Fire Alarm Designer: metro pay ranking

At Skilled Trades Headhunters, this is what we do all day: recruit skilled trades professionals.

Skilled Trades Headhunters compares published medians for SOC 17-3012 Electrical and Electronics Drafters, not estimated offers for this particular title.

Which metros publish the highest and lowest medians?

This ranking uses the May 2025 annual median for Electrical and Electronics Drafters. It is not adjusted for living costs. A metro is a BLS statistical area, not just the city limits. Top-coded or suppressed medians are not ranked.

Highest and lowest published metro medians
Metro	Median	Employment	Location quotient	Trade median / all-occupations median
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$115,530	480	3.65	1.37
Boulder, CO	$103,910	40	1.65	1.49
Manchester-Nashua, NH	$102,810	160	7.05	1.82
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$100,420	100	1.47	1.68
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	$100,090	30	1.05	2.16
Anchorage, AK	$98,920	60	3.17	1.64
Worcester, MA	$98,610	70	1.71	1.71
Boise City, ID	$97,550	80	1.81	1.99
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	$90,360	40	0.76	1.47
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$87,010	250	0.76	1.70
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$86,140	340	1.09	1.29
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$84,680	230	1.54	1.49
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$84,680	290	1.06	1.14
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$84,090	220	0.92	1.16
Columbus, OH	$83,700	120	0.92	1.63
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$83,100	720	1.55	1.62
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	$82,400	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.49
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	$82,320	120	1.21	1.49
Tucson, AZ	$81,970	80	1.71	1.72
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$81,960	190	2.18	1.58
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$81,230	250	0.69	1.14
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$80,100	170	1.36	1.62
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$79,990	60	1.28	1.63
Rochester, NY	$79,910	100	1.81	1.56
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$79,830	50	1.71	1.71
Fargo, ND-MN	$79,710	30	1.82	1.56
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$79,580	110	0.86	1.58
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$79,530	560	3	1.28
Madison, WI	$79,220	90	1.9	1.36
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$79,160	460	1.22	1.60
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$78,900	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.58
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$78,530	110	0.81	1.67
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$78,450	60	1.49	1.49
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$78,350	50	0.92	1.34
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$78,170	200	0.89	1.32
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$78,170	270	1.95	1.29
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$77,830	580	0.53	1.27
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$77,810	30	0.77	1.67
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$77,630	860	1.19	1.39
Cedar Rapids, IA	$77,150	40	2.25	1.56
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$77,120	70	1.49	1.66
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$77,100	30	0.4	1.59
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$76,950	190	1.55	1.29
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$76,610	30	0.83	1.54
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$76,580	50	1.16	1.61
Oklahoma City, OK	$76,560	70	0.9	1.62
Colorado Springs, CO	$76,380	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.45
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$75,960	40	0.55	1.62
Portland-South Portland, ME	$75,940	60	1.68	1.33
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$75,870	60	0.47	1.51
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$75,870	230	1.03	1.46
Jacksonville, FL	$75,780	50	0.51	1.55
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$75,030	150	0.93	1.61
St. Louis, MO-IL	$75,000	140	0.93	1.50
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	$74,880	50	0.68	1.57
Syracuse, NY	$74,720	60	1.85	1.41
Green Bay, WI	$74,690	40	1.99	1.50
Columbia, SC	$74,590	40	0.9	1.61
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$74,520	310	1.72	1.27
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$74,470	40	0.81	1.44
Knoxville, TN	$74,390	80	1.71	1.58
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	$74,000	160	1.25	1.59
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	$73,530	170	1.77	1.44
Springfield, MO	$73,360	40	1.45	1.60
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$72,930	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.23
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$72,720	40	0.82	1.48
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$70,940	170	0.51	1.31
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	$70,880	30	1.15	1.30
Kansas City, MO-KS	$70,720	210	1.65	1.39
Tulsa, OK	$70,590	100	1.81	1.51
Visalia, CA	$70,400	40	1.93	1.56
Joplin, MO-KS	$70,010	40	4.09	1.56
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$69,500	140	0.27	1.27
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$68,710	480	1.74	1.34
Fresno, CA	$68,640	50	0.87	1.46
Reno, NV	$68,480	Not published by BLS	Not published by BLS	1.38
Urban Honolulu, HI	$67,670	70	1.45	1.18
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$67,100	190	0.98	1.39
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$66,910	130	0.76	1.37
Pittsburgh, PA	$65,880	190	1.47	1.33
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$65,020	130	0.39	1.34
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$64,930	40	1.51	1.32
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$64,030	30	1.45	1.24
Baton Rouge, LA	$63,020	40	0.91	1.29
Cleveland, OH	$62,710	70	0.6	1.25
Richmond, VA	$62,100	40	0.54	1.21
New Haven, CT	$61,690	40	1.14	1.03
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	$58,230	90	2.64	1.21
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$57,860	40	0.47	1.17
Wichita, KS	$57,650	40	1.15	1.21
Omaha, NE-IA	$56,180	130	2.32	1.13
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	$55,110	120	1.53	1.87
Birmingham, AL	$53,490	80	1.35	1.12
Huntsville, AL	$53,070	70	2.38	1.03

The wage ratio is simple arithmetic: this occupation's median divided by the all-occupations median in the same area and unit. It is not a cost-of-living measure. Location quotient describes the concentration of employment, not relative pay. Neither predicts what a particular candidate will accept.

