Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) earn a median $60,070 a year ($28.88 an hour) in the United States, with 86,340 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What security and fire alarm systems installers do
Security and fire alarm systems installers install, program, maintain and repair the wiring and equipment of security and fire alarm systems, and make sure the work follows relevant codes. They follow blueprints of electrical layouts and building plans, mount and fasten control panels, door and window contacts, sensors and video cameras, and attach electrical and telephone wiring to connect the components. Cables are fed through access holes, roof spaces and cavity walls to reach fixture outlets, and holes are drilled for wiring in wall studs, joists, ceilings or floors. They test and repair circuits and sensors against wiring and system specifications, examine systems for problems such as loose connections or broken insulation, and test backup batteries, keypad programming, sirens and other security features. They also show customers how the systems work and explain matters such as why false alarms occur and what follows from them. Electricians (47-2111), who do a broad range of electrical wiring, are excluded.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most common level is a postsecondary certificate earned through a training program after high school.
Also called: Access Control Technician, Alarm Adjuster, Alarm Installation Tech (Alarm Installation Technician), Alarm Installer, Alarm Service Tech (Alarm Service Technician).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $18.65 | $22.99 | $28.88 | $35.43 | $39.01 | $29.31 | 86,340 |
| Annual | $38,800 | $47,820 | $60,070 | $73,690 | $81,150 | $60,960 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where security and fire alarm systems installers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $24.03 | $27.69 | $38.40 | $38.40 | $38.41 | $33.19 | 110 | 0.34 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $49,990 | $57,600 | $79,870 | $79,880 | $79,880 | $69,040 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $23.43 | $29.19 | $37.76 | $47.02 | $49.92 | $37.77 | 1,690 | 0.47 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $48,740 | $60,720 | $78,530 | $97,800 | $103,820 | $78,560 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $21.50 | $22.42 | $36.69 | $37.36 | $37.36 | $31.49 | 240 | 0.49 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $44,720 | $46,630 | $76,320 | $77,720 | $77,720 | $65,510 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $23.35 | $27.40 | $36.40 | $46.56 | $48.69 | $35.94 | 950 | 0.49 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $48,580 | $57,000 | $75,710 | $96,840 | $101,280 | $74,760 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $21.12 | $28.84 | $36.26 | $37.65 | $43.46 | $33.23 | 540 | 0.32 | 0.57 |
| Annual | $43,940 | $59,990 | $75,410 | $78,320 | $90,390 | $69,120 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.74 | $21.03 | $25.13 | $29.75 | $36.41 | $26.06 | 10,260 | 0.73 | 1.31 |
| Annual | $36,900 | $43,740 | $52,270 | $61,870 | $75,720 | $54,210 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.54 | $23.41 | $28.88 | $30.26 | $36.43 | $28.06 | 8,320 | 0.84 | 1.51 |
| Annual | $38,570 | $48,700 | $60,070 | $62,940 | $75,770 | $58,360 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $22.16 | $27.49 | $34.41 | $38.35 | $47.46 | $34.14 | 8,180 | 0.45 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $46,090 | $57,180 | $71,570 | $79,760 | $98,710 | $71,000 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $19.33 | $22.68 | $28.15 | $35.84 | $39.86 | $29.22 | 6,620 | 0.68 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $40,210 | $47,180 | $58,550 | $74,550 | $82,910 | $60,780 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $17.88 | $22.02 | $26.02 | $30.40 | $36.16 | $26.58 | 2,880 | 0.58 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $37,180 | $45,790 | $54,120 | $63,240 | $75,220 | $55,280 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $26.91 | $35.63 | $39.41 | $47.08 | $58.25 | $41.53 | 320 | 0.28 | 0.50 |
