Fire Alarm Technician Salary by State, Metro and Industry (May 2025)
- Data
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 49-2098
- Period
- May 2025
- Release used
- 2026-05-15
- Next release
- OEWS May 2026 estimates (annual BLS release)
- Geography
- United States, 50 states and DC, metro areas
- Sources
- 24 (22 official)
The median fire alarm technician salary in the United States was $60,070 a year, or $28.88 an hour, in May 2025, according to BLS data for security and fire alarm systems installers. The 10th percentile earned $38,800 and the 90th percentile $81,150. State medians ran from $47,160 in Mississippi to $79,870 in Alaska.
Fire alarm technician salary: $60,070 median in May 2025
Half of the 86,340 security and fire alarm systems installers in the United States earned more than $60,070 in May 2025, and the top tenth earned at least $81,150.
Fire alarm technician (BLS SOC 49-2098): BLS does not publish a separate fire alarm technician series. Fire alarm technicians are counted in Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098), defined by O*NET as workers who install, program, maintain, and repair security and fire alarm wiring and equipment. O*NET lists Fire Alarm Technician among the job titles reported by workers in this occupation.
The national median annual wage for SOC 49-2098 was $60,070 in May 2025, equal to $28.88 an hour (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The 10th percentile was $38,800 a year ($18.65 an hour) and the 90th percentile was $81,150 a year ($39.01 an hour). The 90th percentile wage was 2.09 times the 10th percentile wage in May 2025. The mean annual wage was $60,960.
| Measure | Hourly, May 2025 | Annual, May 2025 | Hourly, May 2024 | Annual, May 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.65 | $38,800 | $18.47 | $38,410 |
| 25th percentile | $22.99 | $47,820 | $22.76 | $47,330 |
| Median | $28.88 | $60,070 | $28.51 | $59,300 |
| 75th percentile | $35.43 | $73,690 | $34.30 | $71,340 |
| 90th percentile | $39.01 | $81,150 | $39.41 | $81,980 |
| Mean | $29.31 | $60,960 | $60,040 | |
| Employment | 86,340 | 81,510 |
SOC 49-2098 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers. Straight-time wages; annual figures as published by BLS.
Source: [1][6] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Annual wage at each percentile, current dollars
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2024 and May 2025 national files, SOC 49-2098
From May 2024 to May 2025 the national median rose 1.3% in current dollars, from $59,300 to $60,070 (BLS OEWS). Consumer prices (CPI-U, U.S. city average) rose 2.4% between May 2024 and May 2025, so the median fell 1.0% in real terms. Reported employment rose 5.9%, from 81,510 to 86,340. BLS designs OEWS for cross-sectional comparison, and part of any one-year change can be sampling noise.
Alaska and Massachusetts pay the most; Mississippi pays the least
All 50 states and DC have a published May 2025 median for SOC 49-2098; the highest state median is $32,710 above the lowest.
Security and fire alarm systems installers (SOC 49-2098), 50 states and DC
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 49-2098, state file
Alaska had the highest state median for security and fire alarm systems installers in May 2025 at $79,870, followed by Massachusetts at $78,530, Rhode Island at $76,320, Oregon at $75,710 and Connecticut at $75,410 (BLS OEWS state file). Mississippi had the lowest median at $47,160, followed by Nebraska at $48,000, Oklahoma at $48,240 and Arkansas at $48,950. The Alaska median rests on an estimated 110 jobs and carries more sampling error than large-state figures.
Pay and job counts do not line up. Texas had the most installer jobs of any state in May 2025, 10,260, but ranked 44th of 51 on median pay at $52,270. Florida (8,320 jobs) matched the national median at $60,070, California (8,180 jobs) ranked 7th at $71,570, and New York (6,620 jobs) ranked 33rd at $58,550. Texas, Florida, California and New York together held 38.7% of national employment in the occupation.
The location quotient compares a state's share of jobs in the occupation with the national share. Florida had the highest concentration in May 2025 with a location quotient of 1.51, followed by Maryland at 1.45, Oklahoma at 1.41, Tennessee at 1.39 and Nevada at 1.36. 24 of 51 jurisdictions had a median above the national $60,070, and the median of the 51 state medians was $59,800.
