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.
- O*NET-SOC code
49-2098.00 - Preparation Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$60,070
Employment, U.S.86,340
Median hourly wage$28.88
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $38,800 | $47,820 | $60,070 | $73,690 | $81,150 |
By state (51)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,350 | $60,710 | 1.15 |
| Alaska | 110 | $79,870 | 0.61 |
| Arizona | 2,040 | $59,680 | 1.13 |
| Arkansas | 620 | $48,950 | 0.86 |
| California | 8,180 | $71,570 | 0.81 |
| Colorado | 1,950 | $62,250 | 1.22 |
| Connecticut | 540 | $75,410 | 0.57 |
| Delaware | 160 | $59,680 | 0.59 |
| District of Columbia | 210 | $58,460 | 0.54 |
| Florida | 8,320 | $60,070 | 1.51 |
| Georgia | 2,220 | $53,100 | 0.82 |
| Hawaii | 380 | $63,140 | 1.09 |
| Idaho | 340 | $49,180 | 0.72 |
| Illinois | 2,180 | $59,800 | 0.64 |
| Indiana | 1,930 | $58,070 | 1.09 |
| Iowa | 480 | $63,750 | 0.55 |
| Kansas | 740 | $61,480 | 0.92 |
| Kentucky | 1,080 | $60,700 | 0.97 |
| Louisiana | 1,170 | $54,730 | 1.09 |
| Maine | 240 | $64,080 | 0.69 |
| Maryland | 2,230 | $65,330 | 1.45 |
| Massachusetts | 1,690 | $78,530 | 0.84 |
| Michigan | 2,060 | $55,830 | 0.84 |
| Minnesota | 770 | $62,440 | 0.47 |
| Mississippi | 440 | $47,160 | 0.69 |
| Missouri | 1,790 | $54,620 | 1.10 |
| Montana | 190 | $58,800 | 0.68 |
| Nebraska | 490 | $48,000 | 0.87 |
| Nevada | 1,170 | $60,980 | 1.36 |
| New Hampshire | 500 | $61,530 | 1.32 |
| New Jersey | 2,740 | $63,140 | 1.15 |
| New Mexico | 630 | $58,350 | 1.30 |
| New York | 6,620 | $58,550 | 1.23 |
| North Carolina | 2,880 | $54,120 | 1.05 |
| North Dakota | 150 | $57,620 | 0.62 |
| Ohio | 2,440 | $61,860 | 0.79 |
| Oklahoma | 1,340 | $48,240 | 1.41 |
| Oregon | 950 | $75,710 | 0.87 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,650 | $59,500 | 0.79 |
| Rhode Island | 240 | $76,320 | 0.87 |
| South Carolina | 1,050 | $59,710 | 0.82 |
| South Dakota | 220 | $55,690 | 0.85 |
| Tennessee | 2,520 | $51,460 | 1.39 |
| Texas | 10,260 | $52,270 | 1.31 |
| Utah | 980 | $61,150 | 1.01 |
| Vermont | 110 | $60,080 | 0.63 |
| Virginia | 2,130 | $60,790 | 0.93 |
| Washington | 1,670 | $72,950 | 0.85 |
| West Virginia | 260 | $51,100 | 0.67 |
| Wisconsin | 770 | $61,130 | 0.47 |
| Wyoming | 150 | $59,800 | 0.95 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers | Installation | 0.76 | 0.971 |
| Audiovisual Equipment Installers and Repairers | Equipment Selection | 0.88 | 0.964 |
| Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles | Repairing | 0.87 | 0.941 |
| Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers | Equipment Selection | 1.00 | 0.940 |
| Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians | Installation | 1.00 | 0.937 |
| Commercial Divers | Equipment Selection | 0.88 | 0.924 |
| Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | Operations Monitoring | 1.00 | 0.921 |
| Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film | Coordination | 0.87 | 0.921 |
| Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators | Operations Monitoring | 1.24 | 0.920 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers, excluding software Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Computerized maintenance management system CMMS | 5 of 20 | 7.7x |
| Inventory control system software | 3 of 20 | 27.7x |
| Programmable logic controller PLC software | 3 of 20 | 6.6x |
| Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software | 4 of 20 | 3.0x |
| Inventory tracking software | 3 of 20 | 3.1x |
| Scheduling software | 3 of 20 | 2.0x |
| Linux | 3 of 20 | 1.1x |
| SAP software | 6 of 20 | 1.0x |
| Structured query language SQL | 3 of 20 | 0.9x |
| Database software | 3 of 20 | 0.8x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 3.38 | 3.50 |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.25 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 2.75 | 2.62 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 2.38 | 2.38 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.75 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 1.00 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 0.88 |
| Science | Essential skill | 1.75 | 1.25 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 0.88 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 0.75 |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Public Safety and Security | 4.07 | 4.18 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.70 | 4.25 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.63 | 4.72 |
