Fire & Life Safety

As of May 2023, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metropolitan area employed an estimated 1,630 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098), representing a location quotient of 1.05 and an annual mean wage of $47,930.

In 2024, building permit activity in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA MSA reached 13,937 units permitted, representing a 31.5% increase over the area's prior five-year historical average.

Residential building permit activity in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos MSA moderated from peak pandemic levels above 50,000 units in 2021-2022 to 32,294 authorized residential units in 2024 (ranking #6 nationally), with 23,622 residential units permitted over the trailing 12 months ending mid-2026.

In the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area, there were 1,270 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) employed as of May 2023, representing 0.974 jobs per 1,000 total regional employment and a location quotient of 1.77 compared to national averages.

Residential construction permit volume in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson MSA trended upward post-2023, with trailing 12-month building permits reaching 5,514 units, a 24.2% year-over-year increase, led by suburban activity in Baltimore County (1,635 permits) and Anne Arundel County (1,497 permits).

According to the BLS OEWS May 2023 report, Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) in the Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA comprised 430 employed workers. This reflects a location quotient of 1.55 (55% above the national average concentration) and 0.853 workers per 1,000 jobs in the metropolitan area.

Residential building permitting in the Birmingham-Hoover, AL MSA experienced a strong upward trend, accelerating to over 4,380 authorized housing units over trailing 12-month periods (up approximately 59.7% year-over-year), led by single-family developments in Shelby and Jefferson counties.

In the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, there are approximately 6,050 employed plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, which includes fire sprinkler system installers), earning a median hourly wage of $37.75 ($78,530 annually).

New housing units authorized by building permit in Massachusetts and the Greater Boston metro area fell by 25% year-over-year from 2022 to 2023, leaving permitting at 1.9 permits per 1,000 residents, less than half the national average of 4.5 permits per 1,000 residents.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, there were approximately 270 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) employed in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY metropolitan statistical area as of May 2023.

Total residential building permit activity in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls MSA decreased from 3,197 authorized units in 2022 to 2,101 units in 2023, before rebounding to 2,659 authorized units for the 12 months ending July 2024 (comprising 847 single-family/sales units and 1,813 rental units).

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA employed 1,220 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) as of May 2023, representing a location quotient of 1.69 relative to the national average.

In 2023, approximately 19,150 residential sales units were permitted in the Charlotte metropolitan area (down less than 1% from 19,250 in 2022), while rental unit construction permits fell 36% to 12,950 units from 20,200 in 2022 as developers responded to higher interest rates and vacancy rates.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS estimates for the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metropolitan statistical area, the metro employed 1,760 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) with a location quotient of 0.71 (0.39 jobs per 1,000 total jobs) and 12,540 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, which includes sprinkler fitters) with a location quotient of 0.97.

In the Chicago metro area, residential building permit activity totaled 14,194 units from January through October 2025, representing a modest decline compared to the same period in 2024 while remaining relatively steady within its historical multi-year range since 2020.

In the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 2,920 employed Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, which encompasses fire sprinkler fitters), representing a density of 2.70 workers per 1,000 total jobs in the metro area (location quotient of 0.94).

Residential building permit activity in the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN MSA dipped in 2023 (6,241 total authorized units; 493.6 structure index) before trending upward through 2024 (580.3 index) and 2025 (623.1 index), with single-family building permits expanding from 3,925 units in 2024 to 4,250 units in 2025.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Cleveland-Elyria, OH metropolitan statistical area employed 350 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) with an employment density of 0.35 jobs per 1,000 total jobs (location quotient of 0.64), alongside 60 Fire Inspectors and Investigators (SOC 33-2021).

According to HUD User and U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data, building permit activity in the Cleveland-Elyria, OH MSA expanded to 4,175 total units over a trailing 12-month period, a 28.6% year-over-year increase (2.02 permits per 1,000 residents), driven by strong permitting gains in Cuyahoga County (+43.2% YoY) and Lorain County (+33.4% YoY).

