Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers pay range in Santa Cruz
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,820 a year or less, while the top 10% make $133,490 or more. The middle half of security and fire alarm systems installers in Santa Cruz earn between $49,910 and $94,030.
- $49K10th
- $50K25th
- $66KMedian
- $94K75th
- $133K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,760 | $6,397 | $36.90 |
| Median | $66,080 | $5,507 | $31.77 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $49,910 | $4,159 | $24.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $94,030 | $7,836 | $45.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers pay in Santa Cruz vs. California and the U.S.
Security and fire alarm systems installers in Santa Cruz earn 8% more than the California average ($71,000) and 26% more than the U.S. average ($60,960). At the median the gap is +10% against the U.S. median of $60,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz | $76,760 | $66,080 | $48,820 | $133,490 | 30 |
| California | $71,000 | $71,570 | $46,090 | $98,710 | 8,180 |
| United States | $60,960 | $60,070 | $38,800 | $81,150 | 86,340 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers salary after taxes in Santa Cruz
On the average salary of $76,760, a single filer in Santa Cruz takes home about $59,762 a year, or $4,980 a month and $2,299 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Santa Cruz a good place for security and fire alarm systems installers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Santa Cruz area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 109.9), so the average $76,760 buys what about $69,848 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Santa Cruz ($54,730). A typical home costs $1,157,157, or 15.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers salary in other California cities
Santa Cruz ranks 3rd of 18 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($86,380).
- San Jose$86,380
- San Francisco$81,630
- Santa Cruz$76,760
- Vallejo$71,660
- San Diego$71,000
- Sacramento$70,950
- Los Angeles$70,810
- Stockton$69,230
- Santa Rosa$66,980
- Salinas$66,870
All Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for security and fire alarm systems installers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($86,380).
- San Jose, CA$86,380
- San Francisco, CA$81,630
- Worcester, MA$79,520
- Boston, MA$79,070
- Santa Cruz, CA$76,760
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Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers salary in Santa Cruz: questions
How much do security and fire alarm systems installers make an hour in Santa Cruz?
$36.90 an hour on average, and $31.77 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security and fire alarm systems installers salary in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,820 a year and the 25th percentile is $49,910, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security and fire alarm systems installers take-home pay in Santa Cruz?
About $59,762 a year ($4,980 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,760. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do security and fire alarm systems installers earn more in Santa Cruz than elsewhere?
The average here is 26% more than the U.S. average for this job ($60,960).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 49-2098; area Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (42100). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 11.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
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