- Locksmith & Home Security Technician
- Getting a career diploma in as little as 5 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...
A locksmith’s job description includes repairing and opening locks, making keys, changing locks, and installing and repairing safes.
As a locksmith, your typical workday will include installing or repairing locks, deadbolts, and other devices that safeguard homes and other property.
You may also be called to open vehicle, business, or home locks that are broken or have been accidentally locked.
As with any profession, salaries for locksmiths vary based on experience, education, the industry of employment, skills, certifications, and many other factors.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for locksmiths reported in May 2019 was $41,940 which means that half of all workers in this profession made less than this amount while half made more.
Salaries typically range between $25,000-$67,000, according to the same report.
As an entry-level employee, your salary will usually be in the $25,000 range but you will start to earn more once you gain a few years of experience.
The highest 25 percent made more than $55,630 while the lowest 25 percent earned less than $32,160 per year.
Locksmith Salary by State
| Area Name | Employment | Hourly 25th percentile wage | Hourly median wage | Hourly 75th percentile wage | Hourly 90th percentile wage | Annual median wage | Annual 75th percentile wage | Annual 90th percentile wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 300 | $13.04 | $17.70 | $22.17 | $24.53 | $36,820 | $46,120 | $51,020 |
| Alaska | 40 | $31.87 | $35.42 | $38.29 | $44.23 | $73,680 | $79,640 | $91,990 |
| Arizona | N/A | $15.71 | $17.62 | $20.37 | $23.70 | $36,640 | $42,360 | $49,300 |
| Arkansas | 110 | $12.55 | $14.31 | $19.24 | $24.86 | $29,770 | $40,010 | $51,700 |
| California | 2290 | $14.64 | $20.47 | $29.28 | $35.88 | $42,590 | $60,890 | $74,620 |
| Colorado | 320 | $16.19 | $20.44 | $23.56 | $28.30 | $42,520 | $49,000 | $58,870 |
| Connecticut | 150 | $18.62 | $26.06 | $31.62 | $38.33 | $54,200 | $65,760 | $79,730 |
| Delaware | 50 | $14.52 | $21.25 | $26.47 | $30.01 | $44,210 | $55,060 | $62,410 |
| District of Columbia | 40 | $28.27 | $30.66 | $33.94 | $36.98 | $63,770 | $70,590 | $76,910 |
| Florida | 1540 | $14.31 | $17.42 | $22.99 | $29.18 | $36,230 | $47,830 | $60,700 |
| Georgia | 310 | $11.29 | $17.30 | $22.17 | $25.51 | $35,980 | $46,120 | $53,070 |
| Hawaii | N/A | $21.29 | $22.95 | $24.60 | $30.31 | $47,730 | $51,170 | $63,040 |
| Idaho | 40 | $14.09 | $16.39 | $18.21 | $19.57 | $34,080 | $37,870 | $40,710 |
| Illinois | 670 | $16.24 | $24.44 | $33.25 | $38.01 | $50,830 | $69,150 | $79,060 |
| Indiana | 330 | $13.44 | $17.10 | $22.24 | $27.18 | $35,570 | $46,270 | $56,530 |
| Iowa | 220 | $13.73 | $19.23 | $26.41 | $32.95 | $40,000 | $54,930 | $68,530 |
| Kansas | 110 | $17.94 | $22.80 | $27.53 | $29.93 | $47,420 | $57,270 | $62,260 |
| Kentucky | 180 | $15.67 | $17.48 | $19.29 | $25.02 | $36,350 | $40,120 | $52,040 |
| Louisiana | 390 | $12.61 | $21.02 | $28.69 | $33.79 | $43,720 | $59,680 | $70,270 |
| Maine | 110 | $19.36 | $23.31 | $28.32 | $31.70 | $48,490 | $58,910 | $65,940 |
| Maryland | 360 | $17.78 | $22.99 | $29.46 | $34.79 | $47,810 | $61,270 | $72,370 |
| Massachusetts | 520 | $18.42 | $25.63 | $32.45 | $37.03 | $53,300 | $67,510 | $77,020 |
| Michigan | 330 | $14.07 | $21.29 | $27.98 | $30.82 | $44,280 | $58,200 | $64,110 |
| Minnesota | 230 | $15.55 | $21.54 | $26.07 | $29.57 | $44,810 | $54,220 | $61,500 |
| Mississippi | 90 | $18.94 | $21.58 | $24.00 | $26.87 | $44,890 | $49,930 | $55,880 |
| Missouri | 390 | $17.71 | $21.94 | $26.22 | $30.36 | $45,630 | $54,530 | $63,140 |
| Montana | 110 | $16.55 | $18.73 | $21.98 | $25.00 | $38,960 | $45,710 | $52,000 |
| Nebraska | 100 | $15.08 | $17.37 | $22.25 | $27.74 | $36,130 | $46,290 | $57,690 |
| Nevada | 310 | $17.59 | $23.06 | $28.75 | $34.00 | $47,970 | $59,800 | $70,720 |
| New Hampshire | 80 | $15.20 | $26.86 | $32.34 | $37.10 | $55,860 | $67,260 | $77,180 |
| New Jersey | 600 | $20.31 | $25.25 | $28.39 | $30.28 | $52,520 | $59,050 | $62,980 |
| New Mexico | 100 | $13.46 | $18.18 | $22.32 | $25.42 | $37,810 | $46,430 | $52,870 |
| New York | 800 | $19.52 | $25.28 | $30.21 | $36.77 | $52,570 | $62,840 | $76,480 |
| North Carolina | 520 | $11.60 | $16.85 | $23.13 | $29.34 | $35,050 | $48,110 | $61,030 |
| North Dakota | N/A | $16.51 | $18.07 | $22.69 | $27.87 | $37,590 | $47,190 | $57,970 |
