Best programs to become a security and fire alarm systems installer
You do not need a college degree to become a security and fire alarm systems installer. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The fields of study that lead most directly to this job are Electrician, as well as Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician (IPEDS completions).
2 college programs at 505 schools train security and fire alarm systems installers, graduating 35,345 people a year (IPEDS completions). The job pays a median of $60,070 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
About security and fire alarm systems installers
Install, program, maintain, and repair security and fire alarm wiring and equipment. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes.
Best programs to study to become a security and fire alarm systems installer
Ranked by graduates per year (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are College Scorecard figures for people who finished the program, reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. That is a different measurement from the occupation-wide wages further down this page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 46.0302 | 35,302 | 99.9% | 505 | $39,766 | $9,500 |
| 2 | CIP 47.0110 | 43 | 0.1% | 3 | $37,415 | $9,500 |
Top 50 schools by graduates into this job
Counting every feeder program a school offers, not just its largest one.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ivy Tech Community College Indianapolis, IN Public · 1 feeder program | 749 | Electrician | 40% | — | — |
| 2 | Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College Bowling Green, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 635 | Electrician | 58% | — | — |
| 3 | Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Elizabethtown, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 633 | Electrician | 59% | — | — |
| 4 | City Colleges of Chicago - Richard J Daley College Chicago, IL Public · 1 feeder program | 622 | Electrician | 27% | — | — |
| 5 | Owensboro Community and Technical College Owensboro, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 551 | Electrician | 54% | — | — |
| 6 | Apex Technical School Long Island City, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder program | 549 | Electrician | 78% | $17,771 | — |
| 7 | Lincoln Technical Institute - Union Union, NJ Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 520 | Electrician | 75% | $26,378 | — |
| 8 | NUC University Bayamon, PR Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 464 | Electrician | 54% | $9,377 | — |
| 9 | UEI College - Reseda Reseda, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 464 | Electrician | 74% | $27,592 | — |
| 10 | Bluegrass Community and Technical College Lexington, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 460 | Electrician | 43% | — | — |
| 11 | Lincoln Technical Institute - Whitestone Whitestone, NY Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 447 | Electrician | 67% | $34,271 | — |
| 12 | Tulsa Welding School - Houston Houston, TX Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 393 | Electrician | 70% | $34,116 | — |
| 13 | Gateway Community and Technical College Florence, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 358 | Electrician | 59% | — | — |
| 14 | UEI College - Riverside Riverside, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 348 | Electrician | 71% | $27,181 | — |
| 15 | Institute for Business and Technology San Jose, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 311 | Electrician | 84% | $26,509 | — |
| 16 | UEI College - Chula Vista Chula Vista, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 306 | Electrician | 71% | $28,465 | — |
| 17 | Lincoln College of Technology - Melrose Park Melrose Park, IL Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 302 | Electrician | 68% | $25,508 | — |
| 18 | J F Ingram State Technical College Deatsville, AL Public · 1 feeder program | 297 | Electrician | 21% | — | — |
| 19 | Lincoln Technical Institute - Mahwah Mahwah, NJ Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 282 | Electrician | 79% | $29,877 | — |
| 20 | UEI College - Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 279 | Electrician | 68% | $29,687 | — |
| 21 | Summit College San Bernardino, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 277 | Electrician | 62% | $25,402 | — |
| 22 | UEI College - West Covina West Covina, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 277 | Electrician | 67% | $27,767 | — |
| 23 | UEI College - Sacramento Sacramento, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 269 | Electrician | 60% | $28,742 | — |
| 24 | SOWELA Technical Community College Lake Charles, LA Public · 1 feeder program | 265 | Electrician | 43% | — | — |
| 25 | UEI College - Stockton Stockton, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 265 | Electrician | 71% | $27,036 | — |
