Security Systems Technician (access control and video) Salary
This is the Data Center Headhunters salary guide.
BLS does not measure Security Systems Technician (access control and video) as its own occupation, so this page uses Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098, closest proxy). The median annual wage in the United States was $60,070 (BLS, May 2025), and the middle half earned $47,820 to $73,690.
This is what we do all day: recruit data center professionals.
Closest proxy
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
National pay range
| Point | Annual wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,800 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $47,820 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $60,070 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $73,690 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $81,150 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $60,960 | Average wage. |
| Point | Hourly wage | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $18.65 | 10% of workers in this occupation and area earned less than this. |
| 25th percentile | $22.99 | 25% earned less than this. |
| Median | $28.88 | Half earned less, half earned more. |
| 75th percentile | $35.43 | 75% earned less than this. |
| 90th percentile | $39.01 | 90% earned less than this. |
| Mean | $29.31 | Average wage. |
What BLS wages cover: OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. These are straight-time gross wages, not pure base salary or total compensation. Discuss per diem, travel and relocation separately. BLS pay-term definitions.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. SOC 49-2098 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers, United States. Download national data (ZIP).
Pay relative to all occupations
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| This occupation, median | $60,070 |
| All occupations (SOC 00-0000), median | $50,980 |
| Relative wage | 1.18 times |
A ratio of 1.00 means the same median as all workers in the area. It is arithmetic on two BLS medians, not a BLS statistic.
Pay in industries that hire this occupation
| Industry (BLS name) | NAICS | Employment | Share of occupation | Median | P25 to P75 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building Equipment Contractors | 238200 | 20,830 | 24.1% | $60,050 | $47,180 to $76,610 |
| Electrical Contractors and Other Wiring Installation Contractors | 238210 | 14,820 | 17.2% | $58,130 | $47,180 to $76,090 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 238220 | 5,930 | 6.9% | $62,330 | $51,760 to $77,820 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | 541500 | 210 | 0.2% | $45,800 | $36,710 to $58,110 |
| Facilities Support Services | 561200 | 160 | 0.2% | $79,140 | $64,810 to $92,430 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | 541300 | 40 | 0.0% | $95,190 | $90,870 to $99,910 |
| Nonresidential Building Construction | 236200 | 30 | 0.0% | $62,500 | $47,840 to $78,060 |
These national industry rows cover privately owned establishments. Industry names are exact BLS NAICS titles. Industries overlap, so shares do not sum to 100%. An industry row does not mean the employer runs data centers.
Pay in target metros
| Metro area | Median | P25 to P75 | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $66,790 | $58,030 to $79,510 | 1,610 | 0.92 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $57,930 | $45,350 to $62,260 | 3,550 | 1.58 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $60,750 | $48,770 to $75,100 | 1,730 | 1.31 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $58,990 | $46,890 to $62,520 | 1,380 | 0.86 |
| Columbus, OH | $63,060 | $57,590 to $73,110 | 490 | 0.8 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $61,310 | $47,670 to $77,590 | 1,510 | 0.6 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $81,980 | $74,110 to $97,920 | 320 | 0.5 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $76,630 | $59,140 to $100,180 | 730 | 1.08 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Highest and lowest paying metros
Ranked by published median annual wage among 203 metro areas with an exact median.
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $81,980 | 320 | 0.5 |
| 2 | Salem, OR | $81,500 | 70 | 0.69 |
| 3 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $81,340 | 30 | 0.78 |
| 4 | Worcester, MA | $80,480 | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| 5 | Anchorage, AK | $79,870 | 100 | 1.02 |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $79,350 | 1,030 | 0.78 |
| 7 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $78,560 | 1,330 | 0.89 |
| 8 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $76,630 | 730 | 1.08 |
| 9 | Vallejo, CA | $76,390 | 70 | 0.92 |
| 10 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $75,910 | 1,000 | 0.87 |
| Rank | Metro area | Median | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 194 | Fayetteville, NC | $46,450 | 60 | 0.84 |
| 195 | Wilmington, NC | $46,260 | 190 | 1.77 |
| 196 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $45,740 | 40 | 0.33 |
| 197 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $45,210 | 150 | 0.9 |
| 198 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $45,190 | 60 | 1.19 |
| 199 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $44,610 | 50 | 0.62 |
| 200 | Macon-Bibb County, GA | $41,660 | 60 | 1.17 |
| 201 | Laredo, TX | $39,800 | 50 | 0.88 |
| 202 | Texarkana, TX-AR | $36,460 | 70 | 2.07 |
| 203 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $29,490 | 490 | 1.28 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Where pay is highest relative to local wages
This compares the occupation's median with the all-occupations median in the same metro and on the same annual basis. It does not adjust for living costs. Only exact published medians are ranked. A top-coded lower bound cannot establish an exact rank.