According to BLS OEWS May 2023 data, the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area employed 2,490 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, the occupational classification covering fire sprinkler fitters) with a location quotient of 0.81 relative to national density, alongside 1,873 electricians (SOC 47-2111, responsible for fire alarm installation).

Residential building permit authorization in the Columbus MSA experienced strong upward growth, with total private housing units authorized reaching 13,709 over a 12-month trailing period (a 63.7% year-over-year increase), led by a 22% rise in multifamily permits to over 8,000 units.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX MSA employed 11,280 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, which includes fire sprinkler fitters), representing a concentration of 2.85 workers per 1,000 total jobs in the metropolitan area.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, residential building permit volume in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX MSA totaled 68,029 units in 2023, down from 77,281 units in 2022, while continuing to rank among the highest metropolitan permitting totals in the nation.

According to occupational employment data for the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO MSA, the metro area employed 110 Fire Inspectors and Investigators (SOC 33-2021) and 4,500 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152), the trade category that encompasses fire sprinkler system installers.

Residential construction permit volume in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood MSA decreased 21.8% year-over-year in 2022 to 23,472 authorized housing units, with single-family home permitting dropping an additional 34% during the 12 months ending August 2023 due to elevated interest rates.

According to official occupational labor data for the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI MSA, there were 130 Fire Inspectors and Investigators (SOC 33-2021) employed in the metropolitan area with an hourly mean wage of $42.82.

Residential construction permitting in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI MSA reached 4,541 total housing units in 2023, reflecting an 11.6% year-over-year decline and marking the lowest annual total since 2012.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA had 4,310 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, the occupational code covering fire sprinkler fitters) employed, representing a density of 2.594 per 1,000 total jobs in the metro area.

In the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area, trailing 12-month residential building permit volume reached 1,270 units as of May 2026, representing a +79.1% increase compared to the prior 12-month period, with multi-family structures (5+ units) driving 59.2% of newly permitted units.

As of May 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) reported that the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metropolitan statistical area employed 2,140 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098), representing a location quotient of 1.23 and an employment density of 0.67 jobs per 1,000 total jobs in the metropolitan area.

According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data, total residential building permits in the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land MSA reached 68,755 authorized units in 2023 (including 50,444 single-family homes). While this represented a 9.3% decrease from the 75,786 units permitted in 2022, the Houston metro area led the nation in total housing permit activity for 2023.

In the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN metropolitan statistical area, there were an estimated 750 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) employed, with a location quotient of 1.26, indicating a 26% higher concentration of trade employment relative to the national average.

Single-family building permits in the nine-county Greater Indianapolis area reached 10,173 permits in 2025, representing a 1.3% increase over the 10,004 permits issued in 2024. Momentum continued into 2026 with January filings increasing 4% year-over-year to 731 permits compared to 700 in January 2025.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the Jacksonville, FL metropolitan statistical area employed approximately 1,160 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) as of May 2023, representing a density (location quotient) of 1.57 relative to the national average and 2.86 jobs per 1,000 total jobs in the MSA.

According to HUD's Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis based on U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data, residential permitting in the Jacksonville MSA cooled following peak post-pandemic growth in 2021-2022. Single-family home sales decreased 22% in 2023 while approximately 6,300 homes and 10,500 rental units remained under construction as of early 2024, signaling a broader moderation in permit issuance.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Kansas City, MO-KS metropolitan statistical area employed 850 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) as of May 2023, representing a location quotient of 1.43, indicating a 43% higher concentration of installers than the national average.

Single-family building permit volume in the 8-county Kansas City metro area increased by 14% in 2024 (reaching 4,509 units, up from 3,947 in 2023), dipped slightly by 3% in 2025 (4,388 units), and rebounded strongly in early 2026 with 2,358 single-family units permitted through May 2026, a 32% year-over-year increase compared to the same five-month period in 2025.

In the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV MSA, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data reports 3,760 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, the trade classification covering fire sprinkler fitters) with a location quotient of 1.21 relative to national averages, alongside 330 Pipelayers (SOC 47-2151).