Show all 51 rows
| Rank | State | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th percentile annual | 90th percentile annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 110 | 0.338 | 0.61 | $38.40 | $79,870 | $49,990 | $79,880 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 1,690 | 0.465 | 0.84 | $37.76 | $78,530 | $48,740 | $103,820 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 240 | 0.486 | 0.87 | $36.69 | $76,320 | $44,720 | $77,720 |
| 4 | Oregon | 950 | 0.485 | 0.87 | $36.40 | $75,710 | $48,580 | $101,280 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 540 | 0.318 | 0.57 | $36.26 | $75,410 | $43,940 | $90,390 |
| 6 | Washington | 1,670 | 0.471 | 0.85 | $35.07 | $72,950 | $48,050 | $99,350 |
| 7 | California | 8,180 | 0.449 | 0.81 | $34.41 | $71,570 | $46,090 | $98,710 |
| 8 | Maryland | 2,230 | 0.808 | 1.45 | $31.41 | $65,330 | $47,200 | $93,680 |
| 9 | Maine | 240 | 0.381 | 0.69 | $30.81 | $64,080 | $48,310 | $79,340 |
| 10 | Iowa | 480 | 0.307 | 0.55 | $30.65 | $63,750 | $45,250 | $80,240 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 2,740 | 0.640 | 1.15 | $30.36 | $63,140 | $43,680 | $86,430 |
| 11 | Hawaii | 380 | 0.607 | 1.09 | $30.36 | $63,140 | $50,210 | $100,670 |
| 13 | Minnesota | 770 | 0.263 | 0.47 | $30.02 | $62,440 | $31,220 | $103,240 |
| 14 | Colorado | 1,950 | 0.677 | 1.22 | $29.93 | $62,250 | $46,310 | $95,920 |
| 15 | Ohio | 2,440 | 0.440 | 0.79 | $29.74 | $61,860 | $46,240 | $77,980 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 500 | 0.734 | 1.32 | $29.58 | $61,530 | $38,890 | $78,690 |
| 17 | Kansas | 740 | 0.513 | 0.92 | $29.56 | $61,480 | $46,740 | $76,770 |
| 18 | Utah | 980 | 0.563 | 1.01 | $29.40 | $61,150 | $43,690 | $77,270 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 770 | 0.261 | 0.47 | $29.39 | $61,130 | $45,030 | $78,880 |
| 20 | Nevada | 1,170 | 0.756 | 1.36 | $29.32 | $60,980 | $44,150 | $91,320 |
| 21 | Virginia | 2,130 | 0.518 | 0.93 | $29.23 | $60,790 | $40,840 | $78,520 |
| 22 | Alabama | 1,350 | 0.639 | 1.15 | $29.19 | $60,710 | $39,660 | $77,550 |
| 23 | Kentucky | 1,080 | 0.540 | 0.97 | $29.18 | $60,700 | $45,120 | $75,550 |
| 24 | Vermont | 110 | 0.350 | 0.63 | $28.89 | $60,080 | $44,280 | $82,220 |
| 25 | Florida | 8,320 | 0.837 | 1.51 | $28.88 | $60,070 | $38,570 | $75,770 |
| 26 | Illinois | 2,180 | 0.358 | 0.64 | $28.75 | $59,800 | $38,670 | $79,880 |
| 26 | Wyoming | 150 | 0.526 | 0.95 | $28.75 | $59,800 | $39,880 | $80,110 |
| 28 | South Carolina | 1,050 | 0.456 | 0.82 | $28.71 | $59,710 | $35,940 | $76,540 |
| 29 | Arizona | 2,040 | 0.629 | 1.13 | $28.69 | $59,680 | $37,760 | $82,050 |
| 29 | Delaware | 160 | 0.327 | 0.59 | $28.69 | $59,680 | $39,300 | $77,290 |
| 31 | Pennsylvania | 2,650 | 0.437 | 0.79 | $28.61 | $59,500 | $38,290 | $80,260 |
| 32 | Montana | 190 | 0.380 | 0.68 | $28.27 | $58,800 | $49,410 | $98,370 |
| 33 | New York | 6,620 | 0.684 | 1.23 | $28.15 | $58,550 | $40,210 | $82,910 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | 210 | 0.299 | 0.54 | $28.11 | $58,460 | $46,730 | $93,610 |
| 35 | New Mexico | 630 | 0.720 | 1.30 | $28.05 | $58,350 | $34,900 | $77,220 |
| 36 | Indiana | 1,930 | 0.604 | 1.09 | $27.92 | $58,070 | $41,350 | $78,540 |
| 37 | North Dakota | 150 | 0.347 | 0.62 | $27.70 | $57,620 | $47,980 | $60,860 |
| 38 | Michigan | 2,060 | 0.467 | 0.84 | $26.84 | $55,830 | $36,950 | $69,730 |
| 39 | South Dakota | 220 | 0.475 | 0.85 | $26.77 | $55,690 | $46,360 | $73,130 |
| 40 | Louisiana | 1,170 | 0.603 | 1.09 | $26.31 | $54,730 | $36,490 | $71,640 |
| 41 | Missouri | 1,790 | 0.611 | 1.10 | $26.26 | $54,620 | $41,560 | $75,550 |
| 42 | North Carolina | 2,880 | 0.583 | 1.05 | $26.02 | $54,120 | $37,180 | $75,220 |
| 43 | Georgia | 2,220 | 0.453 | 0.82 | $25.53 | $53,100 | $36,990 | $74,950 |
| 44 | Texas | 10,260 | 0.729 | 1.31 | $25.13 | $52,270 | $36,900 | $75,720 |
| 45 | Tennessee | 2,520 | 0.770 | 1.39 | $24.74 | $51,460 | $37,160 | $78,360 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 260 | 0.371 | 0.67 | $24.57 | $51,100 | $37,360 | $72,900 |
| 47 | Idaho | 340 | 0.398 | 0.72 | $23.65 | $49,180 | $35,360 | $76,290 |
| 48 | Arkansas | 620 | 0.475 | 0.86 | $23.53 | $48,950 | $35,760 | $67,190 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | 1,340 | 0.785 | 1.41 | $23.19 | $48,240 | $37,760 | $73,820 |
| 50 | Nebraska | 490 | 0.482 | 0.87 | $23.08 | $48,000 | $42,150 | $76,900 |
| 51 | Mississippi | 440 | 0.383 | 0.69 | $22.67 | $47,160 | $36,950 | $61,010 |
All 50 states and DC. Ties share a rank. Location quotient above 1 means a higher concentration than the U.S. Employment rounded by BLS; states under 250 jobs carry wider error.
