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The differences between fire alarm technicians and security installation technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a fire alarm technician and a security installation technician. Additionally, a security installation technician has an average salary of $45,891, which is higher than the $42,765 average annual salary of a fire alarm technician.
The top three skills for a fire alarm technician include customer service, fire protection and NFPA. The most important skills for a security installation technician are ladders, troubleshoot, and equipment installation.
| Fire Alarm Technician | Security Installation Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $42,765 | $45,891 |
| Hourly rate | $20.56 | $22.06 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 8% |
| Number of jobs | 44,529 | 91,527 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
A fire alarm technician is an individual who installs, operates, and maintains the fire alarm systems of a building. Fire alarm technicians must inspect and repair heat detectors and sprinkler heads as well as test the building's fire alarm systems using appropriate diagnostic programs and equipment. They are required to review electrical layout blueprints to determine whether the fire alarm systems comply with the electrical and fire safety codes. Fire alarm technicians must also communicate with clients to ensure that all fire alarm systems are installed and working properly.
A security installation technician is tasked with the job of installing, programming, maintaining, and repairing a security system. The security installation technicians help ensure that all the security systems are performing according to standard. The duties and responsibilities include demonstrating and explaining security systems to clients.
Fire alarm technicians and security installation technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Fire Alarm Technician | Security Installation Technician | |
| Average salary | $42,765 | $45,891 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $57,000 | Between $33,000 And $63,000 |
| Highest paying City | Fort Wayne, IN | - |
| Highest paying state | Indiana | - |
| Best paying company | Siemens | - |
| Best paying industry | Finance | - |
There are a few differences between a fire alarm technician and a security installation technician in terms of educational background:
| Fire Alarm Technician | Security Installation Technician | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 34% | Associate Degree, 40% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering Technology |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between fire alarm technicians' and security installation technicians' demographics:
| Fire Alarm Technician | Security Installation Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% | Male, 95.9% Female, 4.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 21.8% Asian, 4.3% White, 59.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.5% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 4.3% White, 62.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |