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Locksmiths and Safe Repairers

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure

What they do

Repair and open locks, make keys, change locks and safe combinations, and install and repair safes.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Moderate pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $51,320 Median per year · $24.68/hr Most earn $35,530–$79,400

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Move picklocks in cylinders to open door locks without keys.
  • Repair and adjust safes, vault doors, and vault components, using hand tools, lathes, drill presses, and welding and acetylene cutting apparatus.
  • Insert new or repaired tumblers into locks to change combinations.
  • Set up and maintain master key systems.
  • Install alarm and electronic access systems.
  • Keep records of company locks and keys.

Job outlook

United States
12% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 1,200 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Security systems services52.1%
  • Self-employed (their own business)18.5%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools8.0%
  • Elementary and secondary schools2.7%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals2.7%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Locksmithing is usually an entry-level job. Most people start with a high school diploma and learn on the job for about 6 months to a year before working on their own. Becoming a fully independent locksmith often takes a bit longer of hands-on practice.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Build mechanical, math, and customer-service skills, which are the basics employers look for in a locksmith helper or apprentice.

  2. Locksmith Apprentice

    6 months to 1 year

    Work under an experienced locksmith to learn to pick, rekey, and install locks, cut keys, and service safes, building the hands-on experience the job requires.

  3. Locksmith

    Ongoing

    Repair and open locks, make keys, change locks and safe combinations, and install and repair safes on your own or for a locksmith company.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Locksmith

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on harder jobs, train newer locksmiths, and handle more of the planning and customer work on a team.

  2. Master Locksmith

    5+ years of experience first

    You have deep experience with complex security systems and safes, and you are often recognized for that expertise, which can open the door to running your own business.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take shop, auto, or electronics classesHands-on work with tools and mechanisms builds the skills locksmiths use every day.
  • Take math and geometryMeasuring, fitting parts, and understanding how keys and locks align all rely on solid math.
  • Get a part-time job at a hardware storeYou will learn about locks, keys, and tools, and practice talking with customers.
  • Volunteer with a community repair or maintenance projectHelping fix things around a school, church, or community center shows you have reliable hands-on experience.
  • Join a robotics or engineering club if your school has oneBuilding and troubleshooting mechanisms helps you think through how locking parts work.

In college

  • Take courses in mechanical technology or industrial maintenanceThese classes teach mechanical systems and repair methods that transfer directly to lock and safe work.
  • Look for a campus or town job in maintenance, facilities, or hardwareWorking with building maintenance crews or in a hardware store gives you practical experience and contacts in the trades.
  • Ask about short locksmith or security trainingMany community colleges and trade schools offer short courses or certificates in locksmithing or security hardware, so check what your area has.
  • Shadow or apprentice with a local locksmithWorking alongside a professional during breaks or summers is the fastest way to learn the trade in real conditions.
  • Build customer service and business skillsSince many locksmiths run their own service calls or shops, skills in communication, scheduling, and basic bookkeeping are valuable.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local locksmith or hardware store if you can shadow them or do odd jobs, since real hands-on practice matters most in this field.
  • Get comfortable with small hand tools and simple repairs, such as fixing door hardware at home, so the work feels familiar when you start.
  • Start early on the customer side too: locksmiths often go to people's homes and businesses, so being calm, clear, and trustworthy is a big part of the job.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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