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The differences between installation and service technicians and fire alarm technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become an installation and service technician, becoming a fire alarm technician takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a fire alarm technician has an average salary of $42,765, which is higher than the $37,202 average annual salary of an installation and service technician.
The top three skills for an installation and service technician include hand tools, customer service and ladders. The most important skills for a fire alarm technician are customer service, fire protection, and NFPA.
| Installation And Service Technician | Fire Alarm Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $37,202 | $42,765 |
| Hourly rate | $17.89 | $20.56 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 125,640 | 44,529 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 12 |
An 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. They install, test, maintain and troubleshoot cables, switches, and any other telecommunications equipment. The skills necessary to perform this job include mechanical and electrical knowledge, customer service, working for long hours in confined spaces, and communication skills.
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.
Installation and service technicians and fire alarm technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Installation And Service Technician | Fire Alarm Technician | |
| Average salary | $37,202 | $42,765 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $48,000 | Between $31,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Quincy, MA | Fort Wayne, IN |
| Highest paying state | Massachusetts | Indiana |
| Best paying company | Johnson Controls | Siemens |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Finance |
There are a few differences between an installation and service technician and a fire alarm technician in terms of educational background:
| Installation And Service Technician | Fire Alarm Technician | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Electrical Engineering | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | Dunwoody College of Technology | - |
Here are the differences between installation and service technicians' and fire alarm technicians' demographics:
| Installation And Service Technician | Fire Alarm Technician | |
| Average age | 40 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.1% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 2.8% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | 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% |
| LGBT Percentage | 2% | 4% |