Source: [2] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median annual wage; states ordered by pay
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 49-2098, state file
San Jose leads metro pay for fire alarm technicians at $81,980
California, Pacific Northwest and New England metros fill the top of the metro ranking; the largest metro job markets pay close to the national median.
BLS published a May 2025 median for SOC 49-2098 in 203 metropolitan areas, 123 of them with at least 100 estimated jobs. Among those 123, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest median at $81,980, followed by Anchorage, AK at $79,870, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $79,350 and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH at $78,560 (BLS OEWS metro file).
| Rank | Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median hourly | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 320 | 0.50 | $39.41 | $81,980 |
| 2 | Anchorage, AK | 100 | 1.02 | $38.40 | $79,870 |
| 3 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,030 | 0.78 | $38.15 | $79,350 |
| 4 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,330 | 0.89 | $37.77 | $78,560 |
| 5 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 730 | 1.08 | $36.84 | $76,630 |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,000 | 0.87 | $36.50 | $75,910 |
| 7 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 360 | 0.90 | $36.23 | $75,350 |
| 8 | New Haven, CT | 120 | 0.80 | $36.10 | $75,080 |
| 9 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 220 | 0.66 | $35.45 | $73,740 |
| 10 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,960 | 0.85 | $34.41 | $71,570 |
| 11 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 570 | 0.94 | $34.06 | $70,830 |
| 12 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 540 | 0.63 | $33.84 | $70,380 |
| 13 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,610 | 0.92 | $32.11 | $66,790 |
| 14 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 980 | 1.03 | $31.03 | $64,550 |
| 15 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 280 | 1.25 | $30.90 | $64,270 |
Metros with at least 100 estimated jobs in SOC 49-2098 (123 of 203 published metros).
Source: [3] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median annual wage, metros with at least 100 jobs
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 49-2098, metropolitan area file
The biggest metro job markets sit near the middle of the pay range. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ had the most jobs, 6,850, at a median of $59,280. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX had 3,550 jobs at $57,930, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA had 2,960 at $71,570 and Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX had 2,500 at $56,920. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL had the highest concentration among the ten largest markets, with a location quotient of 1.82.
Security systems firms employ 64.5% of installers; electrical contractors pay $58,130
Two industries hold more than four in five jobs in SOC 49-2098, and their medians differ by $2,090.
Security Systems Services (NAICS 561620) employed 55,660 security and fire alarm systems installers in May 2025, 64.5% of the occupation, at a median of $60,220 (BLS OEWS industry file). Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors (NAICS 238210) employed 14,820, or 17.2%, at a median of $58,130. Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (NAICS 238220) employed 5,930 at a median of $62,330.
| NAICS | Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median hourly | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 561620 | Security Systems Services | 55,660 | 64.5% | $28.95 | $60,220 |
| 238210 | Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | 14,820 | 17.2% | $27.95 | $58,130 |
| 238220 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 5,930 | 6.9% | $29.97 | $62,330 |
| 4230A1 | Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) | 4,030 | 4.7% | $26.95 | $56,060 |
| 561300 | Employment Services | 780 | 0.9% | $22.89 | $47,600 |
| 999300 | Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 700 | 0.8% | $29.57 | $61,510 |
| 238900 | Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 370 | 0.4% | $34.77 | $72,320 |
| 611300 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 330 | 0.4% | $29.02 | $60,360 |
| 561610 | Investigation, Guard, and Armored Car Services | 270 | 0.3% | $29.87 | $62,140 |
| 611100 | Elementary and Secondary Schools | 220 | 0.3% | $27.73 | $57,680 |
| 541500 | Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 210 | 0.2% | $22.02 | $45,800 |
| 561200 | Facilities Support Services | 160 | 0.2% | $38.05 | $79,140 |
| 999200 | State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | 140 | 0.2% | $29.28 | $60,900 |
| 541600 | Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 140 | 0.2% | $30.69 | $63,840 |
| 541710 | Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | 120 | 0.1% | $42.11 | $87,580 |
Most detailed NAICS level published, industries with at least 100 jobs. Share = industry employment / 86,340 national jobs.
