Skip to content
Alamo Colleges DistrictCareer Explorer

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers

Part of Manufacturing, in the Maintenance, Installation & Repair pathway.

Bright outlookJob zone 3: medium preparationO*NET 49-2098.00

What the work is

Install, program, maintain, and repair security and fire alarm wiring and equipment. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes.

On a typical day

  • Examine systems to locate problems, such as loose connections or broken insulation.
  • Mount and fasten control panels, door and window contacts, sensors, or video cameras, and attach electrical and telephone wiring to connect components.
  • Install, maintain, or repair security systems, alarm devices, or related equipment, following blueprints of electrical layouts and building plans.
  • Inspect installation sites and study work orders, building plans, and installation manuals to determine materials requirements and installation procedures.
  • Adjust sensitivity of units, based on room structures and manufacturers' recommendations, using programming keypads.
  • Test and repair circuits and sensors, following wiring and system specifications.

What it pays

$56,600
Median pay per year, San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro
New workers start near $37,670
Experienced workers reach $74,150
  1. $38k10th
  2. $46k25th
  3. $57kMedian
  4. $61k75th
  5. $74k90th
Wage percentiles: 10th $37,670, 25th $45,770, Median $56,600, 75th $61,480, 90th $74,150

About 820 people do this job in the San Antonio area.

Job outlook

Alamo region (Bexar and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034. U.S. figures from the BLS for comparison.

+29.2%

employment change in the Alamo region, 949 to 1,226 jobs · U.S. +10%

130

openings a year in the Alamo region, from growth and people leaving · U.S. 9,400

949

employed in the Alamo region in 2024 · U.S. 85,900

Typical entry education: High school diploma or equivalent · Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training

Skills this career uses

The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.

  1. Critical Thinking3.5
  2. Installation3.1
  3. Speaking3.0
  4. Active Listening3.1
  5. Reading Comprehension3.3
  6. Quality Control Analysis3.1
  7. Complex Problem Solving3.0
  8. Judgment and Decision Making3.0

Education people in this job have

Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.

  1. High school or less41%
  2. Certificate49%
  3. Some college8%
  4. Associate degree2%

Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.

Alamo programs that lead here

No Alamo program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.

Browse all programs

Does this fit you?

Six questions rank every career here by how closely its interest profile follows yours.

Check my interests
  1. Security Management Specialists

    Zone 410 Alamo programs Bright outlook

    $82kSan Antonio median
  2. Lighting Technicians

    Zone 31 Alamo program

    $53kTexas median
  3. $87kTexas median
  4. $100kSan Antonio median
  5. $79kSan Antonio median