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How to hire a fire alarm technician

Fire alarm technician hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring fire alarm technicians in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a fire alarm technician is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per fire alarm technician on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 40,652 fire alarm technicians in the US and 44,529 job openings.
  • Washington, DC, has the highest demand for fire alarm technicians, with 12 job openings.
  • Houston, TX has the highest concentration of fire alarm technicians.

How to hire a fire alarm technician, step by step

To hire a fire alarm technician, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a fire alarm technician:

Here's a step-by-step fire alarm technician hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a fire alarm technician job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new fire alarm technician
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a fire alarm technician do?

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.

Learn more about the specifics of what a fire alarm technician does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a fire alarm technician, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A fire alarm technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, fire alarm technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    This list shows salaries for various types of fire alarm technicians.

    Type of Fire Alarm TechnicianDescriptionHourly rate
    Fire Alarm Technician$14-27
    Electronic Security TechnicianAn electronic security technician installs, configures, tests, and troubleshoot activities on intercom, intrusion alarm systems, network infrastructure, access control, and CCTV. They install and verify activities on security equipment for commissioning, testing, and installations... Show more$12-32
    Installation And Service TechnicianAn installation and service technician is an individual who oversees the continuous operation of personal equipment through operating functions. Installation and service technicians maintain the supplies, perform preventive maintenance, and call for repairs in structures... Show more$13-23
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Customer Service
    • Fire Protection
    • NFPA
    • Ladders
    • Hand Tools
    • Test Equipment
    • HVAC
    • CCTV
    • Fire Alarm Systems
    • Technical Support
    • OSHA
    • Strong Customer Service
    • Scaffolding
    • Ventilation
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Install, manage, and troubleshoot CAT3, CAT5, CAT6, and fiber optic infrastructures throughout the greater Tulsa area.
    • Perform installation by climbing to heights and scaffolding while lifting all equipments.
    • Certify, recharge, and sell fire extinguishers to multiple locations around Florida
    • Repair, replace, recharge, fill, and tag all fire extinguishers.
    • Set up network systems including modems, routers, switches WAPS, and WAPS controllers.
    • Prewire commercial/residential with cat5, Rg6, telephone lines, cameras, and home audio wires.
    More fire alarm technician duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your fire alarm technician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A fire alarm technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

    For example, the average salary for a fire alarm technician in Michigan may be lower than in Indiana, and an entry-level fire alarm technician usually earns less than a senior-level fire alarm technician. Additionally, a fire alarm technician with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

    Average fire alarm technician salary

    $42,765yearly

    $20.56 hourly rate

    Entry-level fire alarm technician salary
    $31,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 17, 2025

    Average fire alarm technician salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1Indiana$55,877$27
    2California$50,561$24
    3New York$49,529$24
    4Pennsylvania$47,957$23
    5Washington$46,849$23
    6Utah$46,513$22
    7Oklahoma$45,859$22
    8North Carolina$44,801$22
    9Colorado$44,751$22
    10Virginia$43,509$21
    11District of Columbia$42,772$21
    12Ohio$41,315$20
    13Texas$40,202$19
    14Arizona$39,770$19
    15Georgia$39,168$19
    16Tennessee$37,376$18
    17Maryland$36,412$18
    18Massachusetts$36,236$17
    19South Carolina$35,767$17
    20Oregon$33,037$16

    Average fire alarm technician salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Siemens$56,797$27.3153
    2Southcoast Health$55,761$26.81
    3ProMedica Toledo Hospital$54,521$26.21
    4Rochester Institute of Technology$54,471$26.19
    5Cleveland Clinic$53,023$25.4914
    6Georgetown University$52,410$25.202
    7Cornell University$52,380$25.182
    8UC Merced$52,345$25.17
    9EMCOR Group$51,728$24.8761
    10Tesla$51,488$24.754
    11Georgia State University$49,572$23.83
    12ADT Security Services$49,065$23.5913
    13Kiewit$48,082$23.1219
    14TechFlow$47,469$22.8210
    15Fluor Corporation$47,249$22.728
    16University of Colorado Boulder$46,346$22.28
    17CyberCoders$46,216$22.22
    18Johnson Controls$46,103$22.16191
    19Medical University of South Carolina$45,520$21.886
    20Trillium Staffing$45,358$21.81
  4. Writing a fire alarm technician job description

    A fire alarm technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a fire alarm technician job description:

    Fire alarm technician job description example

    We are a fast-paced, established fire protection and life safety system contractor based in Jacksonville, FL. We are seeking qualified candidates for Fire Alarm Technician with experience in new Installations and service work.

    Responsibilities include new installation of Fire Alarm projects working with job site superintendents to get the fire alarm system installed in a timely and professional manner. Service Technician will be required to work directly with customer to resolve fire alarm system issue’s is a professional manner.

    Required skills for this position include proficiency in using Windows-base, and the ability to interpret architectural drawings/specifications. The ideal candidate will possess strong problem resolution and communication skills in tandem with a proficient mechanical aptitude.

    The position requires 2-5 years of experience in fire alarm industry with an emphasis on Fire Alarm Installation and Service work.

    We offer a highly competitive compensation and benefit package.


    BENEFITS:

    Employee pay and benefits package will be determined by Skill Level and overall performance. IMC Construction Group values employees as an important Company Investment, including:

    · 8 paid holidays, 2 paid floating holidays, and paid Personal Time Off days be determined upon hiring

    · High percentage of individual and family Medical insurance paid by IMC;

    · 401(k) Retirement with percentage company match by IMC; and

    · Encourages Advancement from within.

    Pay Range: Various on years of experience and will be determined upon hiring.

    IMC Construction Group is a DRUG FREE WORKPLACE, all eligible candidates must pass a drug test. IMC Construction Group provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex national origin, age, disability, or genetics.

    Company DescriptionIMC Construction Group is a leading contractor specializing in high profile government and private sector projects throughout the USA and various global areas. Our integrity, strong work ethic and high standards is the foundation of our company and the reason we are a top defense contractor for the United States government.
  5. Post your job

    To find fire alarm technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

    • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
    • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any fire alarm technicians they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level fire alarm technicians with the right educational background.
    • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your fire alarm technician job on Zippia to find and recruit fire alarm technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting fire alarm technicians requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new fire alarm technician

    Once you've selected the best fire alarm technician candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new fire alarm technician. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
    Sign up to download full list

How much does it cost to hire a fire alarm technician?

Recruiting fire alarm technicians involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

Fire alarm technicians earn a median yearly salary is $42,765 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find fire alarm technicians for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $14 and $27.

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