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Security System Installation/Repair

Security System Installation/Repair

Types of Degrees Security System Installation/Repair Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Security System Installation/Repair have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level Graduates
Certificate 4
Master’s Degree 38

What Security System Installation/Repair Majors Need to Know

Studies in Security System Installation/Repair build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Security System Installation/Repair graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Security System Installation/Repair emphasizes the following knowledge areas: Knowledge areas for Security System Installation/Repair majors

  • Public Safety and Security — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
  • Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
  • Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
  • Telecommunications — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
  • Building and Construction — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*

Skills

Skills built by a Security System Installation/Repair program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations: Skills for Security System Installation/Repair majors

  • Critical Thinking — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
  • Speaking — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3 / 7.
  • Installation — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
  • Active Listening — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
  • Judgment and Decision Making — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Security System Installation/Repair careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations: Abilities for Security System Installation/Repair majors

  • Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
  • Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
  • Near Vision — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
  • Oral Expression — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
  • Information Ordering — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Security System Installation/Repair graduates report doing:

Activity Frequency / Importance
Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment 4.4 / 7
Communicating with People Outside the Organization 4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge 4.2 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events 4.2 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials 4.1 / 7
Performing General Physical Activities 4.1 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems 4.1 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates 4.1 / 7
Working with Computers 4.0 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects 4 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Security System Installation/Repair professionals:

Tool / Software Category In-Demand
Microsoft Windows Operating system software
Microsoft Office software Office suite software
Microsoft Word Word processing software
Word processing software Word processing software
Microsoft Outlook Electronic mail software
Operating system software Operating system software
Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet software
Traceroute Network monitoring software
Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation software
Exacq Technologies software Video creation and editing software
Microsoft Hyperterminal Platform interconnectivity software
Autodesk AutoCAD Computer aided design CAD software

Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Security System Installation/Repair graduates include:

  • Surveillance Technician
  • Fire Alarm Technician (Fire Alarm Tech)
  • Fire Suppression Technician (Fire Suppression Tech)
  • Installer
  • Fire Alarm Installer
  • Alarm Installer
  • Electrical Fire Alarm Inspector
  • Fire Alarm Systems Tech (Fire Alarm Systems Technician)
  • Alarm Service Tech (Alarm Service Technician)
  • Protective Signal Installer
  • Security Alarm Installer
  • Protective Signal Repairer
  • Surveillance Operator
  • Security Technician (Security Tech)
  • Alarm Technician

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Security System Installation/Repair graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level Share of Workers
Postsecondary certificate 48.6%
High school diploma or equivalent 41.4%
Some college courses 8.4%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) 1.6%
Education levels for Security System Installation/Repair majors

Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*

Who Is Earning a Degree in Security System Installation/Repair?

Gender Distribution

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Security System Installation/Repair graduates is as follows:

Racial-ethnic diversity of Security System Installation/Repair graduates
Race / Ethnicity Graduates Share
White 15 35.7%
Hispanic or Latino 19 45.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 7 16.7%
Two or More Races 1 2.4%

See minority definition below.

How Much Do Security System Installation/Repair Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Security System Installation/Repair graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out Median Earnings
1 year $36,246
4 years $37,373
5 years $41,963

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $41,963 — roughly 16% above the 1-year mark.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.

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

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Security System Installation/Repair graduates earn a median of $37,373 four years after completion — about 2% below the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000). On earnings alone, this program does not show an income premium over the baseline; non-financial outcomes (career interests, certification requirements, advancement potential) are typically the stronger argument for fields in this range.

4-year median earnings vs national baseline for Security System Installation/Repair

ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program CIP Code
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians 47.01
Appliance Installation and Repair Technology/Technician 47.0106
Business Machine Repair 47.0102
Communications Systems Installation and Repair Technology/Technician 47.0103
Computer Installation and Repair Technology/Technician 47.0104
Electrical/Electronics Equipment Installation and Repair Technology/Technician, General 47.0101
Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other 47.0199
Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician 47.0105

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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