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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.
Other titles employers use
Alarm Technician · Fire Alarm Technician (Fire Alarm Tech) · Home Security Alarm Installer · Install Technician · Installation Technician · Installer · Security Installation Technician · Security Installer
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and analytical work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Installation
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Complex Problem Solving
Subjects to know
- Public Safety and Security
- Computers and Electronics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Telecommunications
- Building and Construction
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Oral Expression
- Near Vision
- Deductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.5 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 4.3 | Standing or moving for most of it |
| Talking face to face | 4.7 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.8 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 57%
- High school or less 41%
- A two-year degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Operating system software
- Word processing software
- Video creation and editing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 13,010
- Job openings each year
- 1,470
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 24.1%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 13,010 | 1,470 | 24.1% |
| California | 10,200 | 1,130 | 15.9% |
| Florida | 8,780 | 960 | 12.3% |
| New York | 5,430 | 40 | 8.6% |
| New Jersey | 4,250 | 450 | 3.2% |
| Maryland | 3,090 | 330 | 4.4% |
| Georgia | 2,970 | 330 | 13.8% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,900 | 300 | 2.5% |
| Missouri | 2,760 | 290 | 6.2% |
| Virginia | 2,750 | 290 | 4.6% |
| Colorado | 2,640 | 290 | 13.3% |
| Arizona | 2,620 | 290 | 14.4% |
| North Carolina | 2,540 | 270 | 9.0% |
| Illinois | 2,450 | 260 | 5.2% |
| Ohio | 2,370 | 250 | 2.6% |
| Tennessee | 2,060 | 220 | 10.8% |
| Washington | 2,010 | 270 | 27.2% |
| Indiana | 1,750 | 180 | 3.6% |
| Utah | 1,430 | 160 | 25.4% |
| Alabama | 1,310 | 140 | 6.5% |
| Oregon | 1,210 | 130 | 17.5% |
| Louisiana | 1,130 | 120 | 1.8% |
| Minnesota | 1,120 | 120 | 8.7% |
| Puerto Rico | 1,020 | 110 | 12.1% |
| Nevada | 990 | 110 | 13.8% |
| Oklahoma | 930 | 100 | 12.0% |
| Michigan | 870 | 90 | −1.1% |
| Kansas | 860 | 90 | 3.6% |
| South Carolina | 840 | 90 | 13.5% |
| Massachusetts | 800 | 80 | 3.9% |
| Kentucky | 700 | 70 | 7.7% |
| Wisconsin | 670 | 70 | 6.3% |
| Nebraska | 620 | 70 | 6.9% |
| Arkansas | 500 | 50 | 8.7% |
| Iowa | 470 | 50 | 6.8% |
| Connecticut | 430 | 50 | 4.9% |
| Mississippi | 430 | 50 | 13.2% |
| Maine | 420 | 40 | −2.3% |
| New Hampshire | 350 | 40 | 12.9% |
| Rhode Island | 350 | 40 | 6.1% |
| New Mexico | 280 | 30 | 12.0% |
| West Virginia | 280 | 30 | 16.7% |
| Guam | 240 | 30 | 20.0% |
| Idaho | 240 | 30 | 14.3% |
| Montana | 200 | 20 | 11.1% |
| South Dakota | 190 | 20 | 11.8% |
| Alaska | 140 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Delaware | 140 | 10 | — |
| District of Columbia | 130 | 10 | 18.2% |
| North Dakota | 90 | 10 | 28.6% |
| Vermont | 90 | 10 | 28.6% |
| Wyoming | 90 | 10 | 28.6% |
Career to college
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Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.