Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers Salary
The median pay for a security and fire alarm systems installers in Knoxville, TN is $58,090/year ($27.93/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $62,753 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,471/month, about 36.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $58K get you in Knoxville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About security and fire alarm systems installers
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What this looks like in Knoxville
Security and fire alarm systems installers pay in Knoxville tracks closely to the national median, $58K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,471/month, which is 36.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for security and fire alarm systems installers in metros near Knoxville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $58K | $60K |
| Memphis | $57K | $62K |
| Chattanooga | $48K | $53K |
| Jackson | $58K | $68K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level security and fire alarm systems installers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $40K spread from bottom to top.
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $80K | +33% | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +31% | 1,690 |
| Rhode Island | $76K | +27% | 240 |
| Oregon | $76K | +26% | 950 |
| Connecticut | $75K | +26% | 540 |
| Washington | $73K | +21% | 1,670 |
| California | $72K | +19% | 8,180 |
| Maryland | $65K | +9% | 2,230 |
| Maine | $64K | +7% | 240 |
| Iowa | $64K | +6% | 480 |
| New Jersey | $63K | +5% | 2,740 |
| Hawaii | $63K | +5% | 380 |
| Minnesota | $62K | +4% | 770 |
| Colorado | $62K | +4% | 1,950 |
| Ohio | $62K | +3% | 2,440 |
| New Hampshire | $62K | +2% | 500 |
| Kansas | $61K | +2% | 740 |
| Utah | $61K | +2% | 980 |
| Wisconsin | $61K | +2% | 770 |
| Nevada | $61K | +2% | 1,170 |
| Virginia | $61K | +1% | 2,130 |
| Alabama | $61K | +1% | 1,350 |
| Kentucky | $61K | +1% | 1,080 |
| Vermont | $60K | +0% | 110 |
| Florida | $60K | +0% | 8,320 |
| Wyoming | $60K | -0% | 150 |
| Illinois | $60K | -0% | 2,180 |
| South Carolina | $60K | -1% | 1,050 |
| Delaware | $60K | -1% | 160 |
| Arizona | $60K | -1% | 2,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | -1% | 2,650 |
| Montana | $59K | -2% | 190 |
| New York | $59K | -3% | 6,620 |
| District of Columbia | $58K | -3% | 210 |
| New Mexico | $58K | -3% | 630 |
| Indiana | $58K | -3% | 1,930 |
| North Dakota | $58K | -4% | 150 |
| Michigan | $56K | -7% | 2,060 |
| South Dakota | $56K | -7% | 220 |
| Louisiana | $55K | -9% | 1,170 |
| Missouri | $55K | -9% | 1,790 |
| North Carolina | $54K | -10% | 2,880 |
| Georgia | $53K | -12% | 2,220 |
| Texas | $52K | -13% | 10,260 |
| Tennessee | $51K | -14% | 2,520 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -15% | 260 |
| Idaho | $49K | -18% | 340 |
| Arkansas | $49K | -19% | 620 |
| Oklahoma | $48K | -20% | 1,340 |
| Nebraska | $48K | -20% | 490 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -21% | 440 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track security and fire alarm systems installers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a security and fire alarm systems installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Knoxville?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 36.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for security and fire alarm systems installers in Knoxville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security and fire alarm systems installers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,356/month. At HUD’s $1,471/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is security and fire alarm systems installer a high-paying job in Knoxville?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $58K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Knoxville compare to the national average for security and fire alarm systems installers?
Knoxville pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security and fire alarm systems installers make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $58,090 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,270, and experienced security and fire alarm systems installers can clear $79,160. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,060/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 36.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a security and fire alarm systems installers salary go in Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median security and fire alarm systems installers salary is worth about $62,753 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do security and fire alarm systems installers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.