Occupations · Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Locksmiths and Safe Repairers
Repair and open locks, make keys, change locks and safe combinations, and install and repair safes.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 49-9094.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 76% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $59,880 | 1,290 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $61,310 | 800 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $50,490 | 440 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $45,600 | 420 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $45,370 | 410 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $73,770 | 390 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $62,670 | 360 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $75,780 | 290 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $59,800 | 250 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | $46,480 | 250 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $47,480 | 240 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $43,330 | 240 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- Cut new or duplicate keys, using impressions or code key machines.
- Insert new or repaired tumblers into locks to change combinations.
- Move picklocks in cylinders to open door locks without keys.
- Cut new or duplicate keys, using key cutting machines.
- Open safe locks by drilling.
- Set up and maintain master key systems.
- Install door hardware, such as locks and closers.
- Keep records of company locks and 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 alarm and electronic access systems.
- Install safes, vault doors, and deposit boxes according to blueprints, using equipment such as power drills, taps, dies, truck cranes, and dollies.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2025-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2025-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
Tasks O*NET flags as emerging
- Read blueprints and project specification manuals to recommend appropriate hardware and electronic locking devices.
O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 5
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| locksmith | 7222.3 | exact |
| fitter and turner | 7223.7 | close |
| security alarm technician | 7422.5 | close |
| tool grinder | 7224.2 | close |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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