Locksmiths and Safe Repairers
Locksmiths and Safe Repairers (SOC 49-9094) earn a median $51,320 a year ($24.68 an hour) in the United States, with 15,040 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What locksmiths and safe repairers do
Locksmiths and safe repairers fix and open locks, cut keys, reset lock and safe combinations, and install and service safes. Key work includes cutting new or duplicate keys using key cutting machines, from impressions or from a code. Combinations are changed by inserting new or repaired tumblers into locks, and a lockout is handled by moving picklocks in cylinders to open door locks without keys. Safe locks that cannot be opened with the combination can be opened by drilling. Locksmiths set up and maintain master key systems, install door hardware such as locks and closers, and keep records of company locks and keys. Cutting keys appears twice in the O*NET task list, once by impression or code and once on key cutting machines, which shows how central it is to the occupation. Titles include key maker, keysmith, forensic locksmith, certified master locksmith and certified professional safe technician.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a high school diploma or the equivalent as the education needed.
Also called: Certified Professional Safe Technician (CPS), CML (Certified Master Locksmith), CMS (Certified Master Safecracker), Commercial Vault Associate, Forensic Locksmith.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $17.08 | $20.75 | $24.68 | $31.04 | $38.17 | $26.67 | 15,040 |
| Annual | $35,530 | $43,160 | $51,320 | $64,560 | $79,400 | $55,470 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where locksmiths and safe repairers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $28.84 | $34.81 | $36.89 | $41.28 | $50.24 | $37.65 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $60,000 | $72,400 | $76,740 | $85,870 | $104,500 | $78,310 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $21.89 | $27.34 | $33.31 | $37.83 | $47.42 | $33.54 | 120 | 0.07 | 0.73 |
| Annual | $45,520 | $56,870 | $69,280 | $78,690 | $98,620 | $69,750 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $14.77 | $14.77 | $31.00 | $35.48 | $39.56 | $26.96 | 50 | 0.08 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $30,720 | $30,720 | $64,490 | $73,790 | $82,280 | $56,080 | ||||
| Delaware | Hourly | $21.98 | $22.88 | $30.60 | $41.78 | $44.93 | $31.29 | 50 | 0.10 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $45,710 | $47,600 | $63,640 | $86,910 | $93,450 | $65,090 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.76 | $22.52 | $29.73 | $33.29 | $42.73 | $30.01 | 960 | 0.10 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $36,950 | $46,840 | $61,830 | $69,240 | $88,890 | $62,420 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $22.61 | $23.99 | $29.33 | $38.72 | $44.73 | $32.30 | 2,060 | 0.11 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $47,020 | $49,910 | $61,010 | $80,530 | $93,030 | $67,180 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $17.34 | $19.21 | $23.61 | $30.18 | $37.42 | $26.98 | 1,440 | 0.15 | 1.49 |
| Annual | $36,060 | $39,960 | $49,120 | $62,770 | $77,830 | $56,110 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $8.77 | $17.46 | $21.09 | $24.07 | $28.50 | $20.29 | 1,420 | 0.10 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $18,230 | $36,320 | $43,860 | $50,070 | $59,280 | $42,200 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $17.76 | $22.52 | $29.73 | $33.29 | $42.73 | $30.01 | 960 | 0.10 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $36,950 | $46,840 | $61,830 | $69,240 | $88,890 | $62,420 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $17.30 | $22.07 | $25.08 | $34.36 | $39.61 | $27.54 | 530 | 0.09 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $35,980 | $45,900 | $52,160 | $71,470 | $82,380 | $57,280 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Haven, CT | Hourly | $21.54 | $28.05 | $37.58 | $47.42 | $48.64 | $36.23 | 30 | 0.11 | 1.17 |
