SOC 49-2098.00Bright outlook

    Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers

    Install, program, maintain, and repair security and fire alarm wiring and equipment.

    Median pay
    $60,070
    Growth
    +6.8%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    8,500
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $38,800
    Median
    $60,070
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $81,150
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    86,340 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Security and fire alarm systems installers set up, program, and repair safety wiring and equipment to protect buildings. This career offers a median annual pay of $60,070, with opportunities for steady employment in a growing field.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What security and fire alarm systems installers do

    Job Zone 3: Medium preparation

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

    Usually vocational training, an associate degree or related experience.

    What the work is like

    These professionals spend their days installing, programming, maintaining, and repairing security and fire alarm wiring and equipment. They must ensure all installations comply with relevant safety codes. Daily activities include inspecting equipment, structures, or materials, repairing electronic systems, and working with computers to program alarms. Installers frequently handle and move physical objects, perform general physical activities, and identify specific objects, actions, and events on site.

    Success in this field requires strong skills in critical thinking, installation, complex problem solving, and active listening. Installers must communicate effectively with supervisors, peers, and customers outside the organization. Key knowledge areas include public safety and security, computers and electronics, telecommunications, and building and construction. Because the work involves safety systems, workers must show strong attention to detail, dependability, integrity, and cautiousness. This career strongly appeals to individuals with realistic interests who enjoy practical, hands-on trouble-shooting and physical work.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, candidates typically need at least a high school diploma. The occupation requires a medium level of preparation, which often includes vocational training, an associate degree, or related on-the-job experience. Students preparing for this field often major in college programs such as electrical and power transmission installation or electrical and electronics maintenance and repair technologies.

    Depending on the location, some states list a license for this work. Professionals can also earn voluntary certifications to demonstrate their expertise. Available credentials include the Certification in Fire Alarm Systems from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies, the Certified Alarm Security Technician from ETA International, and the Certified Alarm Technician - Level I from the Electronic Security Association. Other options include the Certified Fire Alarm ITM Specialist for Facility Managers, the Certified Sprinkler ITM Specialist for Facility Managers, and the Certified Video Technician.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for security and fire alarm systems installers was $60,070. Earnings vary based on experience and location; the lowest 10% of workers earn less than $38,800, while the highest 10% earn more than $81,150.

    With 86,340 people employed in this field, the occupation is projected to grow by 6.8% from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in approximately 8,500 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    95 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    39 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    6 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    10 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    66 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
    84
    Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    82
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    81
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    80
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    78
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    78
    Performing General Physical Activities
    78
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    77
    Working with Computers
    75
    Handling and Moving Objects
    75
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Critical Thinking
    • Installation
    • Speaking
    • Active Listening
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Quality Control Analysis
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Monitoring

    Knowledge

    • Public Safety and Security
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Telecommunications
    • Building and Construction
    • Engineering and Technology
    • English Language
    • Mechanical
    • Education and Training
    • Mathematics

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Expression
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Information Ordering
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Category Flexibility

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Cautiousness
    • Perseverance
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Adaptability
    • Self-Confidence
    • Cooperation

    Also called

    Access Control Technician · Alarm Adjuster · Alarm Installation Tech (Alarm Installation Technician) · Alarm Installer · Alarm Service Tech (Alarm Service Technician) · Alarm Technician · Burglar Alarm Inspector · Burglar Alarm Installer · Burglar Alarm Mechanic · Control Systems Technician

    Career pathway

    From your interests to security and fire alarm systems installers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,070 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Bunker Hill Community College

      Boston, MA · Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians · Associate

      1 yr after
      $126,485
      4 yrs after
      $136,013
      Median debt
      Not reported
    2. 2Western Wyoming Community College logo
      Western Wyoming Community College

      Rock Springs, WY · Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians · Associate

      1 yr after
      $85,961
      4 yrs after
      $120,646
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3Alpena Community College logo
      Alpena Community College

      Alpena, MI · Electrical and Power Transmission Installers · Associate

      1 yr after
      $59,252
      4 yrs after
      $108,690
      Median debt
      $9,564
    4. 4Texas State Technical College logo
      Texas State Technical College

      Waco, TX · Electrical and Power Transmission Installers · Associate

      1 yr after
      $78,758
      4 yrs after
      $107,186
      Median debt
      $9,168
    5. 5Richmond Community College logo
      Richmond Community College

      Hamlet, NC · Electrical and Power Transmission Installers · Associate

      1 yr after
      $71,836
      4 yrs after
      $102,948
      Median debt
      Not reported
    6. 6
      Ivy Tech Community College

      Indianapolis, IN · Electrical and Power Transmission Installers · Associate

      1 yr after
      $85,737
      4 yrs after
      $93,860
      Median debt
      $5,483
    7. 7Minnesota State Community and Technical College logo
      Minnesota State Community and Technical College

      Fergus Falls, MN · Electrical and Power Transmission Installers · Associate

      1 yr after
      $63,636
      4 yrs after
      $90,982
      Median debt
      $12,000
    8. 8State Technical College of Missouri logo
      State Technical College of Missouri

      Linn, MO · Electrical and Power Transmission Installers · Associate

      1 yr after
      $61,782
      4 yrs after
      $90,503
      Median debt
      $12,000

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What security and fire alarm systems installers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Electrician
    • Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    23 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about security and fire alarm systems installers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for this career?

    Workers in this field are also known as access control technicians, alarm installation technicians, burglar alarm inspectors, and control systems technicians.

    What are the primary skills needed for alarm installation?

    Installers need strong skills in critical thinking, equipment installation, speaking, active listening, and complex problem solving. They must also be skilled in quality control analysis and operations monitoring to ensure systems function correctly.

    Is a college degree required to start working in this field?

    No, a college degree is not strictly required, as the typical entry-level education is a high school diploma. However, many workers prepare through vocational training, associate degrees, or related technical experience.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.