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Salary comparison

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers vs. Maintenance and Repair Workers, General: Who Earns More?

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers out-earn Maintenance and Repair Workers, General by $10K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers land at $60,070 and Maintenance and Repair Workers, General at $49,590. The education gap is real: security and fire alarm systems installer programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while maintenance and repair workers, general programs require high school diploma or equivalent. Top-paying state for Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers is Alaska ($79,870); for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General it's District of Columbia ($60,310).

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
Median salary
$60,070
$49,590
Hourly rate
$28.88/hr
$23.84/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$38,800
$35,350
Senior level (90th %)
$81,150
$77,180
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
High school diploma or equivalent
U.S. employment
86,340
1,529,700
Job growth (10-year)
10.4%
3.8%
Category
Repair & Maintenance
Repair & Maintenance
Top-paying state
Alaska
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers median pay.

State
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
Alaska
$79,870
$60,270
Massachusetts
$78,530
$58,320
Oregon
$75,710
$54,350
Connecticut
$75,410
$57,620
Washington
$72,950
$59,160
California
$71,570
$57,000
Hawaii
$63,140
$57,960
New Jersey
$63,140
$54,810
Minnesota
$62,440
$59,200
Ohio
$61,860
$53,420
Wisconsin
$61,130
$55,810
Vermont
$60,080
$55,510
Illinois
$59,800
$56,720
New York
$58,550
$57,790
District of Columbia
$58,460
$60,310

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers or Maintenance and Repair Workers, General?

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers earn more nationally. The median is $60,070 for Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers versus $49,590 for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General, a difference of $10K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers or Maintenance and Repair Workers, General?

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers has the better 10-year outlook at 10.4% projected growth, compared to 3.8% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers or Maintenance and Repair Workers, General?

Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Maintenance and Repair Workers, General requires high school diploma or equivalent. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers get paid the most?

Alaska is the top-paying state for Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers at $79,870/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers vs. Maintenance and Repair Workers, General pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers earn $79,870 vs. $60,270 for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers salary breakdownView →Full Maintenance and Repair Workers, General salary breakdownView →Best cities for Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Maintenance and Repair Workers, General by take-home payExplore →How to become a security and fire alarm systems installersGuide →How to become a maintenance and repair workers, generalGuide →