Security System Installation/Repair

Types of Degrees Security System Installation/Repair Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many security system installation, repair, & inspection technology/technician graduations there were for each degree level during the last year for which data was available.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Basic Certificate	31
Undergraduate Certificate	11

What Security System Installation/Repair Majors Need to Know

O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to security system installation, repair, and inspection technology/technician and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician Majors

Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

• Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Telecommunications - Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Building and Construction - Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.

Skills for Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician Majors

The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to security system installation, repair, and inspection technology/technician:

• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Installation - Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Abilities for Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician Majors

Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a security system installation, repair, and inspection technology/technician student include the following:

• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

What Can You Do With a Security System Installation/Repair Major?

People with a security system installation, repair, and inspection technology/technician degree often go into the following careers:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers	14.2%	$47,190

How Much Do Security System Installation/Repair Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Security System Installation, Repair, and Inspection Technology/Technician majors often go into careers with median salaries of $48,540. This median refers to all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Security System Installation/Repair

Some careers associated with security system installation, repair, and inspection technology/technician require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to security system installation, repair, and inspection technology/technician have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	41.4%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)	48.6%
Some College Courses	8.4%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	1.6%

Online Security System Installation/Repair Programs

The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	3	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	0	0
Associate’s Degree	1	0
Bachelor’s Degree	0	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	0	0
Post-Master’s	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Security System Installation/Repair Worth It?

The median salary for a security system installation, repair, and inspection technology/technician grad is $48,540 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 22% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $172,800 after 20 years!

Trades Related to Security System Installation/Repair

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to security system installation, repair, and inspection technology/technician.

Major	Number of Grads
Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician	2,557
Computer Installation & Repair Technology/Technician	2,328
General Electrical/Electronics Equipment Installation and Repair	2,262
Other Electrical/Electronics Maintenance & Repair Technology	741
Communications Systems Installation & Repair Technology	117
Appliance Installation & Repair Technology/Technician	80
Business Machine Repair	0

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.