Construction and residential development activity in the Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise MSA moderated following peak post-pandemic expansion, with home sales falling 26% in 2022 and 22% in 2023, while maintaining significant active inventory with 5,300 single-family homes and 7,850 rental units under construction in early 2024.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA MSA employed approximately 3,040 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098), representing a density of 0.49 installers per 1,000 jobs in the metropolitan area.

According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data, total residential permit volume in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro trended downward between 2020 and 2025, dropping 38% in monthly total permits issued (from 2,715 in July 2020 to 1,694 in July 2025), driven primarily by a sharp contraction in multi-family unit authorizations.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 OEWS report, the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metropolitan statistical area employed 260 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098), representing a density of 0.392 installers per 1,000 total jobs and a location quotient of 0.71.

In the Louisville MSA, rental housing permitting increased 28% to 3,625 units authorized during the 12 months ending April 2023 (driven by a 49% surge in Jefferson County), while single-family home permitting declined 24% to 1,950 units. U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data shows multifamily permit volume subsequently stabilized at approximately 1.7 units per 1,000 residents.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the Memphis, TN-MS-AR metropolitan area employed 490 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) as of May 2023, representing a location quotient of 1.41 relative to the national employment concentration.

According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data, total residential permitting in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR MSA reached 4,058 units in 2022 before slowing to 3,066 single-family permitted units in 2023, indicating a pullback in residential construction activity.

According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metropolitan area employed an estimated 2,710 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) with a location quotient of 0.995 (on par with national average concentration) and an annual mean wage of $52,660.

In the first half of 2025, authorized residential building permits in Southeast Florida grew 14% year-over-year (contrasting with a 2% national decline), led by Miami-Dade County where authorized housing units rose 19% to an annualized rate of 15,414 units. Multifamily projects accounted for 85% of all permitted housing units in Miami-Dade.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI metropolitan statistical area employed 390 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) as of May 2023, representing a location quotient of 0.86 relative to national occupational concentration.

Single-family building permitting in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area increased year-over-year as of the 12 months ending August 2025, while multi-family construction activity and regional housing markets maintained balanced to slightly tight conditions.

According to May 2023 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metropolitan statistical area employed 670 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098), representing 0.35 jobs per 1,000 total jobs in the region and a location quotient of 0.64 relative to the national average.

Residential building permit volume in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area has experienced a downward trend in recent years, declining from 15,596 housing units permitted in 2023 to 12,339 units in 2024 and 12,161 units in 2025.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 620 employed Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN MSA, representing a location quotient of 1.05 relative to national employment density.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Building Permits Survey, housing unit authorizations in Nashville-Davidson totaled 6,799 units in 2024, down from 11,158 units in 2023 (a decrease of 4,359 units). Across the broader 14-county metro area, trailing permit activity reached 17,930 units (8.77 permits per 1,000 residents, nearly triple the U.S. metro average), including 5,787 multi-family units in 5+ unit structures.

According to occupational data for the New Orleans-Metairie, LA MSA, there were 400 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) employed in the metropolitan area as of May 2023, with a location quotient of 1.40 relative to the national concentration.

Construction permitting in the New Orleans-Metairie MSA has experienced a steep downward trend in recent years, with total housing permits declining by 68.4% (from 376 down to 119 units) in monthly tracking, single-family unit permits dropping by 75%, and annual multifamily permits declining by 47.3%.

In the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metropolitan statistical area, employment for core fire and life safety occupations includes 4,660 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) and 23,600 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, which includes sprinkler fitters).

Residential building permits in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area totaled 53,708 authorized housing units in 2023 before rebounding to over 58,000 units in 2024, with multi-family housing permits surging 51% year-over-year in top metro areas.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the Oklahoma City, OK Metropolitan Statistical Area employed approximately 1,190 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) as of May 2024, representing a concentration of 1.7 workers per 1,000 total jobs in the metro area.

Total new private housing units authorized by building permits in the Oklahoma City, OK MSA reached 13,242 units in 2024, representing a modest 2.2% growth over the 12,957 units authorized in 2023.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data, there were 1,230 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) employed in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL MSA, with a location quotient of 1.63 relative to the national average, indicating a higher-than-average concentration of fire and life safety installers in the region.