| Metro | Occupation median | All-occupations median | Ratio | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | $81,500 | $55,310 | 1.47 times | 70 | 0.69 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $58,450 | $39,740 | 1.47 times | 40 | 1.34 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $69,690 | $47,520 | 1.47 times | 60 | 0.69 |
| Canton-Massillon, OH | $64,660 | $45,810 | 1.41 times | 30 | 0.38 |
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $81,340 | $57,640 | 1.41 times | 30 | 0.78 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $75,350 | $53,680 | 1.40 times | 360 | 0.9 |
| El Paso, TX | $55,420 | $39,510 | 1.40 times | 480 | 2.55 |
| Springfield, MA | $72,280 | $51,930 | 1.39 times | 90 | 0.84 |
| Worcester, MA | $80,480 | $57,830 | 1.39 times | Not published by BLS | Not published by BLS |
| Salisbury, MD | $67,510 | $48,710 | 1.39 times | 80 | 2.76 |
| Salinas, CA | $63,980 | $47,380 | 1.35 times | 40 | 0.39 |
| Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC | $51,140 | $37,930 | 1.35 times | 90 | 1.11 |
| Youngstown-Warren, OH | $58,490 | $43,800 | 1.34 times | 40 | 0.47 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $64,550 | $48,400 | 1.33 times | 980 | 1.03 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $63,340 | $47,650 | 1.33 times | 60 | 0.63 |
| Anchorage, AK | $79,870 | $60,200 | 1.33 times | 100 | 1.02 |
| Birmingham, AL | $63,350 | $47,770 | 1.33 times | 610 | 2.13 |
| Charleston, WV | $60,440 | $45,830 | 1.32 times | 80 | 1.37 |
| Erie, PA | $58,610 | $44,460 | 1.32 times | 30 | 0.52 |
| Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC | $57,600 | $43,850 | 1.31 times | 30 | 0.73 |
| Monroe, LA | $50,090 | $38,150 | 1.31 times | 60 | 1.22 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $60,920 | $46,670 | 1.31 times | 970 | 1.54 |
| Vallejo, CA | $76,390 | $58,620 | 1.30 times | 70 | 0.92 |
| Jackson, TN | $58,310 | $44,790 | 1.30 times | 40 | 0.77 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $63,670 | $48,990 | 1.30 times | 110 | 0.71 |
Location quotient measures job concentration, not pay. A value above 1 means the occupation makes up a larger share of local jobs than it does nationally. It says nothing about wages.
Source: BLS OEWS BLS, May 2025, SOC 49-2098 and SOC 00-0000, matching metro areas. The ratio is our arithmetic on those published medians, not a BLS statistic.
Change since the prior BLS release
| Reference period | Median |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | $59,300 |
| May 2025 | $60,070 |
| Difference | +$770 (+1.3%) |
Two published BLS values, shown as released. Not annualized, not adjusted for inflation, and BLS metro boundaries and survey panels can differ between releases.
What is inside the BLS pay figure
For an operations offer, separate standby availability payments from wages for hours actually worked. BLS excludes on-call waiting pay and shift differentials. Ordinary straight-time wages for work performed are not excluded by the on-call rule.
| Component | In the BLS figure? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base rate and guaranteed pay | Included | BLS counts the "base rate" and "guaranteed pay". |
| Production and incentive pay | Included | BLS counts "incentive pay including commissions and production bonuses". |
| On-call waiting or availability pay matters here | Left out | BLS excludes payment for time spent awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. BLS on-call pay definition. |
| Overtime pay | Left out | BLS excludes "overtime pay". Straight-time pay only. |
| Shift differentials matters here | Left out | BLS excludes "shift differentials", so night and weekend premiums are not in the figure. |
| Project-completion and discretionary bonuses | Depends on the terms | Guaranteed pay and production incentives are included. Discretionary nonproduction bonuses are excluded. Check how the payment is defined. |
| Per diem, travel and relocation | Left out | BLS does not name these as wages. They are expense reimbursements and are not in the figure. |
| Benefits and employer costs | Left out | BLS excludes "employer costs for supplementary benefits". |
Recruiter's read
Qualitative, not from BLS data.
