Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers Salary
The median pay for a security and fire alarm systems installers in North Carolina is $54,120/year ($26.02/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $75K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $58,407 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,284/month, about 35.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $54K get you in North Carolina?
About security and fire alarm systems installers
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Security and fire alarm systems installers pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 10% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,284/month, which is 35.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level security and fire alarm systems installers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $75K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers salary by metro in North Carolina
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $62K | +14% | 890 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $60K | +10% | 600 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $52K | -5% | 210 |
| Winston-Salem | $49K | -9% | 130 |
| Asheville | $49K | -10% | 90 |
| Greenville | $48K | -11% | 30 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $47K | -13% | 80 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $47K | -14% | 100 |
| Fayetteville | $46K | -14% | 60 |
| Wilmington | $46K | -15% | 190 |
Compare to other states
Track security and fire alarm systems installers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a security and fire alarm systems installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 35.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security and fire alarm systems installers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,231/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for security and fire alarm systems installers?
North Carolina pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do security and fire alarm systems installers make in North Carolina?
The median is $54,120 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,180, and experienced security and fire alarm systems installers can clear $75,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,591/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 35.8% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $58,407 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.