Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers Salary
The median pay for a security and fire alarm systems installers in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ is $59,280/year ($28.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $88K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 112.56), so that salary is closer to $52,665 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,910/month, about 75.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $59K get you in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New York-Newark-Jersey City’s Regional Price Parity (112.56). 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City
Security and fire alarm systems installers pay in New York-Newark-Jersey City tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 1% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,910/month, which is 74.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 13% above the national average (BEA RPP 112.56), so groceries and services cost more too. 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $61K | $62K |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $62K | $63K |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $61K | $64K |
| Syracuse | $61K | $64K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
Entry-level security and fire alarm systems installers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $88K or more, a $44K 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 74.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,910/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 New York-Newark-Jersey City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security and fire alarm systems installers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,621/month. At HUD’s $2,910/month FMR, rent would take 111% 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does New York-Newark-Jersey City compare to the national average for security and fire alarm systems installers?
New York-Newark-Jersey City pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 112.56), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do security and fire alarm systems installers make in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ?
The median is $59,280 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,680, and experienced security and fire alarm systems installers can clear $88,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in New York-Newark-Jersey City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,918/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,910/month, which eats 74.3% 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 New York-Newark-Jersey City?
New York-Newark-Jersey City has a Regional Price Parity of 112.56 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median security and fire alarm systems installers salary is worth about $52,665 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.