How much does a locksmith and safe repairer make?
The median locksmith and safe repairer in the United States earns $50,490 per year, about $24.27 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all locksmiths and safe repairers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 49-9094.
Locksmith and safe repairer salary range
Pay for locksmiths and safe repairers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $34,750 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $79,340. The average (mean) wage of $55,200 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,750 | $16.71 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $40,650 | $19.54 | |
| Median (50th) | $50,490 | $24.27 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $64,330 | $30.93 | |
| 90th percentile | $79,340 | $38.14 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for locksmiths and safe repairers (SOC 49-9094), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Locksmith and safe repairer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Locksmiths and safe repairers earn the most in District of Columbia at $74,470 a year, and the least in Arkansas at $36,930. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $74,470 | 160 |
| Rhode Island | $73,120 | 70 |
| Connecticut | $64,470 | 130 |
| Massachusetts | $62,670 | 440 |
| Georgia | $61,610 | 360 |
| California | $61,500 | 2,130 |
| Minnesota | $61,420 | 140 |
| New York | $59,560 | 1,240 |
| Maryland | $59,310 | 330 |
| Alaska | $59,300 | 50 |
| New Jersey | $59,300 | 570 |
| Michigan | $58,570 | 240 |
| Virginia | $57,990 | 440 |
| New Hampshire | $55,070 | 40 |
| Nevada | $54,330 | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $53,750 | 430 |
| Delaware | $50,520 | 110 |
| Washington | $50,520 | 370 |
| Kansas | $49,920 | 140 |
| Oregon | $49,780 | 230 |
| Indiana | $49,320 | 240 |
| Maine | $48,670 | 30 |
| North Dakota | $48,150 | 50 |
| Montana | $47,760 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $47,720 | 150 |
| Utah | $47,690 | 150 |
| Florida | $47,610 | 1,480 |
| Missouri | $47,490 | 160 |
| Nebraska | $47,470 | 90 |
| Illinois | $47,360 | 560 |
| Colorado | $46,990 | 310 |
| West Virginia | $46,630 | 50 |
| Idaho | $46,290 | 80 |
| South Carolina | $45,950 | 140 |
| New Mexico | $45,190 | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $45,170 | 170 |
| Tennessee | $45,110 | 360 |
| Iowa | $45,000 | 130 |
| Mississippi | $45,000 | 90 |
| Kentucky | $44,850 | 130 |
| Texas | $44,700 | 1,260 |
| Alabama | $44,140 | 190 |
| Ohio | $43,960 | 420 |
| Arizona | $43,320 | 360 |
| North Carolina | $42,190 | 520 |
| Louisiana | $40,390 | 230 |
| Arkansas | $36,930 | 90 |
State median wages for locksmiths and safe repairers (SOC 49-9094), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for locksmiths and safe repairers
The BLS projects employment of locksmiths and safe repairers to shrink from 2025 to 2035 (down 11.7%). That is a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. That works out to roughly 18,700 jobs in 2025 moving toward 16,500 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 1,200 openings a year for locksmiths and safe repairers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a locksmith and safe repairer
The typical entry-level education for locksmiths and safe repairers is a high school diploma or equivalent, according to the BLS. New hires typically complete long-term on-the-job training to reach full competency.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a locksmith and safe repairer earns
Certifications, the type of equipment worked on, employer, and region drive most of the pay difference. Flat-rate pay and overtime can push experienced techs well above the median.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (District of Columbia, $74,470) and the lowest (Arkansas, $36,930) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 15,550 people work as locksmiths and safe repairers in the United States. At $50,490 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Locksmith and safe repairer salary FAQ
How much does a locksmith and safe repairer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a locksmith and safe repairer is $24.27. The middle half of locksmiths and safe repairers earn between $19.54 and $30.93 per hour.
What is the highest locksmith and safe repairer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of locksmiths and safe repairers earn more than $79,340 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a locksmith and safe repairer make a year?
The median annual salary for a locksmith and safe repairer is $50,490. The average (mean) wage of $55,200 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a locksmith and safe repairer a well paid job?
At $50,490 a year, a locksmith and safe repairer earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 15,550 people work as locksmiths and safe repairers in the United States.
Which state pays locksmiths and safe repairers the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median salary for locksmiths and safe repairers at $74,470 a year. Rhode Island ($73,120) and Connecticut ($64,470) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a locksmith and safe repairer a good career?
Employment of locksmiths and safe repairers is projected to shrink 11.7% from 2025 to 2035, a decline, against 3.5% average growth for all occupations. The BLS projects about 1,200 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a locksmith and safe repairer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for locksmiths and safe repairers as a high school diploma or equivalent, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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