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Surveillance Technician Salary in the United States

How much does a Surveillance Technician make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Surveillance Technician in the United States is $46,573 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

However, a Surveillance Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $56,087
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $42,168 to $51,553
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $38,157
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Surveillance Technician Salaries

A Surveillance Technician's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Surveillance Technician Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Surveillance Technician's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Surveillance Operator (0-1 years): $40,999
  • Surveillance Technician (1-3 years): $46,573
  • Surveillance Supervisor (3+ years): $54,257
  • Surveillance Operations Manager (3-5 years): $77,200
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Surveillance Operator0-1 years$40,999
Surveillance Technician1-3 years$46,573
Surveillance Supervisor3+ years$54,257
Surveillance Operations Manager3-5 years$77,200
View as Graph

How Do Surveillance Technicians Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Surveillance Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $51,566.
  • California: $51,370.
  • Massachusetts: $50,685.

Top Paying Cities for Surveillance Technician

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $58,743
  • San Francisco: $58,099
  • Oakland: $56,875

What Skills Can Increase a Surveillance Technician's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 3.09% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Technical Documentation (Mentioned in 2.77% Job Postings): Is a generic term for the classes of information created to describe (in technical language) the use, functionality or architecture of a product, system or service.
  • Outsourcing (Mentioned in 2.01% Job Postings): Ability to hire and maintain relationships with parties outside the company that provide needed tasks and services.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 3.09%
Technical Documentation 2.77%
Outsourcing 2.01%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Surveillance Technician's salary.

  • Computer Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Windows Servers: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Computer Engineering $57,285
23%
Windows Servers $54,956
18%
Analysis $52,627
13%
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Surveillance Technician Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Surveillance Technician salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $49,436. While startup companies pay approximate $41,967.

Surveillance Technician Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $41,967
Growth Stage 51~500 $44,351
Established 501~5000 $47,784
Enterprise 5000+ $49,436

Surveillance Technician Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Surveillance Technician roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Hospitality & Leisure, offers compensation 10% above the average. Conversely, Surveillance Technician positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as this sector often view Surveillance Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industry for a Surveillance Technician

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Hospitality & Leisure$51,230$25.010%

How Education impacts an Surveillance Technician's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Surveillance Technician enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Surveillance Technician with a Bachelor's Degree is between $47,501 and $50,666.

Surveillance Technician Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Surveillance Technician
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 43.8%
High School 43.8%
Associates 31.3%
Bachelors 25.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

Surveillance Technician Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Surveillance Technician's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$42,168
Average $46,573/year
$51,553
$3,514
Average $3,881/month
$4,296
$811
Average $896/week
$991
$20
Average $22/hour
$25
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $51,553 $4,296 $991 $25
Average $46,573 $3,881 $896 $22
25th Percentile $42,168 $3,514 $811 $20

Surveillance Technician Salary Growth & Career Path

Surveillance Technician

Next Role

Advancement

For a Surveillance Technician, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Surveillance Supervisor role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $54,257 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Surveillance Technician

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Surveillance Technician

Here are companies hiring for Surveillance Technician and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Surveillance Technician

1. Where can a Surveillance Technician earn the most?

A Surveillance Technician's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Surveillance Technician earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Surveillance Technician is $58,743.

2. What is the highest pay for Surveillance Technician?

The highest pay for Surveillance Technician is $56,087.

3. What is the lowest pay for Surveillance Technician?

The lowest pay for Surveillance Technician is $38,157.

4. What are the responsibilities of Surveillance Technician?

Installs and removes various types of cameras throughout the establishment. Maintains, repairs, and installs alarms. Creates tapes for training and investigations. Requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works under moderate supervision. Gaining or has attained full proficiency in a specific area of discipline. Typically requires 1-3 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Surveillance Technician?

The Hospitality & Leisure industry offers the highest average compensation for Surveillance Technician roles, with salaries approximately 10% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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