Where does this trade pay most relative to local wages?

Occupation median divided by the same area's all-occupations median
Area	Wage ratio	Median	Location quotient
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	2.16	$100,090	1.05
Boise City, ID	1.99	$97,550	1.81
San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR	1.87	$55,110	1.53
Manchester-Nashua, NH	1.82	$102,810	7.05
Tucson, AZ	1.72	$81,970	1.71
Chattanooga, TN-GA	1.71	$79,830	1.71
Worcester, MA	1.71	$98,610	1.71
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	1.70	$87,010	0.76
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	1.68	$100,420	1.47
Greensboro-High Point, NC	1.67	$77,810	0.77
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	1.67	$78,530	0.81
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	1.66	$77,120	1.49
Anchorage, AK	1.64	$98,920	3.17
Columbus, OH	1.63	$83,700	0.92
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	1.63	$79,990	1.28
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	1.62	$80,100	1.36
Oklahoma City, OK	1.62	$76,560	0.9
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	1.62	$75,960	0.55
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	1.62	$83,100	1.55
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	1.61	$76,580	1.16
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	1.61	$75,030	0.93
Columbia, SC	1.61	$74,590	0.9
Springfield, MO	1.60	$73,360	1.45
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	1.60	$79,160	1.22
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	1.59	$77,100	0.4
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	1.59	$74,000	1.25
Knoxville, TN	1.58	$74,390	1.71
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	1.58	$79,580	0.86
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	1.58	$78,900	Not published by BLS
Raleigh-Cary, NC	1.58	$81,960	2.18
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	1.57	$74,880	0.68
Cedar Rapids, IA	1.56	$77,150	2.25
Fargo, ND-MN	1.56	$79,710	1.82
Rochester, NY	1.56	$79,910	1.81
Visalia, CA	1.56	$70,400	1.93
Joplin, MO-KS	1.56	$70,010	4.09
Jacksonville, FL	1.55	$75,780	0.51
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	1.54	$76,610	0.83
Tulsa, OK	1.51	$70,590	1.81
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	1.51	$75,870	0.47
St. Louis, MO-IL	1.50	$75,000	0.93
Green Bay, WI	1.50	$74,690	1.99
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	1.49	$78,450	1.49
Boulder, CO	1.49	$103,910	1.65
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	1.49	$82,320	1.21
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	1.49	$82,400	Not published by BLS
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	1.49	$84,680	1.54
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	1.48	$72,720	0.82
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	1.47	$90,360	0.76
Fresno, CA	1.46	$68,640	0.87
commercial-vehicle manufacturers-Warren-Dearborn, MI	1.46	$75,870	1.03
Colorado Springs, CO	1.45	$76,380	Not published by BLS
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	1.44	$73,530	1.77
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	1.44	$74,470	0.81
Syracuse, NY	1.41	$74,720	1.85
Kansas City, MO-KS	1.39	$70,720	1.65
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	1.39	$77,630	1.19
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	1.39	$67,100	0.98
Reno, NV	1.38	$68,480	Not published by BLS
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	1.37	$115,530	3.65
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	1.37	$66,910	0.76
Madison, WI	1.36	$79,220	1.9
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	1.34	$78,350	0.92
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	1.34	$68,710	1.74
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	1.34	$65,020	0.39
Portland-South Portland, ME	1.33	$75,940	1.68
Pittsburgh, PA	1.33	$65,880	1.47
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	1.32	$64,930	1.51
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	1.32	$78,170	0.89
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	1.31	$70,940	0.51
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	1.30	$70,880	1.15
Baton Rouge, LA	1.29	$63,020	0.91
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	1.29	$86,140	1.09
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	1.29	$78,170	1.95
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	1.29	$76,950	1.55
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	1.28	$79,530	3
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	1.27	$69,500	0.27
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	1.27	$74,520	1.72
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	1.27	$77,830	0.53
Cleveland, OH	1.25	$62,710	0.6
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	1.24	$64,030	1.45
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	1.23	$72,930	Not published by BLS
Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	1.21	$58,230	2.64
Wichita, KS	1.21	$57,650	1.15
Richmond, VA	1.21	$62,100	0.54
Urban Honolulu, HI	1.18	$67,670	1.45
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	1.17	$57,860	0.47
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	1.16	$84,090	0.92
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	1.14	$81,230	0.69
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	1.14	$84,680	1.06
Omaha, NE-IA	1.13	$56,180	2.32
Birmingham, AL	1.12	$53,490	1.35
New Haven, CT	1.03	$61,690	1.14
Huntsville, AL	1.03	$53,070	2.38

Closest proxy Our title "Fire Alarm Designer" is reported by BLS as SOC 17-3012 Electrical and Electronics Drafters. Closest proxy: Electrical and Electronics Drafters. This published occupation covers only part of Fire Alarm Designer; do not treat it as a quoted range for the complete role.

National percentile table Methodology