| 26 | Pennco Tech - Blackwood Blackwood, NJ Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 264 | Electrician | 72% | $23,217 | — |
| 27 | Ashland Community and Technical College Ashland, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 260 | Electrician | 51% | — | — |
| 28 | Ogden - Weber Technical College Ogden, UT Public · 1 feeder program | 260 | Electrician | 53% | — | — |
| 29 | UEI College - Garden Grove Garden Grove, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 259 | Electrician | 63% | $26,221 | — |
| 30 | UEI College - Phoenix Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 258 | Electrician | 57% | $32,886 | — |
| 31 | Somerset Community College Somerset, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 255 | Electrician | 43% | — | — |
| 32 | UEI College - Ontario Ontario, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 254 | Electrician | 66% | $27,167 | — |
| 33 | San Joaquin Valley College - Modesto Salida, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 253 | Electrician | 77% | $25,571 | — |
| 34 | UEI College - Gardena Gardena, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 250 | Electrician | 60% | $28,919 | — |
| 35 | National Career Education Citrus Heights, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 248 | Electrician | 83% | $25,889 | — |
| 36 | Southern California Institute of Technology Anaheim, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 241 | Electrician | 74% | $29,667 | 74% |
| 37 | Wake Technical Community College Raleigh, NC Public · 1 feeder program | 240 | Electrician | 33% | — | — |
| 38 | Foothill College Los Altos Hills, CA Public · 1 feeder program | 235 | Electrician | 56% | — | — |
| 39 | Southern Careers Institute - Brownsville Brownsville, TX Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 231 | Electrician | 68% | $17,794 | — |
| 40 | Pitt Community College Winterville, NC Public · 1 feeder program | 225 | Electrician | 35% | — | — |
| 41 | Tulsa Welding School - Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 218 | Electrician | 73% | $28,537 | — |
| 42 | UEI College - Huntington Park Huntington Park, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 218 | Electrician | 70% | $29,313 | — |
| 43 | Northshore Technical Community College Lacombe, LA Public · 1 feeder program | 216 | Electrician | 40% | — | — |
| 44 | Big Sandy Community and Technical College Prestonsburg, KY Public · 1 feeder program | 205 | Electrician | 38% | — | — |
| 45 | San Joaquin Valley College - Ontario Ontario, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 201 | Electrician | 64% | $26,900 | — |
| 46 | Pennco Tech - Bristol Bristol, PA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 200 | Electrician | 84% | $22,272 | — |
| 47 | UEI College - Oceanside Oceanside, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 198 | Electrician | 69% | $26,941 | — |
| 48 | Escuela Tecnica de Electricidad Ponce, PR Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 196 | Electrician | 95% | $8,859 | — |
| 49 | Refrigeration School Inc Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 196 | Electrician | 76% | $26,791 | — |
| 50 | San Joaquin Valley College - Temecula Temecula, CA Private for-profit · 1 feeder program | 196 | Electrician | 82% | $27,730 | — |
Fields of study that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level, the tier our program pages are built on. Numbers are graduates per year.
What security and fire alarm systems installers earn
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
Top-paying states
Top-paying metro areas
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Where the jobs are, state by state
Pick a state for in-state pay, the schools there, and the programs they run.
| State | Median pay | Jobs | Concentration | Schools | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | $71,570 | 8,180 | 0.81× | 52 | 7,464 |
| Kentucky | $60,700 | 1,080 | 0.97× | 16 | 3,918 |
| Texas | $52,270 | 10,260 | 1.31× | 23 | 1,974 |
| North Carolina | $54,120 | 2,880 | 1.05× | 40 | 1,665 |
| New Jersey | $63,140 | 2,740 | 1.15× | 13 | 1,589 |
| Florida | $60,070 | 8,320 | 1.51× | 38 | 1,390 |
| Georgia | $53,100 | 2,220 | 0.82× | 22 | 1,201 |
| Illinois | $59,800 | 2,180 | 0.64× | 10 | 1,163 |
| Louisiana | $54,730 | 1,170 | 1.09× | 12 | 1,148 |
| New York | $58,550 | 6,620 | 1.23× | 5 | 1,095 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,500 | 2,650 | 0.79× | 18 | 1,077 |
| Arizona | $59,680 | 2,040 | 1.13× | 12 | 910 |
| Indianamoderate | $58,070 | 1,930 | 1.09× | 3 | 909 |
| Alabama | $60,710 | 1,350 | 1.15× | 9 | 797 |
| Minnesota | $62,440 | 770 | 0.47× | 15 | 683 |
| Oklahoma | $48,240 | 1,340 | 1.41× | 18 | 665 |
| Mississippi | $47,160 | 440 | 0.69× | 14 | 650 |
| Utah | $61,150 | 980 | 1.01× | 10 | 632 |
| Connecticut | $75,410 | 540 | 0.57× | 6 | 545 |
| Virginia | $60,790 | 2,130 | 0.93× | 17 | 472 |