Source: [4] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Industries with at least 200 jobs in SOC 49-2098
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 49-2098, national industry-specific files
Smaller industries post the highest and lowest medians. Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences paid $87,580 and Facilities Support Services paid $79,140, but each employed fewer than 200 installers. Employment Services (staffing firms) paid $47,600 and Computer Systems Design paid $45,800. Government at all levels employed 1,470 installers at a median of $60,540, close to the private-sector median of $60,050.
Electricians earn $3,120 more at the median
The electrician median exceeds the fire alarm installer median by 5.2%.
Electricians (SOC 47-2111) had a national median of $63,190 a year ($30.38 an hour) in May 2025, $3,120 or 5.2% above the $60,070 median for security and fire alarm systems installers (BLS OEWS). BLS lists apprenticeship as typical training for electricians and moderate-term on-the-job training for alarm installers. State-by-state electrician pay is on our electrician salary by state page, and the national trade ranking is in highest-paying trades.
Fire alarm installer jobs projected to grow 6.8% from 2025 to 2035
BLS projects growth near twice the all-occupation rate and about 8,500 openings a year.
BLS Employment Projections put employment of security and fire alarm systems installers at 86.3 thousand in 2025 and 92.1 thousand in 2035, a gain of 5.9 thousand jobs or 6.8%. Projected growth for all occupations over 2025 to 2035 is 3.5%, so the installer rate is 1.9 times the all-occupation rate. BLS projects 8.5 thousand openings a year on average, equal to 9.8% of 2025 employment; most openings replace workers who retire or change occupations.
| Occupation | OEWS employment, May 2025 | Median annual, May 2025 | Median hourly, May 2025 | Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | Annual openings, 2025 to 2035 | Typical training |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security and fire alarm systems installers (49-2098) | 86,340 | $60,070 | $28.88 | 6.8% | 8,500 | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 757,220 | $63,190 | $30.38 | 9.2% | 72,700 | Apprenticeship |
| All occupations | $50,980 | 3.5% | 17,461,800 |
OEWS employment and wages for May 2025; growth, openings and training from BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035. Openings in jobs per year.
Source: [1][8] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as typical entry education and moderate-term on-the-job training as typical training for this occupation. O*NET tags the occupation Bright Outlook. Electricians are projected to grow 9.2% over the same decade with 72.7 thousand openings a year; see electrician apprenticeship data and how to become an electrician for that path.
Fire alarm licensing in the 10 largest states
Four of the 10 most populous states issue a statewide individual credential for fire alarm technicians; Texas, California and Michigan name NICET in their own texts.
We read the licensing agency page, form or statute for each of the 10 most populous states (Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates). Texas, California, Ohio and Michigan issue a statewide credential to the individual technician. New York licenses security or fire alarm installers, and Florida, Illinois, Georgia and North Carolina license the alarm contracting business. No statewide fire alarm technician license appeared on Pennsylvania agency pages; Philadelphia issues its own. Electrician licensing by state is in our electrical license lookup.
| State | Population rank, 2025 | Median annual, May 2025 | Wage rank | Statewide credential | Agency | NICET named? | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | $71,570 | 7 of 51 | Fire/Life Safety Technician certification (individual) | Dept. of Industrial Relations | Yes: Level II or above accepted as experience | 4,000 credit hours vs 8,000 for General Electrician; work for a C-10 contractor on NEC Article 760 systems |
| Texas | 2 | $52,270 | 44 of 51 | Fire Alarm Technician (FAL) and Planning Superintendent (APS) licenses (individual) | State Fire Marshal's Office (TDI) | Yes: Level II waives FAL exam; Level III is one APS route | Must be employed by a registered alarm company |
| Florida | 3 | $60,070 | 25 of 51 | Alarm System Contractor I (contractor) | DBPR Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board | Not stated on page | Contractor I covers fire alarm; Contractor II excludes fire |
| New York | 4 | $58,550 | 33 of 51 | Security or Fire Alarm Installer license | Department of State, Division of Licensing Services | Not stated on page | 81 hours of qualifying education, an exam, age 18 |
| Pennsylvania | 5 | $59,500 | 31 of 51 | No statewide license found | None found (Philadelphia: Licenses and Inspections) | Philadelphia: Level II is one route | Philadelphia requires a Fire Alarm Inspector's License; licensed electrical contractors exempt |
| Illinois | 6 | $59,800 | 26 of 51 | Private Alarm Contractor (contractor) | Dept. of Financial and Professional Regulation | Unnamed national certification credited 1 year | 3 years of experience in the prior 5; $1,000,000 liability insurance |
| Ohio | 7 | $61,860 | 15 of 51 | Individual fire protection certification, fire alarm category | Division of State Fire Marshal | Not stated on form | Exam on NFPA 72 (2022); $35.00 per category; must work for a certified company |
| Georgia | 8 | $53,100 | 43 of 51 | Class LV-A low-voltage contractor (alarm) | State Board of Low Voltage Contractors | Not stated | 1 year of low-voltage experience; exam score of 70; no continuing education |
| North Carolina | 9 | $54,120 | 42 of 51 | SP-FA/LV special restricted license (contractor) | State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors | Not stated on page | $100 per year |
| Michigan | 10 | $55,830 | 38 of 51 | Fire alarm specialty technician's license (individual) | LARA, under MCL 339.5721 | Yes: Level II or Board-approved equivalent | Age 20; code-update course for renewal |
Population rank from Census Vintage 2025. Credential and requirements as read on agency pages, forms or statutes on 2026-11-05; New York, Florida, Georgia (FAQ) and Michigan via Internet Archive snapshots. Not legal advice.
