Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers Salary
The median pay for a security and fire alarm systems installers in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA is $76,630/year ($36.84/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $101K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.42), so that salary is closer to $72,690 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,922/month, about 38.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $77K get you in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro’s Regional Price Parity (105.42). 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro sits well above the national pay line for security and fire alarm systems installers, local pay runs about 28% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,922/month, which is 41.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.42), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for security and fire alarm systems installers in metros near Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Eugene-Springfield | $64K | $63K |
| Salem | $82K | $79K |
| Bend | $66K | $64K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $72K | $63K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA
Entry-level security and fire alarm systems installers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $101K or more, a $52K 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 41.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,922/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new security and fire alarm systems installers typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,972/month. At HUD’s $1,922/month FMR, rent would take 65% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Local pay is 28% above the national median — $77K here vs. $60K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro compare to the national average for security and fire alarm systems installers?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.42), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do security and fire alarm systems installers make in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA?
The median is $76,630 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,530, and experienced security and fire alarm systems installers can clear $101,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,676/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,922/month, which eats 41.1% 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 Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro?
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro has a Regional Price Parity of 105.42 (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 $72,690 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.