| Nevadamoderate | $60,980 | 1,170 | 1.36× | 4 | 401 |
| Wisconsin | $61,130 | 770 | 0.47× | 10 | 352 |
| Kansas | $61,480 | 740 | 0.92× | 12 | 324 |
| Nebraska | $48,000 | 490 | 0.87× | 5 | 304 |
| Ohio | $61,860 | 2,440 | 0.79× | 13 | 287 |
| Colorado | $62,250 | 1,950 | 1.22× | 5 | 268 |
| Tennessee | $51,460 | 2,520 | 1.39× | 11 | 262 |
| Michigan | $55,830 | 2,060 | 0.84× | 10 | 215 |
| New Mexico | $58,350 | 630 | 1.30× | 5 | 184 |
| Marylandlimited | $65,330 | 2,230 | 1.45× | 2 | 176 |
| Washington | $72,950 | 1,670 | 0.85× | 5 | 165 |
| Iowa | $63,750 | 480 | 0.55× | 7 | 157 |
| Maine | $64,080 | 240 | 0.69× | 6 | 152 |
| Rhode Islandlimited | $76,320 | 240 | 0.87× | 2 | 138 |
| West Virginia | $51,100 | 260 | 0.67× | 6 | 104 |
| South Dakotamoderate | $55,690 | 220 | 0.85× | 4 | 84 |
| South Carolina | $59,710 | 1,050 | 0.82× | 6 | 76 |
| North Dakotalimited | $57,620 | 150 | 0.62× | 2 | 72 |
| Hawaiimoderate | $63,140 | 380 | 1.09× | 3 | 71 |
| Massachusettslimited | $78,530 | 1,690 | 0.84× | 2 | 61 |
| Missourimoderate | $54,620 | 1,790 | 1.10× | 3 | 49 |
| Wyomingmoderate | $59,800 | 150 | 0.95× | 4 | 44 |
| New Hampshirelimited | $61,530 | 500 | 1.32× | 1 | 21 |
| Delawarelimited | $59,680 | 160 | 0.59× | 1 | 20 |
| Montanalimited | $58,800 | 190 | 0.68× | 1 | 16 |
| Arkansaslimited | $48,950 | 620 | 0.86× | 1 | 5 |
| Oregonlimited | $75,710 | 950 | 0.87× | 1 | 3 |
| Idaholimited | $49,180 | 340 | 0.72× | 1 | 1 |
Skills and knowledge
From O*NET, the U.S. Department of Labor's occupational database. Importance is a 1 to 5 scale.
What they do day to day
- 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.
Skills
- Critical Thinking3.4
- Speaking3.4
- Active Listening3.3
- Reading Comprehension3.1
- Monitoring3.0
- Writing2.9
- Active Learning2.9
- Learning Strategies2.4
Knowledge areas
- Public Safety and Security4.1
- Computers and Electronics3.7
- Customer and Personal Service3.6
- Telecommunications3.6
- Building and Construction3.3
- Engineering and Technology3.1
Abilities
- Oral Comprehension3.8
- Problem Sensitivity3.8
- Near Vision3.5
- Oral Expression3.5
- Information Ordering3.4
- Manual Dexterity3.4
Core activities
- Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment4.4
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization4.3
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge4.3
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events4.2
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems4.1
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.1
How to get in
How to become a security and fire alarm systems installer
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
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.
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 2 majors mapped to Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers2 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 46.0302Electrician
- 47.0110Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician
Related careers
Jobs O*NET identifies as close to this one, with their own pay and outlook.
Common questions
What degree do you need to become a security and fire alarm systems installer?+
You do not need a college degree to become a security and fire alarm systems installer. BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The fields of study that lead most directly to this job are Electrician, as well as Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician (IPEDS completions).
Which college majors lead to becoming a security and fire alarm systems installer?+
The fields of study that lead most directly to this job are Electrician, as well as Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician (IPEDS completions). In all, the NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 2 programs to this job, which together graduate about 35,345 people a year.
How much do security and fire alarm systems installers earn?+
The median is $60,070 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). The middle range runs from $38,800 at the 10th percentile to $81,150 at the 90th. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for security and fire alarm systems installers growing?+
BLS projects a +10.4% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, much faster than average, with roughly 9,400 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career?+
505 institutions reported graduates from at least one of the 2 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do security and fire alarm systems installers work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Alarm Technician, Service Technician, Installation Technician, Fire Alarm Technician (Fire Alarm Tech) among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 49-2098.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024-25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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