Source: [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22] U.S. Census Bureau; Texas Department of Insurance, State Fire Marshal's Office; California Department of Industrial Relations; California Department of Industrial Relations; Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation; New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services; City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and Inspections; Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal; Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards; State Construction Industry Licensing Board, via Cornell Legal Information Institute; North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors; Michigan Legislature
- Texas: a Fire Alarm Technician (FAL) license lets the holder sell, install, certify and service fire alarm systems; the technician exam may be waived with NICET Level II or a current ESA Level II Fire Alarm Technician certification, and NICET Level III is one route to the Planning Superintendent (APS) license (Texas State Fire Marshal's Office).
- California: the Fire/Life Safety Technician certification requires 4,000 credit hours of experience, against 8,000 for a General Electrician, and NICET Fire Alarm Systems Level II or above is accepted as proof for that exam only (DIR application form). The technician works for a C-10 contractor on NEC Article 760 systems (8 CCR 290.1).
- Michigan: the fire alarm specialty technician's license requires age 20 and NICET associate engineering technician Level II or a Board-approved equivalent (MCL 339.5721).
- Ohio: individuals who service, test, repair or install fire protection equipment for profit must hold an individual certification and work for a certified company; the fire alarm exam is based on NFPA 72, 2022 edition, and the application fee is $35.00 per category (State Fire Marshal form).
- New York: a Security or Fire Alarm Installer license requires age 18, 81 hours of qualifying education and an exam (Department of State, archived).
- Illinois: a Private Alarm Contractor needs 3 years of experience within the prior 5, $1,000,000 in liability insurance, and may get 1 year of credit for a Board-approved national certification (IDFPR qualifications).
- Florida, Georgia and North Carolina license the contractor: Florida's Alarm System Contractor I covers fire alarms while Contractor II excludes them (DBPR, archived); Georgia's Class LV-A covers alarm work after 1 year of experience and an exam score of 70 (rule 121-3-.06); North Carolina's SP-FA/LV license costs $100 a year (NCBEEC).
NICET Fire Alarm Systems: A certification, not a license, from the National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies with 4 levels (I to IV), renewed every 3 years. States and cities decide whether a NICET level satisfies their own rules.
How we ranked the states
National pay spread
Formula90th percentile annual wage / 10th percentile annual wage
Inputs: fact sheet rows 3 and 6 (fact sheet rows)
Result: 2.09
A worker at the 90th percentile earned 2.09 times a worker at the 10th percentile in May 2025 ($81,150 vs $38,800).
Limitations: Straight-time pay only; excludes overtime and on-call premiums.
Real change in the national median, May 2024 to May 2025
Formula(May 2025 median / (May 2024 median x CPI May 2025 / CPI May 2024) - 1) x 100
Inputs: fact sheet rows 1, 12, 15 and 16; derived d2 to d5 (fact sheet rows)
Result: -1.0%
The median rose 1.3% in current dollars while consumer prices rose 2.4%, so purchasing power at the median fell 1.0%.
Limitations: OEWS is not designed for year-to-year comparison; CPI-U is a consumer price index, not a trade-specific deflator.
State ranking and spread
Formularank of state A_MEDIAN; max minus min
Inputs: table t2 (state rows in fact sheet) (fact sheet rows)
Result: $32,710 gap; 24 of 51 above the national median
Alaska ($79,870) and Massachusetts ($78,530) lead; Mississippi ($47,160) is last. Texas, the largest employer, ranks 44th.
Limitations: No cost-of-living adjustment; small states have wide sampling error.
Industry split
Formulaindustry employment / national employment; median gap
Inputs: table t4; fact sheet row 10 (fact sheet rows)
Result: 64.5% in security systems services; 17.2% in electrical contractors; $2,090 median gap
Most fire and security alarm installers work for security systems firms, which paid a slightly higher median than electrical contractors in May 2025.
Limitations: Industry estimates are national only; job mix inside each industry differs.
Job outlook relative to all occupations
Formulainstaller projected growth / all-occupation growth; openings / 2025 employment
Inputs: fact sheet EP rows (fact sheet rows)
Result: 1.9 times; openings equal to 9.8% of employment a year
BLS projects 6.8% growth from 2025 to 2035 against 3.5% for all occupations, with 8.5 thousand openings a year.
Limitations: Projections assume historical relationships hold.
Licensing in the 10 largest states
Formulacount of states by credential type from agency documents
Inputs: table t6; fact sheet licensing rows (fact sheet rows)
Result: 4 of 10 with a statewide individual credential; 3 of 10 name NICET
Texas, California, Ohio and Michigan credential the individual technician; Texas, California and Michigan name NICET Level II in state text.