Residential building permit and construction activity in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford MSA has cooled from post-pandemic peaks, with 9,200 single-family sales homes and 17,750 rental units under construction as of mid-2024 to meet multi-year housing demand, accompanied by a slowdown in multi-family (5+ unit) permitting volume.

As of May 2023, the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metropolitan area employed 1,310 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) and 7,020 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, which includes sprinkler fitters).

New housing construction permit volume in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro peaked around 2021-2022 and subsequently entered a steep multi-year decline through 2023-2024, driven primarily by a pullback in multi-family housing permits.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metropolitan statistical area employed 9,990 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, which encompasses fire sprinkler system installers) as of May 2024, reflecting a substantial concentration of specialized trade labor in the metro.

Building permit volume in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler MSA authorized 45,616 residential housing units in 2023, ranking 4th nationwide. Recent construction activity shows a modest year-over-year cooling of approximately 15% from post-pandemic peaks, while retaining high overall permitting velocity compared to historical averages.

In the Pittsburgh, PA MSA, the trade workforce includes 760 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) with a location quotient of 1.29 relative to the national average, alongside 3,990 Electricians (SOC 47-2111).

Residential building permit volume in the Greater Pittsburgh region has trended upward, authorizing an estimated 5,946 housing units in 2025, up 9.9% from 5,412 units in 2024 and significantly above the 2019 pre-pandemic level of 3,984 units.

In the Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA metropolitan statistical area, BLS OEWS reports 6,770 electricians (SOC 47-2111) who perform fire alarm and low-voltage safety installations, representing a worker density of 5.614 per 1,000 jobs and a location quotient of 1.20.

Single-family residential construction permitting in the Oregon portion of the Portland metropolitan area increased 5% year-over-year in Q1 2025 (1,669 units permitted), despite a broader regional slowdown in multi-family housing unit permits during 2023 and 2024.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data, there were approximately 300 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) employed in the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Statistical Area, representing a location quotient of 0.97 relative to national concentration.

According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data reported by HUD User, residential permitting in the Providence metropolitan area gained momentum in late 2024, recording a 150-unit increase in multi-family permits and a 60-home increase in single-family permits in Q4 2024 compared to Q4 2023.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Raleigh, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area employed 570 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098), representing an employment location quotient of 1.48 compared to the national average.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, building permit activity in the Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA showed strong residential permitting volumes, authorizing over 18,000 housing units over trailing 12-month periods (~12.7 permits per 1,000 residents), ranking among the highest per-capita homebuilding permit rates in the nation despite national single-family permitting headwinds.

According to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for the Richmond, VA MSA, specialized trade employment performing fire & life safety work includes 1,940 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (who install and maintain fire sprinkler systems) as well as dedicated Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers across the metropolitan area.

According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data reported by Axios Richmond, residential construction permit activity in the Richmond metro area trended downward in 2024, projected at approximately 58 new housing units permitted per 10,000 residents compared to higher levels in 2023.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA employed approximately 890 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) as of May 2023, with an average hourly wage of $30.39 ($63,210 annual mean wage).

According to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey and HUD Housing Market Data, residential building permit authorizations in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario MSA maintained strong annual volume relative to coastal California, though single-family permitting experienced a year-over-year moderation of approximately 3% to 15% during 2024-2025.

In the Sacramento metropolitan area, construction activity has seen strong recent multi-family and residential permit volume. According to U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey data published in 2024, Sacramento County total multi-family building permit valuation grew from $323.5 million in 2021 to $413.4 million in 2022, while new single-family permit valuation reached $1.183 billion in 2022. Regional market data from Transwestern shows that 4,032 multi-family units were delivered across the Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade MSA in the year ending Q2 2024, with 3,059 units actively under construction in 2024.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 450 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) employed in the Salt Lake City, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area, earning an annual mean wage of $54,790.

