Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers pay range in Charleston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,610 a year or less, while the top 10% make $69,070 or more. The middle half of security and fire alarm systems installers in Charleston earn between $51,100 and $64,620.
- $42K10th
- $51K25th
- $60KMedian
- $65K75th
- $69K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,630 | $4,802 | $27.71 |
| Median | $60,440 | $5,037 | $29.06 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $51,100 | $4,258 | $24.57 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $64,620 | $5,385 | $31.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers pay in Charleston vs. West Virginia and the U.S.
Security and fire alarm systems installers in Charleston earn 7% more than the West Virginia average ($53,750) and 5% less than the U.S. average ($60,960). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $60,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston | $57,630 | $60,440 | $41,610 | $69,070 | 80 |
| West Virginia | $53,750 | $51,100 | $37,360 | $72,900 | 260 |
| 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 Charleston
On the average salary of $57,630, a single filer in Charleston takes home about $46,720 a year, or $3,893 a month and $1,797 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Charleston a good place for security and fire alarm systems installers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charleston area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.7), so the average $57,630 buys what about $64,959 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Charleston ($45,830). A typical home costs $148,817, or 2.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers salary in other West Virginia cities
Charleston ranks 1st of 2 West Virginia metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Charleston$57,630
- Huntington$53,800
All Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers salaries in West Virginia
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 Charleston: questions
How much do security and fire alarm systems installers make an hour in Charleston?
$27.71 an hour on average, and $29.06 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level security and fire alarm systems installers salary in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,610 a year and the 25th percentile is $51,100, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the security and fire alarm systems installers take-home pay in Charleston?
About $46,720 a year ($3,893 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,630.
Do security and fire alarm systems installers earn more in Charleston than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% less 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 Charleston, WV (16620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.7%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.37, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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