Job Description

• Technicians that focus on controlling the temperature, humidity and total air quality of various buildings work with heating and air-conditioning systems that consist of several mechanical, electrical and electronic components including motors, pumps, fans, pipes, thermostats and so on. Technicians maintain settings, diagnose problems and provide the correct remedies to restore controlled automation. Technicians that focus more on home security installation and maintenance are trained professionals that work on installing various sensors, video cameras and lay down all the necessary wiring so they can connect all components. All building automation technicians require the skill to demonstrate equipment and educate users, such as homeowners or building workers, on how to use the devices when necessary.
  
  

Earnings

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, building automation systems technicians who specialized in heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics earned an average hourly rate between $14.94 and $24.84 per hour in May 2008. The lowest earnings included less than $12.19 per hour while the highest earners made more than $30.59 per hour. The median hourly wages for heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers were about $19.08 hourly. For security and fire alarm systems technicians and installers, the lowest earnings ranged from $11.96 to $29.53 hourly in May 2010. The median hourly wages for security and fire alarm systems technicians and installers was approximately $19.59 hourly.
  
  

Industries

• The top paying industries for security and fire alarm technicians and installers include architectural, engineering and related services; local governments; machinery, equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers; department stores and facilities support services. These industries offer earnings that range from $21.75 to $28.30 hourly, according to the BLS May 2010 reports. For heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers, the industries that employed the largest number of technicians included local governments; hardware; plumbing and heating equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers; commercial and industrial machinery and equipment repair and maintenance; direct selling establishments and building equipment contractors. Technicians in these industries earned a median hourly wage between $18.26 and $22.79 as of May 2008.
  
  

Regions

• The top paying states and regions for security and fire alarm technicians and installers include Delaware, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, Alaska and Nevada. Technicians working in these states earned between $24.25 and $25.79 hourly. The top paying metropolitan area for security and fire alarm technicians was the Framngham, MA NECTA Division, which pays an hourly mean wage of $30.40. No regional wage data is available for heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers, however the employment rate is expected to increase by 2018 as the demand for residential, commercial and industrial climate-control systems grow.