Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers Salary
The median pay for a security and fire alarm systems installers in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN is $49,880/year ($23.98/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.77), which stretches that salary to about $54,353 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,166/month, about 34.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in La Crosse-Onalaska?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by La Crosse-Onalaska’s Regional Price Parity (91.77). 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 La Crosse-Onalaska
Pay for security and fire alarm systems installers in La Crosse-Onalaska runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,166/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.77 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% 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 La Crosse-Onalaska, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $62K | $64K |
| Madison | $63K | $65K |
| Green Bay | $61K | $66K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $61K | $59K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Entry-level security and fire alarm systems installers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $38K 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)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a security and fire alarm systems installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in La Crosse-Onalaska?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 34.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,166/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 La Crosse-Onalaska?
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 $2,366/month. At HUD’s $1,166/month FMR, rent would take 49% 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 La Crosse-Onalaska?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $50K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does La Crosse-Onalaska compare to the national average for security and fire alarm systems installers?
La Crosse-Onalaska pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.77), the purchasing-power equivalent is $54K — below the national median.
How much do security and fire alarm systems installers make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median is $49,880 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,430, and experienced security and fire alarm systems installers can clear $77,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in La Crosse-Onalaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,377/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,166/month, which eats 34.5% 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 La Crosse-Onalaska?
La Crosse-Onalaska has a Regional Price Parity of 91.77 (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 $54,353 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.