Limitations: Local rules (for example Philadelphia) are not counted; documents as read on 2026-11-05.
State by state
- The national median wage for security and fire alarm systems installers (SOC 49-2098) was $60,070 a year in May 2025.[1]
- The national median hourly wage for SOC 49-2098 was $28.88 in May 2025.[1]
- The 10th percentile annual wage was $38,800 and the 90th percentile was $81,150 in May 2025, a ratio of 2.09.[1]
- U.S. employment in SOC 49-2098 was 86,340 in May 2025, up 5.9% from 81,510 in May 2024.[1][6]
- The national median rose 1.3% in current dollars from May 2024 to May 2025 but fell 1.0% after CPI-U inflation of 2.4%.[1][6][7]
- Alaska had the highest state median in May 2025 at $79,870, followed by Massachusetts at $78,530.[2]
- Mississippi had the lowest state median in May 2025 at $47,160.[2]
- Texas employed 10,260 installers in May 2025, the most of any state, at a median of $52,270, ranking 44th of 51.[2]
- Florida had the highest concentration of the occupation in May 2025, with a location quotient of 1.51.[2]
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA had the highest metro median in May 2025 at $81,980 among metros with at least 100 jobs.[3]
- Security Systems Services (NAICS 561620) employed 55,660 installers, 64.5% of the occupation, at a median of $60,220 in May 2025.[4]
- Electrical contractors (NAICS 238210) employed 14,820 installers at a median of $58,130 in May 2025.[4]
- Electricians earned a median of $63,190 in May 2025, $3,120 or 5.2% more than security and fire alarm systems installers.[1]
- BLS projects employment of security and fire alarm systems installers to grow 6.8% from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations.[8]
- Texas, California and Michigan name NICET Level II in their fire alarm credential rules; Texas also names NICET Level III for planning superintendents.[11][12][22]
In short
- Security and fire alarm systems installers earned a national median of $60,070 a year ($28.88 an hour) in May 2025 (BLS OEWS).
- The middle half of the occupation earned between $47,820 and $73,690; the 90th percentile was $81,150.
- State medians ranged from $47,160 in Mississippi to $79,870 in Alaska, a gap of $32,710.
- Texas had the most jobs (10,260) but ranked 44th of 51 on median pay at $52,270.
- Security Systems Services employed 64.5% of installers at a $60,220 median; electrical contractors employed 17.2% at $58,130.
- BLS projects 6.8% job growth from 2025 to 2035 and 8.5 thousand openings a year.
- Four of the 10 most populous states issue a statewide individual fire alarm technician credential; three name NICET in state text.
What people search for
How much does a fire alarm technician make an hour?
The national median was $28.88 an hour in May 2025 for security and fire alarm systems installers (BLS OEWS). The 10th percentile was $18.65 an hour and the 90th percentile $39.01. Among states, Massachusetts had a median of $37.76 an hour and Mississippi $22.67 an hour.
What state pays fire alarm technicians the most?
Alaska had the highest state median in May 2025 at $79,870 a year, followed by Massachusetts at $78,530, Rhode Island at $76,320, Oregon at $75,710 and Connecticut at $75,410 (BLS OEWS). Among the four states with the most jobs, California paid the most at $71,570.
Is fire alarm technician a good career?
The public data show steady demand and mid-range pay. BLS projects 6.8% job growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with 8.5 thousand openings a year. The May 2025 median of $60,070 was above the all-occupation median of $50,980 and $3,120 below the electrician median. Entry typically requires a high school diploma and moderate-term on-the-job training.
Do fire alarm technicians need a license?
It depends on the state. Of the 10 most populous states, Texas, California, Ohio and Michigan issue a statewide credential to the individual technician, New York licenses installers, and Florida, Illinois, Georgia and North Carolina license alarm contractors. No statewide license appeared on Pennsylvania agency pages, though Philadelphia requires one for fire alarm inspectors.
Common questions
What is the average fire alarm technician salary?
BLS reports a mean annual wage of $60,960 and a median of $60,070 for security and fire alarm systems installers in May 2025. The median is the better guide to typical pay because a few high earners pull the mean up.
What does a fire alarm technician make in Texas?
The Texas median was $52,270 a year ($25.13 an hour) in May 2025, ranking 44th of 51 jurisdictions, even though Texas had the most jobs, 10,260 (BLS OEWS).
What does a fire alarm technician make in California?
The California median was $71,570 a year ($34.41 an hour) in May 2025, ranking 7th of 51, with 8,180 jobs (BLS OEWS). San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara paid a median of $81,980.
What does a fire alarm technician make in Florida?
The Florida median was $60,070 a year ($28.88 an hour) in May 2025, equal to the national median, with 8,320 jobs and the highest location quotient of any state, 1.51 (BLS OEWS).
What does a fire alarm technician make in New York?
The New York median was $58,550 a year ($28.15 an hour) in May 2025, with 6,620 jobs (BLS OEWS). The New York-Newark-Jersey City metro had 6,850 jobs at a median of $59,280.
