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How to Become a Locksmith in Washington

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Penn Foster Request Info Select Program:
  • Locksmith & Home Security Technician
Program Details:
  • Getting a career diploma in as little as 2 months.
  • Gain experience with practical exercises and interactive assignments.
  • Learn how to identify, create, and duplicate keys.
  • Learn to work with several types of locks including safes, valuts, and auto.
  • and more...
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A locksmith’s job varies from installing, changing, repairing, and opening a combination of lock systems to cutting and duplicating keys.

As long as there is a need for security, there will be a need for Locksmiths.

Seal of Washington

Working as a Locksmith can be a lucrative and fulfilling career, especially if you are someone who likes to work with your hands and can manage a group of locksmiths while running your own business.

In this article, we will break down the steps to becoming a locksmith in Washington.

Table of Contents [show]

  • Steps to Become a Locksmith in Washington
  • Licensing Requirements to Become a Locksmith in Washington
  • Locksmith Programs in Washington
    • 1. Penn Foster Career School
    • 2. Ashworth College
    • 5 Best Locksmith Schools in Washington
  • Salary
    • Average Salary of Locksmiths in Washington
    • Regional Salary in Washington

Steps to Become a Locksmith in Washington

Step 1: Enroll in an accredited Locksmithing program, which may be completed either traditionally or online.

The first step to becoming a Locksmith in Washington is to get the proper Locksmith training.

Anyone who aspires to work as a Locksmith must acquire knowledge of the trade.

Once you have completed the program and obtained your Locksmithing certificate, you can start to look for employment in the trade.

Step 2: Apply for an apprenticeship to gain hands-on experience in the Locksmith trade.

With the certificate to back your knowledge of the trade, it should be easy for you to get hired in an entry-level position as a locksmith in Washington or at the least be accepted into an apprenticeship.

Step 3: After working as a Locksmith for a while and gaining as much experience as possible, you can now start your own business in Locksmithing.

You can either have a storefront lock shop, a van for mobile services, or both.

If you plan to start your own business, you are required to register your business with City Hall and obtain a contractors’ license, which states that your business name is different from your legal name.

Step 4: Sign up with any Locksmith trade association to help you stay updated with the developments in the sector.

This will also expand your customers, industry bonding as well as insurance options for your business.

Licensing Requirements to Become a Locksmith in Washington

It is not required for Locksmiths to have a Locksmith license or certificate in the state of Washington.

However, to ensure a definite position in the trade, it is recommended to have some sort of Locksmith training or experience.

Locksmith Programs in Washington

While there are no programs or schools that offer Locksmithing in Washington, there are still online courses available to enroll in.

We will discuss them below.

1. Penn Foster Career School

Penn Foster offers a five to seven-month online Locksmith Home and Security Technician program.

From practical exercises in key making, types of locks, different methods for picking locks, and electronic safety, to theoretical knowledge, the school has it all for aspiring locksmiths.

The school requires students to have a stable internet connection to attend classes.

Tuition is divided into two payment options.

The first option is to pay in full, which is $899, and the second option is to pay monthly.

The total on this option is $1,089 paid in monthly installments of $59 with $1 down.

The total cost of the tuition includes any study materials required in the program, such as a locksmithing kit.

2. Ashworth College

Ashworth College offers a four-month online Locksmithing program.

The program includes industry tools and online lessons that cover the basic knowledge required by Locksmiths to complete their daily tasks.

The program includes everything from a step-by-step guide on learning how to cut and duplicate keys to installing CCTV and detecting systems.

The tuition is divided into two payment options.

The first option is to pay the full tuition of $899.

The second option is to pay monthly.

The tuition on this option calculates to $1089 paid in monthly installments of $59 with $1 down.

The total cost of the tuition includes all the tools required to complete the program, such as a Camlock set, Kwikset cylinder, pinning kit, etc as well as resource centers like online libraries and labs.

This means there will be no additional costs after you’ve enrolled in the program.

5 Best Locksmith Schools in Washington

School Name Address
The Locksmith School Seattle, Washington
Forchun and Son Locksmith Seattle, WA
Fox Valley Technical College 1825 N. Bluemound Drive Appleton, WI 54914-1643
Penn Foster Online
Ashworth College Online

Salary

The average annual salary for a certified Locksmith in Washington is $59,916.

This is approximately $29 an hour, $1,152 a week, or $4,993 a month on the high end for an entry-level position.

The salary varies according to the exact location in the state of Washington, the type of employer, and the number of years of experience the candidate has.

Annual Salary Range:
$50K
$57K
$64K

Average Salary of Locksmiths in Washington

City Name Salary
Auburn $57,661
Kennewick $56,857
Bellevue $59,163
Kent $57,554
Bellingham $55,140
Richland $56,535
Seattle $59,163
Spokane $54,711
Vancouver $55,730
Olympia $56,320
* Salary information last updated 2025

Regional Salary in Washington

Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA180$58,090$27.93$84,800$36,510
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Locksmiths and Safe Repairers, OCC Code 49-9094, BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Featured Online Program
Penn Foster Request Info Select Program:
  • Locksmith & Home Security Technician
Program Details:
  • Getting a career diploma in as little as 2 months.
  • Gain experience with practical exercises and interactive assignments.
  • Learn how to identify, create, and duplicate keys.
  • Learn to work with several types of locks including safes, valuts, and auto.
  • and more...
Sponsored

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About Locksmith Expert

I'm Thomas. I have been a locksmith for the better part of my life. It is my livelihood, my career, and my hobby. I started about 23 years ago and never looked back. I welcome any questions you might have about being a locksmith.

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  • What is a Certified Locksmith?
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