| Annual | $55,980 | $74,110 | $81,980 | $97,920 | $121,160 | $86,380 | ||||
| Salem, OR | Hourly | $18.51 | $28.21 | $39.18 | $45.01 | $45.65 | $36.22 | 70 | 0.38 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $38,510 | $58,670 | $81,500 | $93,620 | $94,960 | $75,340 | ||||
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | Hourly | $28.49 | $30.26 | $39.11 | $39.83 | $50.80 | $36.44 | 30 | 0.43 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $59,270 | $62,940 | $81,340 | $82,850 | $105,670 | $75,800 | ||||
| Worcester, MA | Hourly | $22.75 | $29.58 | $38.69 | $47.02 | $47.02 | $38.23 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $47,320 | $61,530 | $80,480 | $97,800 | $97,800 | $79,520 | ||||
| Anchorage, AK | Hourly | $24.03 | $27.69 | $38.40 | $38.40 | $38.41 | $32.97 | 100 | 0.57 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $49,990 | $57,600 | $79,870 | $79,880 | $79,880 | $68,570 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $21.00 | $22.68 | $28.50 | $37.49 | $42.33 | $30.15 | 6,850 | 0.72 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $43,680 | $47,180 | $59,280 | $77,970 | $88,050 | $62,720 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $18.20 | $21.80 | $27.85 | $29.93 | $37.27 | $27.10 | 3,550 | 0.88 | 1.58 |
| Annual | $37,860 | $45,350 | $57,930 | $62,260 | $77,520 | $56,380 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.44 | $28.25 | $34.41 | $37.84 | $47.74 | $34.04 | 2,960 | 0.47 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $46,680 | $58,760 | $71,570 | $78,700 | $99,300 | $70,810 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $17.77 | $21.40 | $27.37 | $29.85 | $36.63 | $26.41 | 2,500 | 0.76 | 1.37 |
| Annual | $36,950 | $44,510 | $56,920 | $62,080 | $76,190 | $54,930 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $18.01 | $23.60 | $29.11 | $30.18 | $36.82 | $27.56 | 2,220 | 0.79 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $37,470 | $49,100 | $60,560 | $62,770 | $76,590 | $57,320 | ||||
Top industries employing security and fire alarm systems installers
Investigation and Security Services employ 64.8% of security and fire alarm systems installers nationally (55,920 jobs) at a median $60,240 a year ($28.96 an hour), followed by Building Equipment Contractors (24.1%) and Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) (4.7%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation and Security Services NAICS 561600 | 55,920 | 64.8% | $60,240 | $28.96 |
| Building Equipment Contractors NAICS 238200 | 20,830 | 24.1% | $60,050 | $28.87 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) NAICS 4230A1 | 4,030 | 4.7% | $56,060 | $26.95 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 780 | 0.9% | $47,600 | $22.89 |
| Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers NAICS 423800 | 700 | 0.8% | $57,870 | $27.82 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (86,340). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $48,320 for security and fire alarm systems installers in May 2021 and $60,070 in May 2025, with employment of 77,420 and 86,340.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $48,320 | $23.23 | 77,420 |
| May 2022 | $50,130 | $24.10 | 80,720 |
| May 2023 | $56,430 | $27.13 | 83,540 |
| May 2024 | $59,300 | $28.51 | 81,510 |
| May 2025 | $60,070 | $28.88 | 86,340 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $38.40 | $79,870 | $49,990 | $79,880 | 110 | 0.34 | 0.61 |
| 2 | Massachusetts profile | $37.76 | $78,530 | $48,740 | $103,820 | 1,690 | 0.47 | 0.84 |
| 3 | Rhode Island profile | $36.69 | $76,320 | $44,720 | $77,720 | 240 | 0.49 | 0.87 |
| 4 | Oregon profile | $36.40 | $75,710 | $48,580 | $101,280 | 950 | 0.49 | 0.87 |
| 5 | Connecticut profile | $36.26 | $75,410 | $43,940 | $90,390 | 540 | 0.32 | 0.57 |
| 6 | Washington profile | $35.07 | $72,950 | $48,050 | $99,350 | 1,670 | 0.47 | 0.85 |
| 7 | California profile | $34.41 | $71,570 | $46,090 | $98,710 | 8,180 | 0.45 | 0.81 |
