What Does a Fire Equipment Technician Do?
A fire alarm alone isn't likely to save a building if its detectors are dirty and its batteries dead, but if a fire starts at night, a well-kept system can be what wakes the occupants and calls the fire department. Fire equipment technicians keep systems in that state, testing and repairing alarms, sprinklers and extinguishers in campuses, hospitals and offices.
Also known as: Lead Fire Equipment Technician
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Alarm Technician, Fire Alarm Technician, Home Security Alarm Installer, Install Technician, Installation Technician, Installer, Security Installation Technician, Security Installer.
Fire Equipment Technician Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a fire equipment technician include:
- Inspect and tag portable fire extinguishers; recharge or replace any unit that fails.
- Test fire alarm panels, smoke detectors, pull stations and horn strobes on a set schedule.
- Run flow tests on sprinkler systems and check valves, gauges and fire department connections.
- Service kitchen hood suppression systems, including the heat-sensitive links that trigger them.
- Troubleshoot ground faults, trouble signals and false alarms, and trace them to the faulty device.
- Coordinate system shutdowns with occupants and arrange a fire watch patrol while systems are down.
- Keep inspection records and deficiency reports ready for the fire marshal or insurance inspectors.
- Replace emergency lights and exit signs that fail their monthly or annual tests.
- Program new devices into addressable panels such as Notifier, Simplex or Edwards systems.
- Train building staff on extinguisher use and on what to do when the panel shows trouble.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a fire equipment technician, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- NICET certification in fire alarm systems, or progress toward it
- State fire equipment license where required
- Working knowledge of NFPA codes for alarms, sprinklers and extinguishers
- Low-voltage wiring and meter use
- Familiarity with Notifier, Simplex and Edwards panels
- Careful record keeping for inspections
- Comfort on ladders, lifts and in ceiling spaces
- Calm, clear talk with occupants during alarms
Education and Training
A license is required in many states before you test or service fire systems on your own, and alarm employers often expect NICET certification too. Getting hired takes only a high school diploma. The real training comes over several months beside an experienced technician. Low-voltage wiring experience speeds things up.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $47,820 - $73,690 per year, with a median of $60,070.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers.
According to BLS, employment of security and fire alarm systems installers, the group that covers fire equipment technicians, is projected to grow about 7 percent from 2025 to 2035. The group should see about 8,500 openings a year, according to the same projections. Inspection and testing work tends to hold up in slow years, given that fire codes require it whatever the economy is doing.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Security and fire alarm systems installers.
Fire Equipment Technician Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $38,800 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $47,820 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $60,070 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $73,690 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $81,150 |
Highest-Paying States for Fire Equipment Technicians
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Alaska ($79,870), Massachusetts ($78,530), Rhode Island ($76,320), Oregon ($75,710), Connecticut ($75,410). Pay is lowest in Oklahoma ($48,240), Nebraska ($48,000), Mississippi ($47,160).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $60,710 |
| Alaska | $79,870 |
| Arizona | $59,680 |
| Arkansas | $48,950 |
| California | $71,570 |
| Colorado | $62,250 |
| Connecticut | $75,410 |
| Delaware | $59,680 |
| District of Columbia | $58,460 |
| Florida | $60,070 |
| Georgia | $53,100 |
| Hawaii | $63,140 |
| Idaho | $49,180 |
| Illinois | $59,800 |
| Indiana | $58,070 |
| Iowa | $63,750 |
| Kansas | $61,480 |
| Kentucky | $60,700 |
| Louisiana | $54,730 |
| Maine | $64,080 |
| Maryland | $65,330 |
| Massachusetts | $78,530 |
| Michigan | $55,830 |
| Minnesota | $62,440 |
| Mississippi | $47,160 |
| Missouri | $54,620 |
| Montana | $58,800 |
| Nebraska | $48,000 |
| Nevada | $60,980 |
| New Hampshire | $61,530 |
| New Jersey | $63,140 |
| New Mexico | $58,350 |
| New York | $58,550 |
| North Carolina | $54,120 |
| North Dakota | $57,620 |
| Ohio | $61,860 |
| Oklahoma | $48,240 |
| Oregon | $75,710 |
| Pennsylvania | $59,500 |
| Rhode Island | $76,320 |
| South Carolina | $59,710 |
| South Dakota | $55,690 |
| Tennessee | $51,460 |
| Texas | $52,270 |
| Utah | $61,150 |
| Vermont | $60,080 |
| Virginia | $60,790 |
| Washington | $72,950 |
| West Virginia | $51,100 |
| Wisconsin | $61,130 |
| Wyoming | $59,800 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as security and fire alarm systems installers about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 99% are on the phone every day
- 89% spend more than half the workday on their feet
- 82% wear safety gear such as gloves, safety glasses or a hard hat every day
- 81% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 69% use their hands on tools, objects or controls for more than half the day
- 47% deal with rude or angry people at least once a week
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Post-secondary certificate | 49% |
| High school diploma or GED | 41% |
| Some college | 8% |
Tools and Software Fire Equipment Technicians Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy hands-on work with tools, machines or the outdoors as well as organized work with data, records and clear procedures.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Speaking, Critical Thinking, Installation, Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Complex Problem Solving.
Knowledge areas used most: Public Safety and Security, Computers and Electronics, Customer and Personal Service, Telecommunications, Building and Construction.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 3 of 5, which means medium preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Fire Equipment Technician Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 49-2098.00 (Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.