Residential, commercial & automotive
Locksmith
A trade you can run alone out of one van.
Typical pay
$38k-$85k
How you get in
Apprenticeship or short course plus state licensing
Outlook
Steady; automotive and access control are the growth
Very few openings
88/100Very few openings relative to the size of this field, and the field is shrinking.
JobPOVs index, calculated from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025-2035 for Locksmiths and safe repairers. It measures how many openings arise each year relative to the size of the field — not how many people apply. BLS does not publish a saturation figure.
Locksmiths install, repair and bypass locks and access control systems. Automotive key programming and commercial access control have largely replaced simple lockouts as where the money is.
A day in the life
8:00a – 4:00p · 8 hours
- 8:00aCheck the schedule, stock key blanks and cylinders
- 8:30aRekey a house for a new homeowner
- 10:30aCar lockout, then program a replacement fob
- 12:30pLunch in the van
- 1:30pCommercial job — install panic hardware and a master key system
- 4:00pQuote an access control upgrade, invoice the day
How to get in
Work for a locksmith shop
Duration
1-2 years
Cost
$0 — paid
Credential
State locksmith license where required, plus bonding
- Get hired as a helper at an established shop
- Learn rekeying, master keying and hardware installation
- Get licensed and bonded — most states require a background check
- Add automotive key programming, which is where the margin is
Training course then independent
Duration
3-9 months
Cost
$3,000-$15,000 including tools
Credential
Certificate plus state license and bonding
- Complete a locksmith training program or ALOA coursework
- Buy a starter tool set and key machine
- Get licensed, bonded and insured
- Start mobile — a van is the entire premises
Specialize in access control
Duration
1-3 years after the basics
Cost
$2,000-$15,000 in equipment and certification
Credential
Manufacturer access control certifications
- Master mechanical locksmithing first
- Add electronic access control, keypads and networked systems
- Get certified by the manufacturers you install
- Commercial contracts and service agreements beat one-off lockouts
What people love
- · Very low startup cost for your own business
- · Automotive key work has excellent margins
- · Genuinely interesting problem-solving
- · Emergency calls command premium rates
What wears people down
- · On-call nights and weekends for lockouts
- · Background checks and bonding are required
- · Key programming equipment is expensive to keep current
- · Competing with dealer and app-based services