Do electrical contractors pay fire alarm technicians more than security companies?
No. In May 2025 electrical contractors (NAICS 238210) paid installers a median of $58,130, while security systems services firms (NAICS 561620) paid $60,220, a gap of $2,090 (BLS OEWS industry data).
How much do the top 10% of fire alarm technicians make?
The 90th percentile annual wage was $81,150 in May 2025 nationally (BLS OEWS). In Massachusetts the 90th percentile was $103,820 and in Minnesota $103,240.
How many fire alarm technicians are there in the US?
OEWS counted 86,340 security and fire alarm systems installer jobs in May 2025. The figure covers wage and salary jobs only and includes security alarm installers.
What NICET level do fire alarm technicians need?
NICET Fire Alarm Systems has 4 levels. Michigan requires Level II or an approved equivalent for its specialty technician license, Texas accepts Level II in place of its technician exam and Level III for planning superintendents, and California accepts Level II or above as experience for its Fire/Life Safety exam.
Why do job sites show different fire alarm technician salaries?
Job boards model pay from postings and user reports and rarely publish sample sizes. One 2026 state tier list placed New York in a $70,000+ tier, while the BLS May 2025 New York median was $58,550. This report uses BLS survey data with employment counts for every figure.
Get the data
Every table in this report is available as a CSV under CC BY 4.0. The fact sheet lists each value with its source URL and access date.
- derived_metrics.csv (CSV)
- fact_sheet.csv (CSV)
- Fire alarm technician pay distribution, national, May 2024 and May 2025 (CSV)
- Fire alarm technician salary by state, May 2025 (ranked by median annual wage) (CSV)
- Top-paying metro areas for fire alarm technicians, May 2025 (CSV)
- Fire alarm technician employment and median pay by industry, May 2025 (CSV)
- Job outlook and electrician comparison, 2025 to 2035 (CSV)
- Fire alarm licensing in the 10 most populous states (CSV)
Cite this report
The figures to cite first
- U.S. fire alarm technician median pay: $60,070 a year or $28.88 an hour, May 2025, BLS OEWS SOC 49-2098.[1]
- State range for SOC 49-2098 in May 2025: $47,160 (Mississippi) to $79,870 (Alaska), BLS OEWS.[2]
- Projected U.S. job growth for security and fire alarm systems installers, 2025 to 2035: 6.8%, with 8.5 thousand openings a year, BLS Employment Projections.[8]
Quotable figures
- Security and fire alarm systems installers, the BLS occupation that includes fire alarm technicians, earned a national median of $60,070 a year in May 2025 (BLS OEWS).[1]
- The median U.S. fire alarm technician wage was $28.88 an hour in May 2025, according to BLS OEWS data for SOC 49-2098.[1]
- Alaska paid security and fire alarm systems installers the highest state median in May 2025, $79,870, and Mississippi the lowest, $47,160 (BLS OEWS).[2]
- Texas had the most security and fire alarm installer jobs of any state in May 2025, 10,260, but ranked 44th of 51 on median pay at $52,270 (BLS OEWS).[2]
- Security systems services firms employed 64.5% of U.S. security and fire alarm systems installers in May 2025; electrical contractors employed 17.2% (BLS OEWS).[4]
- BLS projects employment of security and fire alarm systems installers to grow 6.8% between 2025 and 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations.[8]
- The U.S. median wage for security and fire alarm systems installers rose 1.3% from May 2024 to May 2025 but fell 1.0% after inflation (BLS OEWS and CPI-U).[1][6][7]
Summary for editors
Security and fire alarm systems installers, the federal occupation that covers fire alarm technicians, earned a national median of $60,070 a year, or $28.88 an hour, in May 2025, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data analyzed by the Electrical Contractors and Wiring Data Desk. The top tenth earned at least $81,150. Alaska had the highest state median at $79,870 and Mississippi the lowest at $47,160. Texas employed the most installers, 10,260, but ranked 44th of 51 on pay at $52,270. Security systems firms employed 64.5% of the 86,340 installers, and electrical contractors employed 17.2% at a median of $58,130. The median rose 1.3% from May 2024 but fell 1.0% after inflation. BLS projects 6.8% job growth through 2035. A review of licensing rules in the 10 largest states found four with a statewide individual technician credential, and three that name NICET certification in state text.
Headlines the data supports
- Fire alarm technicians earned a $60,070 median in 2025; Alaska paid the most
- Texas has the most fire alarm installer jobs but ranks 44th on pay
- Fire alarm technician pay rose 1.3% in a year, short of 2.4% inflation
- Security firms, not electrical contractors, employ 64.5% of fire alarm installers
- Fire alarm installer jobs projected to grow 6.8% by 2035, near twice the all-job rate
Citation
Electrical Contractors and Wiring. (2026). Fire Alarm Technician Salary by State, Metro and Industry (May 2025). Retrieved from https://electricalcontractorsandwiring.com/data/fire-alarm-technician-salary/
Reuse
Data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0. Attribution: “Source: Electrical Contractors and Wiring, Fire Alarm Technician Salary by State, Metro and Industry (May 2025)” with a link to this page.
