Installation, Maintenance, and Repair · Holland code RCI

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.

Also called: Alarm Technician, Fire Alarm Technician (Fire Alarm Tech), Installation Technician, Service Technician, Home Security Alarm Installer, Install Technician, Installer, Security Installation Technician.

O*NET 49-2098.00

At a glance

US median annual pay: $60,070; Middle half earn $47,820 to $73,690. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Most common education: Post-Secondary Certificate; 49% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
Preparation needed: Job Zone 3 of 5; Medium preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.

What the work involves

The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.

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 and knowledge it leans on

Skills

Speaking3.4 / 5
Critical Thinking3.4 / 5
Active Listening3.3 / 5
Reading Comprehension3.1 / 5
Monitoring3.0 / 5
Writing2.9 / 5

Knowledge areas

Public Safety and Security4.1 / 5
Computers and Electronics3.7 / 5
Customer and Personal Service3.6 / 5
Telecommunications3.6 / 5
Building and Construction3.3 / 5
Engineering and Technology3.1 / 5

Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.

Who tends to enjoy it

How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.

Realistic95
Investigative39
Artistic0
Social6
Enterprising10
Conventional66

The same work abroad

Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.

European occupation titles (ESCO)

fire protection technician · DE Brandschutztechniker/Brandschutztechnikerin · FR technicien de maintenance sécurité alarme incendie/technicienne de maintenance sécurité alarme incendie
fire safety tester · DE Werkstoffprüfer Feuerfestigkeit/Werkstoffprüferin Feuerfestigkeit · FR technicien de préparation essais résistance au feu/technicienne de préparation essais résistance au feu
security alarm investigator · DE Wachmann/Wachfrau Alarmzentrale · FR intervenant sur alarme/intervenante sur alarme
sprinkler fitter · DE Sprinklermonteur/Sprinklermonteurin · FR installateur de systèmes d’extinction automatique à eau/installatrice de systèmes d’extinction automatique à eau
irrigation technician · DE Techniker für Bewässerungssysteme/Technikerin für Bewässerungssysteme · FR technicien en irrigation/technicienne en irrigation
locksmith · DE Schloss- und Schlüsselmacher/Schloss- und Schlüsselmacherin · FR serrurier/serrurière

Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)

Pipe fitters (5214)3,700 employed
Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out (5222)8,600 employed
Plumbers and heating and ventilating installers and repairers (5315)153,700 employed

Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.

Pay across Europe, for the whole group

Median annual earnings of all employees in “Technicians and associate professionals”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.

Median annual earnings, Technicians and associate professionals, by country
Country	Median pay
Belgium	€50,992
Austria	€46,986
Germany	€44,473
Netherlands	€42,448
Ireland	€41,613
Sweden	€41,155
Italy	€34,882
France	€34,816
Spain	€29,757
Portugal	€18,080
Poland	€12,108

Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.

Exposure to AI

This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -0.69. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.

Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.

Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (49-2098).

Is it a fit for you?

Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.

Take the career interests test