Locksmiths in California: licensing, jobs, pay and local data
2,130 people work as locksmiths in California, and the median pay is $61,500 a year (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
The Census Bureau counts 477 locksmith businesses with employees in California (2023 County Business Patterns).
That is 0.3 businesses per 10,000 homes, against 0.3 nationally.
California ranks 6 of 47 states for median pay in this trade.
It ranks 8 of 51 for businesses per 10,000 homes.
Figures last updated on .
- Jobs
- 2,130
- Median pay, a year
- $61,500
- Businesses with employees
- 477
Locksmiths in California: businesses and jobs
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses with employees | 477 | 3,961 |
| Their employees | 2,053 | 16,123 |
| Annual payroll | $111,866,000 | $828,238,000 |
| Payroll per employee | $54,489 | $51,370 |
| Businesses per 10,000 homes | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Jobs | 2,130 | 15,550 |
| Jobs per 1,000 jobs | 0.12 | — |
| Location quotient (1.00 = the national share) | 1.17 | 1.00 |
A location quotient above 1 means the trade’s share of all jobs is larger here than nationally.
What locksmiths earn in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay, a year | $61,500 | $50,490 |
| Median pay, an hour | $29.57 | $24.27 |
| 10th percentile | $46,950 | $34,750 |
| 25th percentile | $49,750 | $40,650 |
| 75th percentile | $77,990 | $64,330 |
| 90th percentile | $88,950 | $79,340 |
| Average pay, a year | $65,800 | $55,200 |
Locksmiths by county in California
| County | Businesses with employees | Their employees | Businesses per 10,000 homes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | 125 | 474 | 0.3 |
| Orange County | 50 | 328 | 0.4 |
| San Diego County | 50 | 218 | 0.4 |
| Santa Clara County | 27 | 97 | 0.4 |
| San Bernardino County | 24 | 80 | 0.3 |
| Alameda County | 22 | 157 | 0.3 |
| Contra Costa County | 20 | 83 | 0.5 |
| Sacramento County | 18 | 87 | 0.3 |
| Riverside County | 17 | 84 | 0.2 |
| San Francisco County | 17 | 66 | 0.4 |
| Ventura County | 13 | 41 | 0.4 |
| Santa Barbara County | 9 | 31 | 0.6 |
| Kern County | 7 | 13 | 0.2 |
| San Mateo County | 7 | 38 | 0.2 |
| Sonoma County | 7 | 32 | 0.3 |
| Fresno County | 6 | 26 | 0.2 |
| Butte County | 5 | 15 | 0.5 |
| Placer County | 5 | 25 | 0.3 |
| Santa Cruz County | 5 | 19 | 0.5 |
| San Joaquin County | 4 | 19 | 0.2 |
| Shasta County | 4 | 15 | 0.5 |
| Solano County | 4 | 8 | 0.2 |
| El Dorado County | 3 | 12 | 0.3 |
| Marin County | 3 | 9 | 0.3 |
| Imperial County | 3 | 4 | 0.5 |
| Nevada County | 3 | 6 | 0.6 |
| San Luis Obispo County | 3 | 8 | 0.2 |
The homes behind the work in California
| California | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 44.1% (±0.2 points) | 34.8% |
| Households that moved in 2023 or later | 4.3% (±0.1 points) | 4.6% |
| Households that moved in 2020 to 2022 | 19.1% (±0.1 points) | 20.2% |
| Housing units | 14,644,735 (±1,665) | 143,775,355 |
Licenses for locksmiths in California
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Before work starts, the local building department says which permits the job needs and which license the person pulling them must hold.
Business counts are establishments: a company with offices in two counties is counted in each.
Jobs and pay are for the occupation in every industry, so they include people employed by builders, property managers and governments as well as by contractors.
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Questions about California
How much do locksmiths make in California?
The median pay for locksmiths in California is $61,500 a year, against $50,490 nationally (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024).
How many locksmiths work in California?
2,130 people work as locksmiths in California, by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2024 count of jobs.
How many locksmith businesses are in California?
The Census Bureau counts 477 locksmith businesses with employees in California (2023 County Business Patterns).
Do locksmiths need a license in California?
California sets its own licenses for this trade, and many cities and counties add their own; the US Department of Labor’s License Finder lists each license California requires and the agency that issues it.
Sources
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
- US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023
- License Finder: locksmiths in California (US Department of Labor, CareerOneStop)
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 .