Security and fire alarm installers in California: licensing, jobs, pay and local data
7,390 people work as security and fire alarm installers in California, and the median pay is $66,010 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 781 security and fire alarm system businesses with employees in California (2023 County Business Patterns).
That is 0.5 businesses per 10,000 homes, against 0.5 nationally.
California ranks 6 of 49 states for median pay in this trade.
It ranks 15 of 51 for businesses per 10,000 homes.
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 7,390
- Median pay, a year
- $66,010
- Businesses with employees
- 781
Security and fire alarm installers in California: businesses and jobs
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses with employees | 781 | 7,151 |
| Their employees | 12,532 | 128,462 |
| Annual payroll | $872,818,000 | $9,001,839,000 |
| Payroll per employee | $69,647 | $70,074 |
| Businesses per 10,000 homes | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Jobs | 7,390 | 81,510 |
| Jobs per 1,000 jobs | 0.41 | — |
| Location quotient (1.00 = the national share) | 0.77 | 1.00 |
A location quotient above 1 means the trade’s share of all jobs is larger here than nationally.
What security and fire alarm installers earn in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $66,010 | $59,300 |
| Median pay, an hour | $31.74 | $28.51 |
| 10th percentile | $46,750 | $38,410 |
| 25th percentile | $54,600 | $47,330 |
| 75th percentile | $79,480 | $71,340 |
| 90th percentile | $101,230 | $81,980 |
| Average pay, a year | $71,680 | $60,040 |
Security and fire alarm installers by county in California
| County | Businesses with employees | Their employees | Businesses per 10,000 homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | 210 | 2,937 | 0.6 |
| Orange County | 102 | 2,022 | 0.9 |
| Riverside County | 59 | 535 | 0.7 |
| San Diego County | 50 | 736 | 0.4 |
| Alameda County | 37 | 977 | 0.6 |
| San Bernardino County | 37 | 497 | 0.5 |
| Sacramento County | 36 | 443 | 0.6 |
| Contra Costa County | 33 | 973 | 0.8 |
| Santa Clara County | 24 | 388 | 0.3 |
| Fresno County | 23 | 692 | 0.7 |
| San Mateo County | 16 | 202 | 0.6 |
| Kern County | 15 | 179 | 0.5 |
| Ventura County | 15 | 133 | 0.5 |
| San Francisco County | 14 | 178 | 0.3 |
| San Joaquin County | 14 | 123 | 0.5 |
| Stanislaus County | 11 | 122 | 0.6 |
| Sonoma County | 10 | 110 | 0.5 |
| Placer County | 7 | 47 | 0.4 |
| Santa Barbara County | 7 | 71 | 0.4 |
| Tulare County | 7 | 111 | 0.5 |
| Santa Cruz County | 6 | 99 | 0.6 |
| Monterey County | 6 | 187 | 0.4 |
| Marin County | 5 | 43 | 0.4 |
| San Luis Obispo County | 5 | 30 | 0.4 |
| Shasta County | 5 | 63 | 0.6 |
| El Dorado County | 4 | 16 | 0.4 |
| Merced County | 3 | 64 | 0.3 |
| Solano County | 3 | 35 | 0.2 |
The homes behind the work in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Homes in buildings of 20 or more units | 13.6% (±0.1 points) | 10.3% |
| Detached houses | 57.0% (±0.1 points) | 61.3% |
| Households that rent | 44.1% (±0.2 points) | 34.8% |
| Housing units | 14,644,735 (±1,665) | 143,775,355 |
Licenses for security and fire alarm installers in California
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Before work starts, the local building department says which permits the job needs and which license the person pulling them must hold.
Federal rules and model codes for security and fire alarm installers
These federal rules apply to this work in every state, and the model codes below are adopted state by state; each is linked to its official text.
- OSHA electrical safety in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart K)
- National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code (NFPA 72)
- National Electrical Code (NFPA 70)
Business counts are establishments: a company with offices in two counties is counted in each.
Jobs and pay are for the occupation in every industry, so they include people employed by builders, property managers and governments as well as by contractors.
What you can do on Seayora in California
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Questions about California
How much do security and fire alarm installers make in California?
The median pay for security and fire alarm installers in California is $66,010 a year, against $59,300 nationally (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many security and fire alarm installers work in California?
7,390 people work as security and fire alarm installers in California, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
How many security and fire alarm system businesses are in California?
The Census Bureau counts 781 security and fire alarm system businesses with employees in California (2023 County Business Patterns).
Do security and fire alarm installers need a license in California?
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023
- License Finder: security and fire alarm installers in California (US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop)
- OSHA electrical safety in construction (29 CFR part 1926, subpart K)
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them. Rules are summarized from their official text, which governs; this page is not legal advice, and a state or city may add requirements of its own.
Figures last updated on .