How to become a locksmiths and safe repairer

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

Steps to get there

Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

What locksmiths and safe repairers do

• Insert new or repaired tumblers into locks to change combinations.
• Open safe locks by drilling.
• 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 power drills, taps, dies, truck cranes, and dollies.
• Cut new or duplicate keys, using impressions or code key machines.

Skills that matter most

• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Mathematics
• Active Learning
• Monitoring

Is locksmiths and safe repairer a good career?

On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 1% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.

Where it pays most

• Connecticut $69,280
• Hawaii $64,490
• Delaware $63,640
• New York $61,830
• California $61,010

Locksmiths and Safe Repairers salary by state and city

Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.