Electrical and Electronic Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

How to become a Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer

Official title: Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers

Also called: 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

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

Main 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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Fire Alarm Inspection Test Maintenance Technician.
Apprenticeship: Protective-Signal Installer.
Licence: A licence is required in 21 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $60,070 a year The middle half earn $47,820 to $73,690.
About 86,300 people work in this job now, and about 92,100 are projected by 2035. (+6.8%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer?

Ways in include: Fire Alarm Inspection Test Maintenance Technician.

How much does a Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $60,070 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $47,820 to $73,690.

Is a Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 7% by 2035, from about 86,300 to about 92,100 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer?

Usually not. Only 13% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Fire Alarm Inspection Test Maintenance Technician.

Will AI change the work of a Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.