Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Long-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Locksmiths and safe repairers work in a specialized trade focused on securing and accessing locks and safes. Nationally, this occupation has a median annual salary of $50,490 and employs about 19,000 people. While projected employment growth is -8.3%, there are still an estimated 2,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing turnover and replacement needs. People in this field benefit from a mix of practical and interpersonal strengths, including fine motor and mechanical skills, customer service, attention to detail, and adaptability. The work can also draw on creativity and innovation, as well as physical strength and stamina. Career options exist across the country, with some states and metro areas offering higher salaries and stronger opportunity scores than others. Similar occupations include general maintenance and repair workers, several types of equipment installers and repairers, and bicycle repairers, which may appeal to individuals with overlapping technical interests.
For locksmiths and safe repairers, the national median annual salary is $50,490. Earning potential varies meaningfully by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, California and New York stand out with median salaries of $61,010 and $61,830, respectively, while Massachusetts and Washington also offer higher pay levels at $59,420 and $58,010. Colorado’s median salary of $47,500 is below the national median, illustrating that state-level pay can differ even among strong opportunity markets. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA shows the highest listed median salary at $74,320, followed by San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA at $65,370 and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ at $61,830. These figures highlight that certain metro areas offer notably higher earning potential than the national median, which may be an important factor for those considering relocation or targeting specific regions.
Locksmiths and safe repairers currently have national employment of about 19,000 workers. The occupation’s projected employment growth is -8.3%, indicating that total employment is expected to decline over the projection period. Even with this projected decrease, there are still an estimated 2,000 annual openings. These openings reflect ongoing labor-market movement within the field, such as workers leaving the occupation or changing jobs. For individuals considering this career, the combination of negative projected growth and continued annual openings suggests a market where new entrants may be primarily filling existing positions rather than expanding employment. When reviewing opportunities, it can be helpful to pay close attention to the specific states and metro areas with higher opportunity scores and salaries, since regional differences play a significant role in the career landscape for locksmiths and safe repairers.
Location has a clear impact on opportunity for locksmiths and safe repairers. Among states, California, Massachusetts, and New York have the highest opportunity scores, all above 65. California offers a median salary of $61,010 with employment of 2,060, while New York’s median salary is slightly higher at $61,830 with 960 employed. Massachusetts combines a median salary of $59,420 with relatively smaller employment of 300. Washington and Colorado also appear among the top states, with median salaries of $58,010 and $47,500 and employment of 380 in each. All listed states share the same projected growth rate of -8.3%, so differences in opportunity scores are tied to other factors such as current employment levels and pay. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ have the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, and offer median salaries of $74,320 and $61,830. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also provide strong combinations of salary and opportunity score.
The typical education requirement for locksmiths and safe repairers is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the field accessible to individuals who complete secondary education and are ready to build technical and practical skills. Success in this occupation draws on several key abilities. Fine motor skills and mechanical skills are fundamental, while being detail oriented supports accuracy and reliability. Customer service skills help when working directly with clients, and adaptability is useful as situations and tasks change. Physical strength and stamina can be important for more demanding tasks, and creativity and innovation may contribute to solving unusual problems. Mathematics provides a foundation for more precise aspects of the work, and project management skills help organize tasks and time. Leadership skills can support those who move into roles coordinating others. Together, this mix of education and skills shapes the overall profile for locksmiths and safe repairers.
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