| Annual | $44,790 | $58,340 | $78,160 | $98,620 | $101,170 | $75,360 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $27.48 | $27.94 | $35.73 | $46.57 | $53.29 | $37.73 | 90 | 0.08 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $57,150 | $58,120 | $74,320 | $96,870 | $110,840 | $78,480 | ||||
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | Hourly | $27.28 | $30.97 | $34.13 | $36.00 | $47.96 | $34.72 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $56,730 | $64,430 | $70,980 | $74,870 | $99,760 | $72,210 | ||||
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | Hourly | $30.70 | $31.97 | $33.71 | $35.74 | $38.35 | $33.49 | 60 | 0.37 | 3.82 |
| Annual | $63,860 | $66,500 | $70,120 | $74,340 | $79,770 | $69,670 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $23.88 | $27.36 | $31.43 | $45.18 | $57.62 | $36.63 | 340 | 0.14 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $49,660 | $56,910 | $65,370 | $93,980 | $119,850 | $76,180 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $18.58 | $22.79 | $29.73 | $33.44 | $42.78 | $30.32 | 960 | 0.10 | 1.04 |
| Annual | $38,640 | $47,400 | $61,830 | $69,550 | $88,990 | $63,070 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $22.75 | $23.61 | $27.56 | $37.38 | $43.83 | $30.78 | 760 | 0.12 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $47,320 | $49,110 | $57,320 | $77,740 | $91,160 | $64,030 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $17.41 | $21.58 | $24.75 | $30.60 | $36.40 | $27.10 | 400 | 0.14 | 1.46 |
| Annual | $36,200 | $44,880 | $51,470 | $63,640 | $75,710 | $56,370 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $17.52 | $18.73 | $22.77 | $26.64 | $29.79 | $22.65 | 390 | 0.10 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $36,440 | $38,960 | $47,370 | $55,410 | $61,960 | $47,110 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $8.77 | $8.77 | $17.91 | $23.33 | $27.92 | $17.17 | 360 | 0.11 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $18,230 | $18,230 | $37,250 | $48,520 | $58,080 | $35,710 | ||||
Top industries employing locksmiths and safe repairers
Investigation and Security Services employ 66.2% of locksmiths and safe repairers nationally (9,950 jobs) at a median $48,490 a year ($23.31 an hour), followed by Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (7.6%) and Elementary and Secondary Schools (3.5%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation and Security Services NAICS 561600 | 9,950 | 66.2% | $48,490 | $23.31 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 1,150 | 7.6% | $59,560 | $28.64 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools NAICS 611100 | 530 | 3.5% | $57,440 | $27.62 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 430 | 2.9% | $75,040 | $36.08 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 320 | 2.1% | $68,800 | $33.08 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (15,040). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $46,910 for locksmiths and safe repairers in May 2021 and $51,320 in May 2025, with employment of 15,380 and 15,040.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $46,910 | $22.55 | 15,380 |
| May 2022 | $47,400 | $22.79 | 15,240 |
| May 2023 | $48,380 | $23.26 | 14,790 |
| May 2024 | $50,490 | $24.27 | 15,550 |
| May 2025 | $51,320 | $24.68 | 15,040 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
48 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $36.89 | $76,740 | $60,000 | $104,500 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | Connecticut profile | $33.31 | $69,280 | $45,520 | $98,620 | 120 | 0.07 | 0.73 |
| 3 | Hawaii profile | $31.00 | $64,490 | $30,720 | $82,280 | 50 | 0.08 | 0.87 |
| 4 | Delaware profile | $30.60 | $63,640 | $45,710 | $93,450 | 50 | 0.10 | 1.03 |
| 5 | New York profile | $29.73 | $61,830 | $36,950 | $88,890 | 960 | 0.10 | 1.02 |
