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The differences between security technicians and fire alarm 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 security technician and a fire alarm technician. Additionally, a security technician has an average salary of $58,338, which is higher than the $42,765 average annual salary of a fire alarm technician.
The top three skills for a security technician include customer service, CCTV and control systems. The most important skills for a fire alarm technician are customer service, fire protection, and NFPA.
| Security Technician | Fire Alarm Technician | |
| Yearly salary | $58,338 | $42,765 |
| Hourly rate | $28.05 | $20.56 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 92,807 | 44,529 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 12 |
The security technician's main job responsibility is to maintain and repair security-related concerns in a company. They identify and troubleshoot basic network related problems on hardware or software. They monitor alarm wiring and equipment and ensure work is under the safety standards. They also establish system access by issuing ID's, instructing the client on creation password and usage. They monitor access by looking-up ID status by validating owner identity. They also maintain security-related files by receiving, processing, and updating computer security forms.
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.
Security technicians and fire alarm technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Security Technician | Fire Alarm Technician | |
| Average salary | $58,338 | $42,765 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $101,000 | Between $31,000 And $57,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Fort Wayne, IN |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Indiana |
| Best paying company | Microsoft | Siemens |
| Best paying industry | - | Finance |
There are a few differences between a security technician and a fire alarm technician in terms of educational background:
| Security Technician | Fire Alarm Technician | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Associate Degree, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Electrical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between security technicians' and fire alarm technicians' demographics:
| Security Technician | Fire Alarm Technician | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 83.0% Female, 17.0% | Male, 96.8% Female, 3.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.3% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 4.3% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | 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 | 4% | 4% |