| Ohio | 420 | $16.05 | $20.89 | $24.53 | $28.54 | $43,450 | $51,010 | $59,360 |
| Oklahoma | 110 | $13.76 | $20.15 | $22.99 | $24.75 | $41,910 | $47,810 | $51,480 |
| Oregon | 250 | $13.82 | $17.27 | $22.67 | $29.25 | $35,920 | $47,150 | $60,840 |
| Pennsylvania | 440 | $19.93 | $24.48 | $32.31 | $36.44 | $50,910 | $67,210 | $75,780 |
| Rhode Island | N/A | $17.58 | $19.42 | $22.44 | $26.05 | $40,390 | $46,680 | $54,180 |
| South Carolina | 270 | $15.10 | $19.45 | $23.96 | $29.88 | $40,450 | $49,840 | $62,160 |
| Tennessee | 270 | $15.02 | $19.02 | $25.78 | $28.89 | $39,550 | $53,620 | $60,100 |
| Texas | 1170 | $15.37 | $19.59 | $23.81 | $28.32 | $40,750 | $49,530 | $58,910 |
| Utah | 180 | $14.16 | $21.54 | $27.00 | $31.16 | $44,800 | $56,170 | $64,810 |
| Virginia | 660 | $15.26 | $20.92 | $30.98 | $41.75 | $43,510 | $64,430 | $86,840 |
| Washington | 310 | $13.95 | $15.59 | $23.73 | $29.40 | $32,440 | $49,360 | $61,140 |
| West Virginia | N/A | $10.75 | $11.94 | $18.48 | $24.56 | $24,840 | $38,430 | $51,090 |
| Wisconsin | 300 | $14.97 | $17.63 | $24.64 | $28.57 | $36,660 | $51,250 | $59,430 |
Locksmith Salary by Industry
According to the report published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the biggest employers for locksmiths were companies that provide investigation and security services.
Locksmiths who worked in this sector reported an average annual wage of $41,250.
Other sectors where locksmiths may find employment are colleges, universities, and professional schools, elementary and secondary schools, local governments, and state governments.
Locksmiths employed by colleges, universities, and professional schools earned, on average, $53,950 a year while those who worked for elementary and secondary schools reported an average annual wage of $49,290.
The average annual wage was $54,260 for locksmiths who worked for local governments and $55,600 for those who worked for state governments.
The highest average salary was reported by locksmiths who worked for junior colleges and by those employed by general medical and surgical hospitals.
Junior colleges paid locksmiths, on average, with $57,460 a year while general medical and surgical hospitals offered a mean annual wage for this profession of $56,510.
However, these higher-paying fields have only a few locksmiths on their payrolls, and job openings may not occur very often.
Locksmith Salary by Experience Level
Salaries for this profession also vary based on the experience level.
According to payscale.com, the average hourly rate reported by locksmiths with less than one year of experience was $13.82 while locksmiths with more than 20 years of experience earn, on average, $22.57 per hour.
The average hourly rate reported by locksmiths with 1-4 years of experience was $15.45.
The hourly wage was $18.53, on average, for locksmiths with between 5 and 9 years of experience and $20.24 for those with 10-19 years of experience.
This profession is often learned through on-the-job training which can last between a few months and several years, depending on the program.
As a trainee, your salary will be close to the minimum but you will most likely receive a pay raise once you complete the training period.
You can also improve your earning prospects by becoming certified by the Associated Locksmiths of America.
This institution offers different levels of certifications- each one having its own experience and education requirements.
The first level is Certified Registered Locksmith (CRL) while the highest level is Certified Master Locksmith (CML).
The mid-level certification is Certified Professional Locksmith (CPL)
Earning prospects are also influenced by the locksmith’s level of certification.
According to the Associated Locksmiths of America, CRLs may earn between $280-360 per week while CML salaries typically range between $400-$720 per week.
CPLs usually earn between $320-$440 per week.
Salaries also vary depending on the geographic location and the local economy.
This means that locksmiths with the same level of experience, who have the same job description, can earn different salaries depending on the region where they work.
Salary Information Source:
- BLS, May 2019
- Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the corresponding hourly wage by 2,080 hours.
- The information was last updated on Aug 09, 2020
- https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes499094.htm
