46.0302
- Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician CIP 47.0110
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Install, maintain, or repair security systems, alarm devices, or related equipment, following blueprints of electrical layouts and building plans.
- Mount and fasten control panels, door and window contacts, sensors, or video cameras, and attach electrical and telephone wiring to connect components.
- Demonstrate systems for customers and explain details, such as the causes and consequences of false alarms.
- Test and repair circuits and sensors, following wiring and system specifications.
- Feed cables through access holes, roof spaces, or cavity walls to reach fixture outlets, positioning and terminating cables, wires, or strapping.
- Examine systems to locate problems, such as loose connections or broken insulation.
- Test backup batteries, keypad programming, sirens, or other security features to ensure proper functioning or to diagnose malfunctions.
- Drill holes for wiring in wall studs, joists, ceilings, or floors.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Exacq Technologies software
- Microsoft Hyperterminal
- Traceroute
Transferable skills for career changers: Installation, Complex Problem Solving, Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Judgment and Decision Making, Troubleshooting.
Common job titles: Alarm Technician, Fire Alarm Technician (Fire Alarm Tech), Home Security Alarm Installer, Install Technician, Installation Technician, Installer, Security Installation Technician, Security Installer, Security Technician (Security Tech), Service Technician.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do security and fire alarm systems installers make?
The national median annual wage for security and fire alarm systems installers was $60,070 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,800 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $81,150. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do security and fire alarm systems installers need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is security and fire alarm systems installers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of security and fire alarm systems installers to change +6.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 8,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay security and fire alarm systems installers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($79,870), Massachusetts ($78,530), Rhode Island ($76,320). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.