Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers

Median salary

$60,070

Average salary

$60,960

Employment

86,340

Projected growth

10.4% growth

Annual openings

9,400

Typical entry education

High school diploma or equivalent

What Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers Do

Install, program, maintain, and repair security and fire alarm wiring and equipment. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes.

See full salary breakdown & percentiles →

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Self-employed: 5.5%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

How Much Preparation Does This Take?

Job Zone 3 of 5

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Job training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Source: O*NET Job Zones.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

Public Safety and Securityimportance 4.1/5
Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.7/5
Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 3.6/5
Telecommunicationsimportance 3.6/5
Building and Constructionimportance 3.3/5
Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.1/5
English Languageimportance 3.1/5
Mechanicalimportance 3.1/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

Telephone Conversations5.0/5
Frequency of Decision Making4.8/5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.7/5
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results4.6/5
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets4.6/5
Contact With Others4.5/5

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers93% skill match
Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles92% skill match
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers92% skill match
Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers91% skill match
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians91% skill match
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters90% skill match
Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment90% skill match
Avionics Technicians89% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

Installationimportance 3.4/5
Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.1/5
Operations Monitoringimportance 3.1/5
Quality Control Analysisimportance 3.1/5
Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.1/5
Troubleshootingimportance 3.0/5
Repairingimportance 3.0/5
Time Managementimportance 3.0/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Hot Technologies

Other Software Used

Exacq Technologies software
Microsoft Hyperterminal
Traceroute

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Integrity
Cautiousness
Perseverance
Stress Tolerance
Achievement Orientation

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

RealisticHigh
ConventionalMedium
InvestigativeMedium
EnterprisingLow
SocialLow
ArtisticLow

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where security and fire alarm systems installers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).