Locksmiths: licensing, jobs and pay in the United States
15,550 people work as locksmiths in the United States, and the median pay is $50,490 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 3,961 locksmith businesses with employees, with 16,123 employees and a payroll of $828,238,000 a year (2023 County Business Patterns).
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 15,550
- Median pay, a year
- $50,490
- Businesses with employees
- 3,961
Locksmiths by state
| State | Jobs | Median pay, a year | Businesses with employees | Businesses per 10,000 homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2,130 | $61,500 | 477 | 0.3 |
| Florida | 1,480 | $47,610 | 466 | 0.5 |
| Texas | 1,260 | $44,700 | 322 | 0.3 |
| New York | 1,240 | $59,560 | 330 | 0.4 |
| New Jersey | 570 | $59,300 | 90 | 0.2 |
| Illinois | 560 | $47,360 | 131 | 0.2 |
| North Carolina | 520 | $42,190 | 120 | 0.2 |
| Massachusetts | 440 | $62,670 | 85 | 0.3 |
| Virginia | 440 | $57,990 | 97 | 0.3 |
| Pennsylvania | 430 | $53,750 | 113 | 0.2 |
| Ohio | 420 | $43,960 | 92 | 0.2 |
| Washington | 370 | $50,520 | 93 | 0.3 |
| Arizona | 360 | $43,320 | 89 | 0.3 |
| Georgia | 360 | $61,610 | 121 | 0.3 |
| Tennessee | 360 | $45,110 | 81 | 0.3 |
| Maryland | 330 | $59,310 | 83 | 0.3 |
| Colorado | 310 | $46,990 | 96 | 0.4 |
| Indiana | 240 | $49,320 | 77 | 0.3 |
| Michigan | 240 | $58,570 | 74 | 0.2 |
| Louisiana | 230 | $40,390 | 62 | 0.3 |
| Oregon | 230 | $49,780 | 66 | 0.4 |
| Alabama | 190 | $44,140 | 58 | 0.2 |
| Oklahoma | 170 | $45,170 | 37 | 0.2 |
| District of Columbia | 160 | $74,470 | 4 | 0.1 |
| Missouri | 160 | $47,490 | 55 | 0.2 |
| Nevada | 150 | $54,330 | 55 | 0.4 |
| Utah | 150 | $47,690 | 38 | 0.3 |
| Wisconsin | 150 | $47,720 | 50 | 0.2 |
| Kansas | 140 | $49,920 | 21 | 0.2 |
| Minnesota | 140 | $61,420 | 49 | 0.2 |
| South Carolina | 140 | $45,950 | 61 | 0.2 |
| Connecticut | 130 | $64,470 | 41 | 0.3 |
| Iowa | 130 | $45,000 | 29 | 0.2 |
| Kentucky | 130 | $44,850 | 29 | 0.1 |
| Delaware | 110 | $50,520 | 8 | 0.2 |
| New Mexico | 110 | $45,190 | 29 | 0.3 |
| Arkansas | 90 | $36,930 | 31 | 0.2 |
| Mississippi | 90 | $45,000 | 30 | 0.2 |
| Montana | 90 | $47,760 | 18 | 0.3 |
| Nebraska | 90 | $47,470 | 25 | 0.3 |
| Idaho | 80 | $46,290 | 21 | 0.3 |
| Rhode Island | 70 | $73,120 | 15 | 0.3 |
| Alaska | 50 | $59,300 | 10 | 0.3 |
| North Dakota | 50 | $48,150 | 9 | 0.2 |
| West Virginia | 50 | $46,630 | 10 | 0.1 |
| New Hampshire | 40 | $55,070 | 9 | 0.1 |
| Maine | 30 | $48,670 | 18 | 0.2 |
| Hawaii | — | — | 20 | 0.4 |
| South Dakota | — | — | 5 | 0.1 |
| Vermont | — | — | 5 | 0.1 |
| Wyoming | — | — | 6 | 0.2 |
The highest median pay is in District of Columbia ($74,470), Rhode Island ($73,120), Connecticut ($64,470).
The lowest is in Arkansas ($36,930), Louisiana ($40,390), North Carolina ($42,190).
What locksmiths earn
| United States | |
|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $50,490 |
| Median pay, an hour | $24.27 |
| 10th percentile | $34,750 |
| 25th percentile | $40,650 |
| 75th percentile | $64,330 |
| 90th percentile | $79,340 |
| Average pay, a year | $55,200 |
Licenses for locksmiths
Licensing for this trade is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; each state’s page links the official license lookup for it.
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Questions about Locksmiths
How much do locksmiths make?
The median pay for locksmiths in the United States is $50,490 a year, and half earn between $40,650 and $64,330 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many locksmiths are there in the United States?
15,550 people work as locksmiths, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
Where do locksmiths earn the most?
The highest median pay is in District of Columbia ($74,470), Rhode Island ($73,120), Connecticut ($64,470).
Do locksmiths need a license?
Licensing is set by each state, and often by the city or county as well; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists the licenses each state requires and the agency that issues each.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023
- US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop License Finder
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are published by the US Census Bureau and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them. Rules are summarized from their official text, which governs; this page is not legal advice, and a state or city may add requirements of its own.
Figures last updated on .