How Much Does a Fire Alarm Technician Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$60,070
Fire alarm technicians in the U.S. earn a median of $60,070 a year, or $28.88 an hour. Half of fire alarm technicians earn more than $60,070 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $81,150.
Pay percentiles for fire alarm technicians
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $18.65 | $38,800 |
| 25th | $22.99 | $47,820 |
| 50th (median) | $28.88 | $60,070 |
| 75th | $35.43 | $73,690 |
| 90th | $39.01 | $81,150 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for fire alarm technicians
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $79,870 | $38.40 | +33% |
| Massachusetts | $78,530 | $37.76 | +31% |
| Rhode Island | $76,320 | $36.69 | +27% |
| Oregon | $75,710 | $36.40 | +26% |
| Connecticut | $75,410 | $36.26 | +26% |
| Washington | $72,950 | $35.07 | +21% |
| California | $71,570 | $34.41 | +19% |
| Maryland | $65,330 | $31.41 | +9% |
| Maine | $64,080 | $30.81 | +7% |
| Iowa | $63,750 | $30.65 | +6% |
| United States | $60,070 | $28.88 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many fire alarm technicians are there?
BLS counts about 86,340 fire alarm technicians employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers”. The most jobs are in Texas (10,260), Florida (8,320) and California (8,180).
The mean (average) annual wage is $60,960, higher than the median of $60,070.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $5,006
- Biweekly
- $2,310
- Weekly
- $1,155
- Daily (8 hours)
- $231
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do fire alarm technicians make an hour?
The median hourly wage for fire alarm technicians is $28.88. The middle 50% earn between $22.99 and $35.43 an hour.
Which state pays fire alarm technicians the most?
Alaska has the highest median wage for fire alarm technicians at $79,870, +33% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for fire alarm technicians?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of fire alarm technicians earn less than $38,800 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.