Locksmiths and Safe Repairers
SOC: 49-9094.00

Description:

Repair and open locks; make keys; change locks and safe combinations; and install and repair safes.

National Salary Information:

Hourly Statistics:

Annual Statistics:

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 wage data.

Employment Projections:

Employment (2014):
20,900 employed

Projected (2024):
17,800 employed

Projected growth (2014-2024)


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2015 2014-2024 employment projections external site. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2014-2024). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.

Alternate Titles:

  • Certified Master Locksmith (CML)
  • Certified Master Safe Technician (CMST)
  • Certified Master Safecracker (CMS)
  • Certified Registered Locksmith (CRL)
  • Forensic Locksmith
  • Key Maker
  • Keysmith
  • Lock Expert
  • Lock Fitter
  • Lock Setter
  • Lock Technician
  • Lockmaker
  • Locksmith
  • Locksmith Apprentice
  • Road Service Locksmith
  • Safe and Vault Installer
  • Safe and Vault Mechanic
  • Safe and Vault Service Mechanic
  • Safe Expert
  • Safe Technician
  • Service Technician
  • Time Lock Expert
  • Vault Installer
  • Vault Service Mechanic

    • Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

    Experience:

    Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

    Education:

    These occupations usually require a high school diploma.

    Job Training:

    Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

    Required Skills:

  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Writing
  • Speaking
  • Mathematics
  • Critical Thinking
  • Active Learning
  • Learning Strategies
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Coordination
  • Persuasion
  • Negotiation
  • Instructing
  • Service Orientation
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Technology Design
  • Equipment Selection
  • Installation
  • Programming
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Operation and Control
  • Equipment Maintenance
  • Troubleshooting
  • Repairing
  • Quality Control Analysis
  • Judgment and Decision Making
  • Systems Analysis
  • Systems Evaluation
  • Time Management
  • Management of Financial Resources
  • Management of Material Resources
  • Management of Personnel Resources

    • Knowledge Used:

  • Administration and Management
  • Clerical
  • Economics and Accounting
  • Sales and Marketing
  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Personnel and Human Resources
  • Production and Processing
  • Computers and Electronics
  • Engineering and Technology
  • Design
  • Building and Construction
  • Mechanical
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Psychology
  • Sociology and Anthropology
  • Geography
  • Education and Training
  • English Language
  • Foreign Language
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Law and Government
  • Telecommunications
  • Communications and Media
  • Transportation

    • Tasks:

  • Cut new or duplicate keys, using keycutting machines.
  • Keep records of company locks and keys.
  • Insert new or repaired tumblers into locks to change combinations.
  • Move picklocks in cylinders to open door locks without keys.
  • Disassemble mechanical or electrical locking devices, and repair or replace worn tumblers, springs, and other parts, using hand tools.
  • Repair and adjust safes, vault doors, and vault components, using hand tools, lathes, drill presses, and welding and acetylene cutting apparatus.
  • Install safes, vault doors, and deposit boxes according to blueprints, using equipment such as powered drills, taps, dies, truck cranes, and dollies.
  • Open safe locks by drilling.
  • Remove interior and exterior finishes on safes and vaults, and spray on new finishes.
  • Cut new or duplicate keys using impressions or code key machines.
  • Set up and maintain master key systems.
  • Install door hardware such as locks and closers.
  • Install alarm and electronic access systems.
  • Unlock cars and other vehicles.

    • Tools & Technology:

  • Acetylene torches
  • Automatic metal lathes
  • Bench drill presses
  • Bent needlenose pliers
  • Borescopes
  • Carpenters squares
  • Center punch sets
  • Code key machines
  • Computer inkjet printers
  • Cordless drills
  • Crescent wrenches
  • Crowbars
  • Cutting dies
  • Deadblow hammers
  • Depth keys
  • Digital calipers
  • Face cap removal pliers
  • Flat cold chisels
  • Flathead screwdrivers
  • Hammer drills
  • Hand planes
  • Hex key sets
  • Impressioning files
  • Jigsaws
  • Key extractors
  • Key gauges
  • Keycutting machines
  • Laptop computers
  • Lock pick sets
  • Locksmith hammers
  • Long tweezers
  • Machinist squares
  • Material moving dollies
  • Measuring tapes
  • Metal cleaning brushes
  • Mini hacksaws
  • Mortising jigs
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Nut driver sets
  • Parallel pin punches
  • Phillips screwdrivers
  • Pipe wrenches
  • Portable routers
  • Precision levels
  • Ratchet sets
  • Robertson screwdrivers
  • Rotary tools
  • Shielded metal arc welding machines
  • Small angle grinders
  • Snap-ring pliers
  • Socket wrench sets
  • Swivel head vises
  • Taps
  • Tension wrenches
  • Tin snips
  • Torx drivers
  • Utility knives
  • Vise grip pliers
  • Wire cutters
  • dESCO ESC software
  • Intuit QuickBooks software
  • Inventory tracking software
  • Mapping software
  • Marathon Data Systems ServiceCEO
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Word
  • Scheduling software
  • WH Software InstaCode
  • WH Software MasterKey

    • installation maintenance and repair

    industry stats

    SOC: 49-0000

    Total Employed: 5,374,150

    Average Annual Salary: $45,990