Residential permitting activity in Utah experienced a multi-year decline through 2024 as apartment developments slowed amid high interest rates, followed by a rebound in multi-family permitting in 2025 according to state construction tracking data.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX MSA employed 780 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098), representing a location quotient of 2.52, indicating a concentration of trade workers more than double the national average.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, residential construction activity in the San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX MSA authorized 14,857 total housing units in 2024 (13.6 units authorized per 1,000 existing homes), following a pullback in city-level authorizations from 14,182 units in 2022 down to 9,159 units in 2023.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) 2021 data published by SANDAG, there were 835 electrical contracting establishments (NAICS 238210, which includes fire alarm contractors) in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA. Furthermore, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS May 2024 data reports 5,530 plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, fire sprinkler trade) and 7,330 electricians (SOC 47-2111) employed in the metropolitan area.

According to HUD's Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad MSA, residential permitting activity experienced a downward trend in multi-family projects, with multi-family permits declining 34% year-over-year to 2,025 units for the three months ending October 2025, while single-family permits rose slightly by 2% to 910 units over the same period.

In the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley metropolitan area, Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers represent approximately 0.063% of total occupational employment according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics metro data.

Residential permitting activity in the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley MSA declined in 2022, dropping 18.8% year-over-year to 11,048 authorized new residential building permits valued at $3.0 billion (a 20.8% decrease in total permit valuation from 2021).

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) report, there were 530 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metropolitan statistical area, earning a mean hourly wage of $41.40 and an annual mean wage of $86,120.

Residential building permit activity in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metropolitan area fell significantly by 68% between July 2020 and July 2025, dropping from 1,949 total permitted units to 623 units. This contraction was driven primarily by a 74% decline in multi-family (5+ unit) housing permits, which dropped from 1,697 units to 449 units over the same period.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA employed 5,860 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, which includes sprinkler fitters) in May 2023, representing an employment concentration of 2.82 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient of 0.98) with an annual mean wage of $90,510.

Residential construction permitting in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA MSA experienced a significant multi-year decline following peak activity in 2021. According to Census Building Permits Survey data, total permitted units fell 12.8% in 2022 to 26,820 units ($5.7 billion total valuation), and dropped a further 35.4% in 2023 to 17,223 units. In 2024, multifamily permitting in the metro continued its downward trajectory, declining 36.1% year-over-year to 9,880 units.

According to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data for the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area, the trade workforce includes 520 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) earning a mean annual wage of $58,840, 110 Fire Inspectors and Investigators (SOC 33-2021) earning a mean annual wage of $100,820, and 3,810 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, which includes fire sprinkler installers).

Residential construction permitting in the St. Louis MSA experienced a downward trend in 2025: single-family permits dropped 10% year-over-year to 4,175 units (down from 4,650 units in 2024), while multifamily unit permits fell 19% to 1,650 units (down from 2,050 units in 2024), positioning overall residential permitting below 2015-2020 annual averages.

In the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL MSA, trade workforce estimates for fire and life safety installation and maintenance include 1,420 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (SOC 47-2152, covering fire sprinkler fitters) with a location quotient of 1.53, alongside 7,110 Electricians (SOC 47-2111, covering fire alarm technicians).

New residential building permit activity in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater MSA showed positive momentum, increasing approximately 9% year-over-year from 20,950 permitted housing units in 2024 to 22,819 units in 2025.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2023 estimates, there were 290 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) employed across the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC metropolitan statistical area.

According to HUD's Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis as of November 2024, construction activity across the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News metropolitan area remains steady, with 3-year projected demand for 11,000 new single-family sales homes (1,900 under construction) and 6,175 rental units (1,800 under construction), supported by 2.0% nonfarm job growth (16,100 jobs added) over the 12 months ending October 2024.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2023 OEWS data, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area employed 2,050 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers (SOC 49-2098) with an employment location quotient of 1.21, indicating a higher density of fire and life safety installers compared to the national average.

New residential building permits in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area expanded by 17.8% in 2022 to 32,296 authorized housing units ($6.0 billion in total valuation) before experiencing a year-over-year contraction of approximately 40% in 2023 down to 11,086 units amid elevated interest rates and rising building costs.