How we built this report
Selection: every wage and employment figure comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2025 bulk files (national, state, metropolitan and national industry-specific), released 2026-05-15 and the latest release on the access date. The occupation is SOC 49-2098, Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers; BLS has no fire alarm-only series. The national, state and metro xlsx files were read from shared copies of the same BLS zip files already on disk; the industry zip and the May 2024 national file were downloaded for this report.
Inclusion and exclusion: the state table covers all 50 states and DC, each of which had a published May 2025 median; Guam and Puerto Rico are excluded. The metro ranking includes only metros with at least 100 estimated jobs (123 of 203 published metros) to limit sampling error. Industry rows use the most detailed NAICS level BLS published for the occupation, with at least 100 jobs.
Licensing: the 10 most populous states were taken from Census Bureau Vintage 2025 estimates. For each state we read the licensing agency page, application form or statute. Where the live page blocked automated requests (New York, Florida, Georgia FAQ, Michigan statute), we read an Internet Archive snapshot and cite the snapshot URL. Georgia rule text is cited from the Cornell Legal Information Institute copy of the official rule. Pennsylvania has no statewide entry because none appeared on state agency pages; the Philadelphia city license is shown instead. NICET is cited only for the scope of its certification.
Conflicts: job boards and salary aggregators publish figures that differ from BLS and from each other; none is used as a figure here. One Tier 3 tier list is cited once to show the size of that gap. Salary.com, Zippia and America by Numbers blocked automated access and are logged in excluded.md.
Derived metrics: percent changes, shares, gaps, ratios and counts are computed in scripts/build_data.py and scripts/write_facts.py and listed in derived_metrics.csv with their input rows. The real-wage change deflates the May 2024 median by the May 2024 to May 2025 change in CPI-U (series CUUR0000SA0, not seasonally adjusted).
Limitations: OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, the self-employed and owners. SOC 49-2098 mixes fire alarm and security alarm installers. BLS states that OEWS estimates are not designed for year-to-year comparison. No figure is adjusted for regional cost of living. Licensing summaries describe the documents as read and are not legal advice.
Last updated: 2026-11-05. Next scheduled data update: the OEWS May 2026 release from BLS.
This report presents published data with its limitations. It is not legal, financial or investment advice.
Sources by tier
Tier 1: primary and official sources (22)
- [1] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS OEWS May 2025, national file. May 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.
- [2] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS OEWS May 2025, state file. May 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.
- [3] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS OEWS May 2025, metropolitan area file. May 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.
- [4] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS OEWS May 2025, national industry-specific files. May 2025. Accessed 2026-11-03.
- [5] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. OEWS Tables (release page). May 2025 release (2026-05-15). Accessed 2026-11-03.
- [6] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS OEWS May 2024, national file. May 2024. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [7] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items (CUUR0000SA0), flat file. May 2024 and May 2025. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [8] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections. Occupational projections and worker characteristics, 2025 to 2035. 2025 to 2035 (table modified 2026-08-27). Accessed 2026-11-03.
- [9] O*NET / U.S. Department of Labor. O*NET OnLine summary report 49-2098.00. 2026 update. Accessed 2026-11-03.
- [10] U.S. Census Bureau. State population totals, Vintage 2025 (NST-EST2025-ALLDATA). July 1, 2025 estimates. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [11] Texas Department of Insurance, State Fire Marshal's Office. Fire alarm registration, license and test information. current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [12] California Department of Industrial Relations. Electrician Certification application form. current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [13] California Department of Industrial Relations. California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 290.1 (definitions). current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [14] Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. Electrical Contractors' Licensing Board license types (Internet Archive snapshot 2026-08-29). current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [15] New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services. Get a Security or Fire Alarm Installer License (Internet Archive snapshot 2026-05-15). current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [16] City of Philadelphia, Department of Licenses and Inspections. Get a Fire Alarm Inspector's License. current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [17] Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Qualifications for Licensure: Private Alarm Contractor (124), revised 02/2026. current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [18] Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of State Fire Marshal. Individual Fire Protection Certification Application (COM5020). current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [19] Georgia Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards. Board of Low Voltage Contractors FAQ (Internet Archive snapshot 2026-04-24). current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [20] State Construction Industry Licensing Board, via Cornell Legal Information Institute. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 121-3-.06, Statewide Low-Voltage Contractor License (rule text). current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [21] North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. Licensing: license classifications. current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
- [22] Michigan Legislature. MCL 339.5721, fire alarm specialty technician's license (Internet Archive snapshot 2025-02-22). current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
Tier 2: trade bodies, market research, company data (1)
- [23] National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET). Fire Alarm Systems certification program. current as accessed. Accessed 2026-11-05.
Tier 3: journalism and expert commentary (1)
- [24] CredentialGuide. Highest Paying States for Fire Alarm Technician License in 2026. published 2026-03-18. Accessed 2026-11-03.