Why This Survey Exists
The fire and security sector has a talent problem it can no longer ignore. Demand for qualified engineers is consistently outpacing supply — and the gap is widening. Growth in data centres, battery energy storage systems, rail, and critical infrastructure is drawing experienced engineers into project work, leaving the service and maintenance market increasingly stretched.
Meanwhile, a significant cohort of engineers who entered the industry in the 1990s and 2000s are approaching retirement. The pipeline coming through isn't big enough to replace them. The result is a market where candidates have real leverage — and where salary expectations are shifting faster than many employers have yet to acknowledge.
This survey compiles data from live placements, candidate registrations, and employer briefings gathered throughout 2025 and early 2026. It's designed to give both employers and candidates an honest, current picture of where salaries sit and where the market is heading.
A note on ranges: Salaries vary based on sector, company size, geography, and package. The figures below represent base salary ranges for permanent roles in England. Van provision, on-call allowances, and overtime can add significantly to total earnings.
Key Findings at a Glance
Why Commissioning Engineers Are in a Category of Their Own
If there is one consistent theme in this year's data, it's the commissioning premium. Engineers with commissioning qualifications — particularly on Notifier, Advanced, Gent, or Hochiki panels — are commanding 15–25% more than installation counterparts at equivalent experience levels. In some cases, more.
This isn't likely to resolve quickly. Commissioning experience takes years to develop and can't be fast-tracked. Employers hiring for these roles need to price accordingly, or accept that they will lose candidates at offer stage to competitors who have done their homework on market rates.
Service vs. Installation — The Package Gap
Base salaries between service and installation engineers at equivalent levels are relatively close — typically within £2,000–£4,000. The real difference is in the package. Service engineers increasingly expect a structured on-call allowance as standard, with the better employers offering between £3,000–£6,000 per year on top of base, plus call-out rates.
Employers who treat on-call as an afterthought are losing candidates to those who build it into the offer upfront. In a market where candidates are comparing multiple offers, clarity on total earnings is expected — not optional.
The Multi-Discipline Advantage
Engineers competent across fire, intruder alarm, CCTV, and access control are consistently attracting a 10–20% premium above single-discipline peers. With businesses consolidating their supply chains and reducing the number of contractors they use, the ability to cover multiple disciplines from a single engineer is genuinely valuable — and the market is reflecting that.
Where Management Salaries Are Heading
Service managers and operations managers are seeing particularly strong upward movement, driven by the complexity of portfolios they're expected to manage and the increasing difficulty of finding capable candidates to step up. Project managers with data centre or CNI experience are similarly well-positioned, with base salaries ranging from £45,000 to £60,000 before any bonus.
Full Salary Tables
Complete salary tables across installation, service & maintenance, management, and commercial roles — with regional breakdowns and package benchmarks.
| Role | Level | Salary Range | Package |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Alarm Engineer | Junior (0–2 yrs) | £24,000 – £30,000 | Van + tools |
| Fire Alarm Engineer | Mid (2–5 yrs) | £30,000 – £38,000 | Van + overtime |
| Fire Alarm Commissioning | Senior (5+ yrs) | £42,000 – £52,000 | Van + bonus |
| Security Systems Engineer | Mid (2–5 yrs) | £30,000 – £38,000 | Van + on-call |
| Multi-Discipline Engineer | Senior (5+ yrs) | £40,000 – £52,000 | Van + OT + on-call |
Download the full report to unlock all roles, all regions, benefits benchmarks, and the 2026 market outlook.
Not sure where you sit in the market?
Whether you're a candidate considering a move or an employer trying to attract the right people, I'll give you a straight answer — no obligation.
Talk to Jack →