Security Systems Technician (access control and video) candidates are usually screened on access control and video install and service; low voltage license where required; NICET or manufacturer training.
We usually find them through security integrators; low voltage contractors; alarm companies. We contact working people directly rather than relying on job applications.
Questions
What is the median pay for Security Systems Technician (access control and video)?
The BLS median annual wage for Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers nationally is $60,070 (BLS, May 2025).
What range do most Security Systems Technician (access control and video) earn?
Per BLS, the middle half earned $47,820 to $73,690, and 10% earned less than $38,800.
Is this the exact job title?
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers is the closest occupational proxy based on the work described, not a separate data center wage series. BLS does not distinguish this title, experience level, shift, credentials or data center employers. Confirm the actual duties before using this comparison.
How many people are employed in this occupation?
BLS estimates 86,340 jobs nationally in Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers across all industries.
What do BLS wages leave out?
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. Discuss per diem, travel and relocation separately.
Hiring Market Brief
A one-page brief for Security Systems Technician (access control and video): BLS pay, mapping and caveats.
Hiring Security Systems Technician (access control and video)?
Pay is one input. Scope, license and travel decide whether the person says yes.
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- Methodology
What the published rows say about Security Systems Technician (access control and video) pay in the United States
Security Systems Technician (access control and video) maps to Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers, SOC 49-2098. For the United States, the May 2025 OEWS annual median is $60,070; the middle half runs from $47,820 to $73,690. This is a proxy, not a separate wage estimate for this exact job. BLS does not separate seniority titles that share this row. Set out the shift, switching authority and on-call duties before comparing offers. A site-based position and a traveling service job can share a wage row without offering the same working conditions.
The middle-half spread is $25,870: $12,250 from the 25th percentile to the median and $13,620 from the median to the 75th. The upper interval is wider. Use these points to compare an offer, not to price a junior or senior hire. Percentiles are not experience bands, and this distribution alone does not explain why individual workers earn different amounts.
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ reports a annual median of $59,280 for this occupation in May 2025. This metro is selected by published occupation employment, not geographic proximity to a national point. That is $790 below the United States's median.
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX reports a annual median of $57,930 for this occupation in May 2025. This metro is selected by published occupation employment, not geographic proximity to a national point. That is $2,140 below the United States's median.
The highest exact national industry medians in the loaded SOC 49-2098 rows are Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services at $95,190 and Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing at $91,330. These are May 2025 national occupation estimates, not local data center pay. The loaded data has no local industry-by-occupation breakdown, so it cannot rank industries within the United States.
The matched median moved from $59,300 in May 2024 to $60,070 in May 2025: $770 higher. Both rows use SOC 49-2098, area 99 and the same annual basis. This is not adjusted for inflation or annualized, and it does not attribute the change to a particular employer.
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. This is neither pure base salary nor total compensation. Agree travel, per diem and relocation terms separately. No verified Security Systems Technician (access control and video)-specific allowance is in this occupation row, so none is added to the figures.
Questions about Security Systems Technician (access control and video) pay in the United States
Which BLS row supports Security Systems Technician (access control and video) pay in the United States?
Security Systems Technician (access control and video) maps to SOC 49-2098, Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers. The May 2025 annual median for the United States is $60,070. The proxy mapping is not a separate survey of this niche title.
Does the figure cover the whole offer for Security Systems Technician (access control and video)?
OEWS includes base rates, guaranteed pay, commissions and production incentives. It excludes on-call waiting or availability pay, overtime, shift differentials, nonproduction bonuses and benefits. The on-call exclusion covers time awaiting a call to work, not ordinary wages for hours actually worked. Travel and relocation terms still need their own discussion; this row supplies no separate allowance.
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- methodology
Nearest-area selection uses Census Gazetteer internal points, not road distance. Source: 2025 Census Gazetteer.