Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers Salary
The median pay for a security and fire alarm systems installers in Texas is $52,270/year ($25.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $57,132 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 39% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in Texas?
About security and fire alarm systems installers
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for security and fire alarm systems installers in Texas runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $60K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 38.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for security and fire alarm systems installerss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level security and fire alarm systems installers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers salary by metro in Texas
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $60K | +14% | 820 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $58K | +11% | 3,550 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $57K | +9% | 2,500 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels | $57K | +8% | 820 |
| El Paso | $55K | +6% | 480 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur | $53K | +1% | 30 |
| San Angelo | $51K | -3% | 40 |
| Tyler | $50K | -4% | 50 |
| Corpus Christi | $50K | -4% | 70 |
| Amarillo | $50K | -5% | 120 |
| Wichita Falls | $48K | -8% | 30 |
| Lubbock | $48K | -9% | 120 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission | $45K | -14% | 150 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen | $45K | -15% | 50 |
| Laredo | $40K | -24% | 50 |
| Texarkana | $36K | -30% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a security and fire alarm systems installer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 38.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
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 $2,214/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $52K here vs. $60K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for security and fire alarm systems installers?
Texas pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do security and fire alarm systems installers make in Texas?
The median is $52,270 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,900, and experienced security and fire alarm systems installers can clear $75,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,670/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 38.6% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $57,132 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.