Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers Salary

The median security and fire alarm systems installers salary in the United States is $60,070 per year ($28.88/hour). Salaries range from $38,800 at the entry level to $81,150+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 86,340 security and fire alarm systems installers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 10.4% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 Β· Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary
$60,070
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.88
per hour
Employment
86,340
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$38,800
25th percentile
$47,820
Median
$60,070
75th percentile
$73,690
90th percentile
$81,150

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+10.4%
Faster than average

Annual Openings

9,400
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

High school diploma or equivalent

Training Needed

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for security and fire alarm systems installerss.

Security and fire alarm installers pull cable, mount devices, terminate low-voltage wiring, program panels, and commission systems for burglar alarms, fire alarms, access control, video surveillance, and mass notification. The work spans new construction, tenant improvement, and service β€” climbing ladders, crawling attics, running conduit, and troubleshooting 15-year-old panels with missing documentation. Entry $38-52k; established $52-72k; senior tech / lead $68-92k; foreman / supervisor $82-115k. NICET-certified fire techs and access control specialists earn a 15-25% premium; commercial and industrial pay above residential.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Low-voltage cabling and terminations
Pull, terminate, and test cat5e/cat6, RG-6/RG-59, plenum-rated fire cable, and shielded pairs. Read panel schedules and terminate on screw and IDC terminals without shorts.
Fire alarm code (NFPA 72) and inspection
Read the fire alarm plans, understand initiating devices vs notification appliances, calculate voltage drop, verify spacing per NFPA 72, and perform functional acceptance testing.
Panel programming
Program Honeywell VISTA, DSC PowerSeries, Bosch B/G-series, Notifier, Silent Knight, Fire-Lite, and Simplex panels. Zone assignments, user codes, communication paths, and reporting formats.
Access control systems
Wire, install, and commission readers, controllers, and door hardware for Lenel, Genetec, S2, and Kantech. Understand REX, door contacts, mag locks vs strikes, and fail-safe vs fail-secure.
IP video surveillance
Install and commission Axis, Hanwha, Hikvision, and Avigilon IP cameras plus recorders. Configure IP addresses, PoE budgets, PTZ presets, and analytics.
Troubleshooting and service
Meter, tone-and-probe, oscilloscope for alarm buses, and hand tools. Diagnose ground faults, comm failures, and false alarms without a factory-fresh drawing.
Documentation and inspection reports
AHJ-required test reports, red-line drawings, panel programming sheets, and code compliance certifications. Poor documentation is why fire inspectors fail acceptance tests.

How to Become a Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers

  1. 1
    Meet baseline requirements
    18+, high school diploma or GED, valid driver's license, clean driving and criminal record, ability to lift 50 lbs and climb ladders. Alarm and fire alarm work is regulated in most states β€” you'll need a state license or trainee card.
  2. 2
    Apply as a helper or trainee tech
    $18-22/hr entry. National integrators (Convergint, Johnson Controls, ADT Commercial, Securitas Tech) and local low-voltage contractors hire trainees. On-the-job training with a journey-level tech is the norm.
  3. 3
    Earn state trainee/technician license and NICET Level I in Fire Alarm
    State licenses cover burglar and fire alarm categories separately. NICET Level I in Fire Alarm Systems is the entry industry credential and typically triggers a $2-4/hr pay bump.
  4. 4
    Advance to full technician (Level II/III)
    $26-38/hr. Own residential and small commercial installs, service calls, and basic programming. Add NICET II, low-voltage electrical (state-specific), and manufacturer certifications (Notifier, Simplex, Lenel, Axis).
  5. 5
    Progress to Lead / Foreman / Project Manager
    $38-58/hr or salaried. Run crews, read prints, coordinate with the GC and AHJ, run acceptance testing, and manage change orders. Some techs go to sales engineering or estimating; others to PM or ops management.

Career Progression

Trainee Technician / Helper
0-2 yrs$38-52k ($18-22/hr + overtime)
  • β€’Pull cable, mount devices, terminate under supervision
  • β€’Ride with a journey-level tech on installs and service calls
  • β€’Learn panel programming basics and code fundamentals
  • β€’Study for NICET I and state trainee credential
Next: Full Technician at 12-24 months once signed off on basic installs.
Full Technician (Established)
2-8 yrs$52-72k ($24-32/hr + overtime + on-call)
  • β€’Own installs on residential and small commercial projects
  • β€’Program common panels independently
  • β€’Service calls with limited support
  • β€’Complete acceptance testing with AHJ walkthroughs
Next: Senior Technician or Foreman at 5-9 years.
Senior / Lead Technician / Commissioning Tech
5-12 yrs$68-92k ($32-42/hr + overtime)
  • β€’Commission complex fire alarm, access control, and video systems
  • β€’Own AHJ acceptance testing on major commercial projects
  • β€’Mentor trainees and full techs
  • β€’Troubleshoot systems no one else on the crew can fix
Next: Foreman, Project Manager, or Field Superintendent at 8-14 years.
Foreman / Project Manager / Field Supervisor
10+ yrs$82-115k salaried + vehicle + bonus
  • β€’Run crews of 3-12 techs on multi-month projects
  • β€’Read prints, submit RFIs, coordinate with GC, EE, and AHJ
  • β€’Own project P&L and change order management
  • β€’Interface with sales, design engineers, and customers
Next: Operations Manager, Director of Field Ops, or launch own low-voltage contracting business.

