Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers build installation, complex problem solving and judgment and decision making skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers (82%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers | 82% | $74,330 | +24% | None |
| 2 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 80% | $74,340 | +24% | None |
| 3 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 78% | $78,190 | +30% | None |
| 4 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | 76% | $61,010 | +2% | None |
| 5 | Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | 76% | $109,910 | +83% | None |
| 6 | Photonics Technicians | 76% | $78,350Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 7 | Electricians | 75% | $63,190 | +5% | None |
| 8 | Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians | 75% | $63,800Pay for the broader BLS group “Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Solar Photovoltaic Installers | 74% | $53,140 | −12% | None |
| 10 | Mechanical Door Repairers | 73% | $55,720 | −7% | None |
Compared with Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers, median $60,070. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as security and fire alarm systems installers (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
82% skill match · $74,330 · +24% pay
Equipment Maintenance
80% skill match · $74,340 · +24% pay
Equipment Selection · Equipment Maintenance · Repairing
78% skill match · $78,190 · +30% pay
Systems Evaluation · Systems Analysis · Troubleshooting
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers (82% skill match, median $74,330), Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (80% skill match, median $74,340) and Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (78% skill match, median $78,190), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
Among the 25 matches, 16 pay more than security and fire alarm systems installers at the median. The biggest increases: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers (+83%, $109,910), Ship Engineers (+82%, $109,530) and Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (+59%, $95,320).
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.