| 6 | California profile | $29.33 | $61,010 | $47,020 | $93,030 | 2,060 | 0.11 | 1.17 |
| 7 | Maryland profile | $29.01 | $60,330 | $47,720 | $81,290 | 270 | 0.10 | 1.02 |
| 8 | Massachusetts profile | $28.57 | $59,420 | $49,230 | $100,340 | 300 | 0.08 | 0.85 |
| 9 | Minnesota profile | $28.40 | $59,070 | $40,040 | $74,740 | 220 | 0.08 | 0.78 |
| 10 | Alaska profile | $28.07 | $58,390 | $44,050 | $114,440 | 80 | 0.25 | 2.56 |
| 11 | Illinois profile | $27.94 | $58,110 | $35,960 | $88,790 | 430 | 0.07 | 0.74 |
| 12 | Washington profile | $27.89 | $58,010 | $46,240 | $79,580 | 380 | 0.11 | 1.12 |
| 13 | Rhode Island profile | $27.58 | $57,360 | $41,600 | $86,030 | 80 | 0.16 | 1.68 |
| 14 | New Jersey profile | $27.41 | $57,000 | $46,220 | $79,770 | 480 | 0.11 | 1.15 |
| 15 | West Virginia profile | $27.25 | $56,690 | $31,970 | $98,160 | 50 | 0.08 | 0.77 |
| 16 | New Hampshire profile | $27.17 | $56,510 | $31,970 | $72,500 | 40 | 0.05 | 0.54 |
| 17 | Montana profile | $27.02 | $56,200 | $39,730 | $74,990 | 110 | 0.22 | 2.23 |
| 18 | Utah profile | $26.69 | $55,520 | $34,770 | $74,320 | 180 | 0.10 | 1.07 |
| 19 | Michigan profile | $26.02 | $54,120 | $27,100 | $72,370 | 230 | 0.05 | 0.53 |
| 20 | Georgia profile | $25.99 | $54,050 | $26,900 | $75,530 | 330 | 0.07 | 0.70 |
| 21 | Virginia profile | $25.76 | $53,590 | $34,870 | $76,200 | 430 | 0.11 | 1.09 |
| 22 | Kansas profile | $25.45 | $52,930 | $37,010 | $70,740 | 110 | 0.08 | 0.78 |
| 23 | Maine profile | $25.32 | $52,670 | $43,010 | $66,390 | 140 | 0.22 | 2.24 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania profile | $25.08 | $52,160 | $35,980 | $82,380 | 530 | 0.09 | 0.91 |
| 25 | Kentucky profile | $24.58 | $51,120 | $40,410 | $65,060 | 120 | 0.06 | 0.63 |
| 26 | Oregon profile | $24.25 | $50,450 | $38,480 | $75,130 | 250 | 0.13 | 1.33 |
| 27 | Tennessee profile | $24.16 | $50,250 | $34,630 | $72,330 | 340 | 0.11 | 1.08 |
| 28 | Missouri profile | $24.11 | $50,140 | $31,870 | $81,220 | 220 | 0.08 | 0.77 |
| 29 | Florida profile | $23.61 | $49,120 | $36,060 | $77,830 | 1,440 | 0.15 | 1.49 |
| 30 | Nebraska profile | $23.59 | $49,070 | $34,110 | $69,620 | 50 | 0.05 | 0.55 |
| 31 | Wisconsin profile | $23.25 | $48,360 | $37,960 | $74,310 | 130 | 0.05 | 0.47 |
| 32 | Ohio profile | $22.96 | $47,760 | $34,560 | $65,000 | 400 | 0.07 | 0.74 |
| 33 | Indiana profile | $22.91 | $47,640 | $28,900 | $61,610 | 250 | 0.08 | 0.81 |
| 34 | Colorado profile | $22.84 | $47,500 | $35,530 | $70,840 | 380 | 0.13 | 1.37 |
| 35 | Nevada profile | $22.81 | $47,450 | $37,630 | $67,700 | 170 | 0.11 | 1.16 |
| 36 | South Carolina profile | $22.39 | $46,560 | $25,570 | $79,910 | 140 | 0.06 | 0.65 |
| 37 | Louisiana profile | $22.38 | $46,550 | $24,460 | $76,740 | 190 | 0.10 | 1.02 |
| 38 | Iowa profile | $22.29 | $46,360 | $34,030 | $68,970 | 120 | 0.08 | 0.79 |
| 39 | North Carolina profile | $22.07 | $45,900 | $29,020 | $71,040 | 480 | 0.10 | 1.01 |
| 40 | Arizona profile | $21.37 | $44,460 | $37,120 | $73,220 | 260 | 0.08 | 0.83 |
| 41 | North Dakota profile | $21.30 | $44,310 | $37,700 | $67,010 | 70 | 0.16 | 1.60 |
| 42 | Texas profile | $21.09 | $43,860 | $18,230 | $59,280 | 1,420 | 0.10 | 1.04 |
| 43 | Idaho profile | $20.90 | $43,460 | $29,140 | $57,860 | 150 | 0.17 | 1.77 |
| 44 | Alabama profile | $20.84 | $43,340 | $29,690 | $57,880 | 200 | 0.10 | 1.00 |
| 45 | Mississippi profile | $20.64 | $42,940 | $30,440 | $63,310 | 80 | 0.07 | 0.72 |
| 46 | New Mexico profile | $20.15 | $41,920 | $28,670 | $62,540 | 140 | 0.16 | 1.68 |
| 47 | Oklahoma profile | $18.59 | $38,680 | $27,740 | $62,600 | 180 | 0.11 | 1.08 |
| 48 | Arkansas profile | $17.20 | $35,770 | $28,360 | $59,120 | 100 | 0.08 | 0.83 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-9090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-9094 Locksmiths and Safe Repairers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-9094, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-9094.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.