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 13 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through commissioning a fire alarm panel for a 4-story commercial building.technical
Start with the plans and submittals. Verify device count and locations match the drawings. Program the panel β€” zones, addresses, notification circuits, reporting to the central station and the AHJ. Power up in stages. Test every initiating device (pull stations, smoke, heat, waterflow). Test every notification appliance for audibility (75 dBA above ambient is a common minimum) and visibility (candela ratings). Test elevator recall, HVAC shutdown, magnetic hold-opens, and door releases. Prepare the NFPA 72 acceptance test report. Walk the AHJ. Correct deficiencies same day if possible. Interviewers want detail on the sequence and the code references.
Q2. How do you troubleshoot a fire panel showing a persistent trouble condition after a device change?technical
Start with the panel display β€” is it a specific zone or general trouble? Verify the device installed matches the model in the panel database. Check wiring β€” no shorts, opens, or ground faults on a megger. Verify polarity on 2-wire smokes. Check end-of-line resistors on Class B circuits. Confirm any programming change was uploaded and saved. Compare current draw vs battery and power supply capacity β€” a large device addition can push standby time below NFPA-required hours. Rule out AHJ-required updates to the programming database.
Q3. Describe a difficult install you led.behavioral
STAR with real detail. Situation: a 180,000 sq ft warehouse retrofit β€” new fire alarm plus access control and 240 IP cameras β€” with 6 weeks to acceptance. Task: your role as lead tech. Action: sequenced cable pulls to follow the GC's ceiling schedule, split the crew into cable, device, and programming teams, and pre-programmed panels off-site before shipping. Result: passed AHJ acceptance on the first walk with 3 minor punch items, no callbacks in the first 90 days. Interviewers want to hear sequencing and problem prevention.
Q4. Why alarm / low-voltage and not general electrical?culture
The honest answer that lands: you like the mix of hands-on work and system programming. You want a trade where the technology is always moving β€” IP video, access control, network integration β€” and where NICET certifications create clear pay ladders. Avoid saying 'because I don't want to go to college' β€” say something about the specific work. Name a specific installer, integrator, or project that shaped the choice.
Q5. Where do you see your career in 5 years?closer
Show the tracks: senior tech with NICET III/IV, foreman/PM, sales engineer, or ownership. Say which you're leaning toward and why. Naming manufacturer certifications you plan to add (Notifier, Lenel, Genetec, Axis) signals concrete depth.

Resume Template β€” Full Technician (2-8 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Full Technician (2-8 yrs)
  • β–ΈCommissioned 45+ commercial fire alarm systems in FY24 across office, retail, and light industrial buildings; zero AHJ re-inspections required.
  • β–ΈNICET II Fire Alarm Systems + state low-voltage license + Notifier and Lenel manufacturer certifications.
  • β–ΈAveraged 92% first-time-fix rate on service calls; on the on-call rotation weekly.
  • β–Έ$62k base + $8k overtime + $3k on-call + company vehicle + full benefits.

What Gets You Rejected

  • βœ—No NICET plans β€” Level I is the industry entry credential and Level II or above is expected within 3-5 years.
  • βœ—Weak code fluency β€” cannot cite NFPA 72 spacing rules or ADA candela requirements from memory.
  • βœ—Fear of heights or unwilling to work in attics, crawl spaces, or on ladders 12-30 ft up.
  • βœ—Poor troubleshooting β€” can only install, cannot service a panel that's already in place.
  • βœ—No willingness to work overtime, on-call, or after-hours during commissioning windows.
  • βœ—Careless documentation β€” missing red-lines and incomplete acceptance test reports fail AHJ inspections.
  • βœ—Any recent driving-record issues that would fail commercial insurance requirements for a company vehicle.

Salary Negotiation Levers

  • βœ“NICET certifications drive pay ladders: NICET I typically $2-4/hr bump, NICET II $4-6/hr, NICET III $6-9/hr, NICET IV $8-12/hr.
  • βœ“Manufacturer certifications (Notifier, Simplex, Fire-Lite, Lenel, Genetec, Axis) trigger additional $1-3/hr premiums each.
  • βœ“On-call and after-hours differentials are 1.5x-2x base and can add $6-15k/yr.
  • βœ“Company vehicle, phone, and tools are worth $4-8k in effective value β€” negotiate the take-home vehicle policy.
  • βœ“Sign-on bonuses of $2,500-8,000 are increasingly common at national integrators short on techs.
  • βœ“Union roles (IBEW low-voltage locals) have negotiated pay steps, pension, and health.
  • βœ“Referral bonuses of $1,500-4,000 per hired peer β€” a real income stream for well-networked techs.

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Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) β†’

Salary Map β€” Click a state for details

$47K
$80Kβ–  No data

Top Paying States

Alaska
$80K
+33%
Massachusetts
$79K
+31%
Rhode Island
$76K
+27%
Oregon
$76K
+26%
Connecticut
$75K
+26%
Washington
$73K
+21%
California
$72K
+19%
Maryland
$65K
+9%
Maine
$64K
+7%
Iowa
$64K
+6%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
StateMedianvs. National
Alaska$79,870+33.0%
Massachusetts$78,530+30.7%
Rhode Island$76,320+27.1%
Oregon$75,710+26.0%
Connecticut$75,410+25.5%
Washington$72,950+21.4%
California$71,570+19.1%
Maryland$65,330+8.8%
Maine$64,080+6.7%
Iowa$63,750+6.1%
1–10 of 51

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$81,980+36.5%
Salem, OR$81,500+35.7%
Kahului-Wailuku, HI$81,340+35.4%
Worcester, MA$80,480+34.0%
Anchorage, AK$79,870+33.0%
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$79,350+32.1%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$78,560+30.8%
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA$76,630+27.6%
Vallejo, CA$76,390+27.2%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$75,910+26.4%
1–10 of 205
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
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A security and fire alarm systems installers earning $60,070/year would need 992 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1065 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
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View Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers salary trend (2011–2024) β†’