What Does a Security Systems Technician Do?
Whether the building is a dorm, a hospital, or a data center, its owners need to control who gets through each door and see what happens at the entrances. Security systems technicians install and service the card readers, cameras and alarms that make that possible, working for security contractors and in-house campus teams. In the case of a new hire, the task might be something as simple as setting up a badge that opens the right doors.
Also known as: Electronic Security 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.
Security Systems Technician Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a security systems technician include:
- Install card readers, electric strikes and door contacts, and wire them back to access panels.
- Mount and aim IP cameras, then add them to video software such as Genetec or Milestone.
- Program cardholder schedules and door groups in access systems such as Lenel OnGuard or Genetec Synergis.
- Pull and terminate network and low-voltage cable through ceilings, walls and conduit.
- Test intrusion alarms, panic buttons and motion sensors, and fix false alarm sources.
- Troubleshoot offline readers, failed power supplies and cameras that drop off the network.
- Replace backup batteries and power supplies on a set maintenance schedule.
- Set up intercoms and emergency call stations at entrances, garages and parking lots.
- Document device locations, IP addresses and wiring so the next technician can find everything.
- Train security officers and building managers to pull video and manage badge access.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a security systems technician, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Low-voltage wiring and termination
- IP networking, including VLANs and power over Ethernet (PoE) switches
- Access control and video software such as Lenel OnGuard, Genetec or Milestone
- State low-voltage or alarm license where required
- Manufacturer certifications for the systems you install
- Discretion around security details and camera footage
- Tidy, labeled cable work
- Customer service with facility and security staff
Education and Training
Security contractors want people who can pull cable neatly and pick up new software quickly. Electrical, IT and audio-visual backgrounds all carry over, and the training usually runs several months on the job once you are hired. Many states require a license for alarm work, and manufacturers such as Genetec and Milestone run certification courses on their own products.
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.
BLS projects employment of security and fire alarm systems installers, the group that includes security systems technicians, to grow about 7 percent from 2025 to 2035. In fact, it expects about 8,500 openings a year, as more buildings trade keys for badges and add cameras to parking lots and entrances. Technicians who understand networks as well as wiring are more likely to move into lead and design roles.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Security and fire alarm systems installers.
Security Systems 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 Security Systems 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 Security Systems 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:
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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.