Occupation Summary

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers

O*NET 49-2098.00

Description:

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

Annual Wages:
$52,681.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 24.09%.
Education Level:
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production). According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Business and Industry

  1. Examine systems to locate problems, such as loose connections or broken insulation.
  2. Mount and fasten control panels, door and window contacts, sensors, or video cameras, and attach electrical and telephone wiring to connect components.
  3. Install, maintain, or repair security systems, alarm devices, or related equipment, following blueprints of electrical layouts and building plans.
  4. Inspect installation sites and study work orders, building plans, and installation manuals to determine materials requirements and installation procedures.
  5. Adjust sensitivity of units, based on room structures and manufacturers' recommendations, using programming keypads.
  6. Test and repair circuits and sensors, following wiring and system specifications.
  7. Drill holes for wiring in wall studs, joists, ceilings, or floors.
  8. Demonstrate systems for customers and explain details, such as the causes and consequences of false alarms.
  9. Consult with clients to assess risks and to determine security requirements.
  10. Keep informed of new products and developments.
  11. Mount raceways and conduits and fasten wires to wood framing, using staplers.
  12. Provide customers with cost estimates for equipment installation.
  13. Prepare documents, such as invoices or warranties.
  14. Order replacement parts.
  15. Feed cables through access holes, roof spaces, or cavity walls to reach fixture outlets, positioning and terminating cables, wires, or strapping.
  16. Test backup batteries, keypad programming, sirens, or other security features to ensure proper functioning or to diagnose malfunctions.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers employed Annual Growth Rate
Investigation and security services 60.5 0.47
Building equipment contractors 26.4 -0.23


Labor Market Information


2023 Statewide average hourly wage $25.33
2023 National average hourly wage $27.59
2022 National employment 83,000
2022 Texas employment 10,480
Texas projected employment by 2032 13,005
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 1,468




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
81.40%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
74.00%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
72.60%
Telecommunications
Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
71.60%
Building and Construction
Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
66.20%
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
62.60%
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
62.20%
Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
62.00%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
60.60%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
58.00%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
67.60%
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
67.60%
Installation
Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
67.60%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
65.00%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
62.40%
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
62.40%
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
62.40%
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
62.40%
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
62.40%
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
60.00%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
75.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
75.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
70.00%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
70.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
67.60%
Information Ordering
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
67.60%
Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
67.60%
Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
67.60%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
65.00%
Category Flexibility
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
62.40%


  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment
    -- Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization
    -- Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    -- Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    -- Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    -- Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Other Activities


  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
  • Support
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.



Tools

Adjustable widemouth pliers: Adjustable widemouth pliers;

Battery testers: Battery analyzers;

Claw hammer: Claw hammers;

Electrical frequency meters: Electrical frequency meters;

Electronic measuring probes: Inductive probes;

Field strength measuring equipment: Field strength meters;

Fish tape: Flexible wire pullers; Wire pullers;

Ladders: Extension ladders;

Levels: Bubble levels;

Locking pliers: Channel lock pliers;

Lug crimping tool dies: Bayonet Neill-Concelman BNC crimpers;

Manlift or personnel lift: Personnel lifts;

Multimeters: Digital multimeters;

Needlenose pliers: Needlenose pliers;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Offset socket wrenches: Offset socket wrench sets;

Ohmmeters: Digital ohmmeters; Volt-ohm meters VOM;

Oscilloscopes: Digital oscilloscopes;

Personal digital assistant PDAs or organizers: Personal digital assistants PDA;

Phasemeters: Precision phasemeters;

Power drills: Cordless drills; Hammer drills;

Power meters: Fiber optics testers;

Razor knives: Razor knives;

Reflectometers: Optical time domain reflectometers OTDR;

Scaffolding: Rolling scaffolds;

Screwdrivers: Phillips head screwdrivers; Flat blade screwdrivers; Jeweler's flat blade screwdrivers; Jeweler's Phillips screwdrivers;

Signal generators: Color bar generators; Tone generators;

Soldering iron: Butane soldering irons; Electric soldering irons;

Sound measuring apparatus or decibel meter: Decibel meters;

Staple guns: Staple guns;

Stripping tools: Bayonet Neill-Concelman BNC cable strippers;

Telephony equipment service observing units: Telephone test sets;

Vectorscope: Vectorscopes;

Video monitors: Portable video monitors;

Voltage or current meters: Digital voltmeters DVM;

Wire cutters: Wire cutting tools;

Wire lug crimping tool: Spade lugs; Crimping lugs;


Technology

Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD;

Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook;

Network monitoring software: Traceroute;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Operating system software: Microsoft operating system; Microsoft Windows; Operating system software;

Platform interconnectivity software: Microsoft Hyperterminal;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Video creation and editing software: Exacq Technologies software;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word; Word processing software;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers include:
  • 17-3023.00 Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
  • 49-2093.00 Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
  • 49-2094.00 Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
  • 47-2111.00 Electricians
  • 49-2096.00 Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles
  • 27-4015.00 Lighting Technicians
  • 51-8012.00 Power Distributors and Dispatchers
  • 49-2021.00 Radio, Cellular, and Tower Equipment Installers and Repairers
  • 13-1199.07 Security Management Specialists
  • 49-2022.00 Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers


No sources of additional information found.

Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.