| Telecommunications | 3.58 | 4.55 |
| Building and Construction | 3.31 | 3.85 |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.13 | 3.06 |
| English Language | 3.11 | 3.21 |
| Mechanical | 3.10 | 3.66 |
| Education and Training | 3.03 | 3.13 |
| Mathematics | 2.90 | 2.77 |
| Production and Processing | 2.75 | 2.93 |
| Administration and Management | 2.54 | 2.34 |
| Design | 2.40 | 2.51 |
| Administrative | 2.19 | 1.91 |
| Law and Government | 2.17 | 1.83 |
| Communications and Media | 2.10 | 2.06 |
| Sales and Marketing | 2.09 | 1.80 |
| Physics | 2.05 | 1.96 |
| Economics and Accounting | 1.65 | 1.10 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 1.63 | 1.08 |
| Psychology | 1.48 | not rated |
| Transportation | 1.47 | not rated |
| Chemistry | 1.40 | not rated |
| Geography | 1.28 | not rated |
| Foreign Language | 1.26 | not rated |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 1.03 | not rated |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 1.03 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.01 | not rated |
| Food Production | 1.01 | not rated |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.01 | not rated |
| Therapy and Counseling | 1.01 | not rated |
| Biology | 1.00 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.00 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Comprehension | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.75 | 3.25 |
| Near Vision | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Oral Expression | 3.50 | 3.62 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Information Ordering | 3.38 | 3.00 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Visualization | 3.12 | 3.38 |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Far Vision | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Written Comprehension | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Control Precision | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Written Expression | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 2.88 | 3.25 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Selective Attention | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Trunk Strength | 2.88 | 2.75 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Originality | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Time Sharing | 2.62 | 2.75 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 2.50 | 2.00 |
| Static Strength | 2.38 | 2.25 |
| Depth Perception | 2.38 | 2.12 |
| Stamina | 2.25 | 2.00 |
| Dynamic Strength | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Number Facility | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Response Orientation | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.12 | 2.12 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Memorization | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Spatial Orientation | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Reaction Time | 2.12 | 1.88 |
| Glare Sensitivity | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 2.00 | 1.50 |
| Sound Localization | 2.00 | 1.38 |
| Rate Control | 1.88 | 1.38 |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.88 | 1.00 |
| Night Vision | 1.75 | 1.00 |
| Explosive Strength | 1.62 | 0.75 |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.50 | 0.75 |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.25 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Microsoft Excel in demand
- Microsoft Office software in demand
- Autodesk AutoCAD hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft PowerPoint hot
- Microsoft Windows hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- Exacq Technologies software
- Microsoft Hyperterminal
- Traceroute
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joplin, MO-KS | 160 | 3.33 | $51,450 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 1,090 | 2.56 | $60,670 |
| El Paso, TX | 480 | 2.55 | $55,420 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 280 | 2.49 | $62,250 |
| Birmingham, AL | 610 | 2.13 | $63,350 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 460 | 2.07 | $61,240 |
| Tulsa, OK | 510 | 2.00 | $48,580 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 330 | 1.95 | $60,440 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 640 | 1.88 | $57,000 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 180 | 1.83 | $55,690 |