The route, drawn out
DWG 031F · 5 stops · 3 years to qualify-
Day one Start as an apprentice from £15.6k
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Year 2 Training continues, pay rises min. £21.2k+
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3 years Fully qualified around £30k
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+3–5 years Experienced up to £47k
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Then Your own business you set the rate
The first figures are legal minimums: the apprentice rate (£8.00/hr) and the National Minimum Wage for 18–20s and 21+ from April 2026, on a 37.5-hour week. Qualified and experienced pay are indicative UK ranges — most employers pay apprentices above the minimum.
What the job is
This trade sits between electrical work and IT. You install and commission life-safety and security systems, then maintain them under service contracts — which means steady, planned work rather than chasing jobs.
Building safety legislation has increased demand for competent fire alarm engineers substantially. The work is mostly indoors, mobile, and increasingly network-based as systems move onto IP.
A typical day
- Install cabling, detectors, panels, cameras and door controls
- Program and commission fire, intruder and access systems
- Test systems and complete certification to the relevant standard
- Service and fault find on maintenance contracts
- Explain systems to users and hand over properly
How you get in
- GCSE grade 3-4 (D-C) in maths and English, or Functional Skills
- Interest in electronics and networks
- A clean DBS check is usually required
- Driving licence needed for mobile engineering roles
Where it leads
- Fire alarm design and commissioning qualifications
- IP networks, CCTV and access control specialisms
- Service supervisor or systems designer
- Self-employed on small commercial maintenance contracts
Where to train for this
8 colleges and training providers on our list cover Fire & Security Systems Technician training. Open your region to see them, then check current intakes with the provider directly.