| 8 | Maryland profile | $31.41 | $65,330 | $47,200 | $93,680 | 2,230 | 0.81 | 1.45 |
| 9 | Maine profile | $30.81 | $64,080 | $48,310 | $79,340 | 240 | 0.38 | 0.69 |
| 10 | Iowa profile | $30.65 | $63,750 | $45,250 | $80,240 | 480 | 0.31 | 0.55 |
| 11 | Hawaii profile | $30.36 | $63,140 | $50,210 | $100,670 | 380 | 0.61 | 1.09 |
| 12 | New Jersey profile | $30.36 | $63,140 | $43,680 | $86,430 | 2,740 | 0.64 | 1.15 |
| 13 | Minnesota profile | $30.02 | $62,440 | $31,220 | $103,240 | 770 | 0.26 | 0.47 |
| 14 | Colorado profile | $29.93 | $62,250 | $46,310 | $95,920 | 1,950 | 0.68 | 1.22 |
| 15 | Ohio profile | $29.74 | $61,860 | $46,240 | $77,980 | 2,440 | 0.44 | 0.79 |
| 16 | New Hampshire profile | $29.58 | $61,530 | $38,890 | $78,690 | 500 | 0.73 | 1.32 |
| 17 | Kansas profile | $29.56 | $61,480 | $46,740 | $76,770 | 740 | 0.51 | 0.92 |
| 18 | Utah profile | $29.40 | $61,150 | $43,690 | $77,270 | 980 | 0.56 | 1.01 |
| 19 | Wisconsin profile | $29.39 | $61,130 | $45,030 | $78,880 | 770 | 0.26 | 0.47 |
| 20 | Nevada profile | $29.32 | $60,980 | $44,150 | $91,320 | 1,170 | 0.76 | 1.36 |
| 21 | Virginia profile | $29.23 | $60,790 | $40,840 | $78,520 | 2,130 | 0.52 | 0.93 |
| 22 | Alabama profile | $29.19 | $60,710 | $39,660 | $77,550 | 1,350 | 0.64 | 1.15 |
| 23 | Kentucky profile | $29.18 | $60,700 | $45,120 | $75,550 | 1,080 | 0.54 | 0.97 |
| 24 | Vermont profile | $28.89 | $60,080 | $44,280 | $82,220 | 110 | 0.35 | 0.63 |
| 25 | Florida profile | $28.88 | $60,070 | $38,570 | $75,770 | 8,320 | 0.84 | 1.51 |
| 26 | Illinois profile | $28.75 | $59,800 | $38,670 | $79,880 | 2,180 | 0.36 | 0.64 |
| 27 | Wyoming profile | $28.75 | $59,800 | $39,880 | $80,110 | 150 | 0.53 | 0.95 |
| 28 | South Carolina profile | $28.71 | $59,710 | $35,940 | $76,540 | 1,050 | 0.46 | 0.82 |
| 29 | Arizona profile | $28.69 | $59,680 | $37,760 | $82,050 | 2,040 | 0.63 | 1.13 |
| 30 | Delaware profile | $28.69 | $59,680 | $39,300 | $77,290 | 160 | 0.33 | 0.59 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania profile | $28.61 | $59,500 | $38,290 | $80,260 | 2,650 | 0.44 | 0.79 |
| 32 | Montana profile | $28.27 | $58,800 | $49,410 | $98,370 | 190 | 0.38 | 0.68 |
| 33 | New York profile | $28.15 | $58,550 | $40,210 | $82,910 | 6,620 | 0.68 | 1.23 |
| 34 | District of Columbia profile | $28.11 | $58,460 | $46,730 | $93,610 | 210 | 0.30 | 0.54 |
| 35 | New Mexico profile | $28.05 | $58,350 | $34,900 | $77,220 | 630 | 0.72 | 1.30 |
| 36 | Indiana profile | $27.92 | $58,070 | $41,350 | $78,540 | 1,930 | 0.60 | 1.09 |
| 37 | North Dakota profile | $27.70 | $57,620 | $47,980 | $60,860 | 150 | 0.35 | 0.62 |
| 38 | Michigan profile | $26.84 | $55,830 | $36,950 | $69,730 | 2,060 | 0.47 | 0.84 |
| 39 | South Dakota profile | $26.77 | $55,690 | $46,360 | $73,130 | 220 | 0.48 | 0.85 |
| 40 | Louisiana profile | $26.31 | $54,730 | $36,490 | $71,640 | 1,170 | 0.60 | 1.09 |
| 41 | Missouri profile | $26.26 | $54,620 | $41,560 | $75,550 | 1,790 | 0.61 | 1.10 |
| 42 | North Carolina profile | $26.02 | $54,120 | $37,180 | $75,220 | 2,880 | 0.58 | 1.05 |
| 43 | Georgia profile | $25.53 | $53,100 | $36,990 | $74,950 | 2,220 | 0.45 | 0.82 |
| 44 | Texas profile | $25.13 | $52,270 | $36,900 | $75,720 | 10,260 | 0.73 | 1.31 |
| 45 | Tennessee profile | $24.74 | $51,460 | $37,160 | $78,360 | 2,520 | 0.77 | 1.39 |
| 46 | West Virginia profile | $24.57 | $51,100 | $37,360 | $72,900 | 260 | 0.37 | 0.67 |
| 47 | Idaho profile | $23.65 | $49,180 | $35,360 | $76,290 | 340 | 0.40 | 0.72 |
| 48 | Arkansas profile | $23.53 | $48,950 | $35,760 | $67,190 | 620 | 0.48 | 0.86 |
| 49 | Oklahoma profile | $23.19 | $48,240 | $37,760 | $73,820 | 1,340 | 0.79 | 1.41 |
| 50 | Nebraska profile | $23.08 | $48,000 | $42,150 | $76,900 | 490 | 0.48 | 0.87 |
| 51 | Mississippi profile | $22.67 | $47,160 | $36,950 | $61,010 | 440 | 0.38 | 0.69 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-2090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-2098 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-2098, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-2098.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.