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Locksmith Salary: The Definitive Guide + State-by-State Table

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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.

Locksmith Salary

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.

Table of Contents

  • Salary Information by State
    • Annual Average Salary: Top 10 States
  • Locksmith Salary by Industry
  • Locksmith Salary by Experience Level

Salary Information by State

State Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary
Alabama210$44,860$21.57$60,070$27,230
Arizona280$50,070$24.07$75,650$36,010
Arkansas100$38,350$18.44$55,270$26,540
California2,180$62,620$30.11$86,350$39,220
Colorado300$44,320$21.31$66,090$30,320
Connecticut120$57,990$27.88$75,330$34,670
Delaware60$60,960$29.31$87,830$31,630
District of Columbia50$71,120$34.19$85,650$54,810
Florida1,180$44,740$21.51$62,880$28,090
Georgia510$56,040$26.94$85,150$23,330
Hawaii60$49,780$23.93$67,210$29,230
Idaho80$45,920$22.08$58,140$31,200
Illinois560$48,930$23.53$74,680$34,700
Indiana270$44,320$21.31$58,350$28,960
Iowa120$49,610$23.85$67,190$33,110
Kansas110$52,280$25.14$72,990$25,460
Kentucky130$42,290$20.33$59,740$29,250
Louisiana160$39,750$19.11$56,020$19,800
Maine50$52,060$25.03$67,910$39,480
Maryland340$57,550$27.67$75,000$35,010
Massachusetts380$61,490$29.56$78,090$44,060
Michigan250$49,980$24.03$70,750$27,480
Minnesota120$50,490$24.28$74,820$24,670
Mississippi80$43,300$20.82$56,920$33,400
Missouri190$55,070$26.48$81,040$34,060
Montana110$45,940$22.09$56,980$37,870
Nebraska80$43,600$20.96$67,130$29,400
Nevada160$59,440$28.58$95,600$38,010
New Hampshire40$54,310$26.11$67,540$36,710
New Jersey370$57,920$27.85$73,030$34,270
New Mexico120$39,010$18.75$54,060$27,450
New York1,050$58,360$28.06$95,620$35,680
North Carolina440$46,370$22.29$70,430$27,290
North Dakota100$47,550$22.86$68,640$36,750
Ohio550$48,430$23.29$69,860$31,530
Oklahoma140$49,810$23.95$62,230$34,660
Oregon220$48,390$23.27$62,190$34,400
Pennsylvania400$53,980$25.95$76,260$31,250
Rhode Island50$66,660$32.05$79,190$52,450
South Carolina110$32,890$15.81$53,460$17,540
Tennessee310$51,420$24.72$81,320$26,000
Texas1,360$45,650$21.95$61,810$30,750
Utah180$42,440$20.40$63,950$15,080
Virginia490$54,190$26.05$76,590$34,820
Washington340$54,680$26.29$82,550$35,800
West Virginia50$39,270$18.88$63,480$22,660
Wisconsin180$52,990$25.48$73,440$33,260

Annual Average Salary: Top 10 States

The top earning state in the field is District of Columbia, where the average salary is $71,120.

These are the top 10 earning states in the field:

  • District of Columbia - $71,120
  • Rhode Island - $66,660
  • California - $62,620
  • Massachusetts - $61,490
  • Delaware - $60,960
  • Nevada - $59,440
  • New York - $58,360
  • Connecticut - $57,990
  • New Jersey - $57,920
  • Maryland - $57,550
* Salary information based on the May 2023 Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey for Locksmiths and Safe Repairers, OCC Code , BLS.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.

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 2023
  • Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the corresponding hourly wage by 2,080 hours.
  • The information was last updated on September 26, 2024
  • https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes499094.htm
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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LOCKSMITH CAREERS

  • Automotive Locksmith
  • Commercial Locksmith
  • Forensic Locksmith
  • Institutional Locksmith
  • Mobile Locksmith
  • Residential Locksmith
  • Safe Technician
  • Security Consultant

ESSENTIAL RESOURCES

  • Pros & Cons Of Being a Locksmith
  • Career Possibilities for a Locksmith
  • What is a Certified Locksmith?
  • Becoming a Certified Locksmith
  • Becoming a Locksmith Apprentice
  • ALOA CRL Practice Test
  • Locksmith Statistics

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