Are you considering a career as a locksmith? Or are you a current locksmith, wondering how your earnings stack up against the averages for your community?
Read on for more information on the average salary of a locksmith.
The Highs and Lows of Locksmithing
According to Salary.com, the average annual salary of a locksmith as of May 23, 2023, is $51,551; this equates to about $991.36 per week and $24.78 an hour, assuming you’re working a 40-hour week.
According to the website talent.com the highest salaries are in:
- California $65,647
- Washington $61,890
- New York $61,601
- Illinois $60,372
- New Hampshire $58,500
- Virginia $58,110
- Minnesota $55,687
- Colorado $54,846
- West Virginia $54,464
- Michigan $54,449
With these states being at the lower end of locksmith salaries:
- North Dakota $30,290
- Maine $34,496
- Kentucky $37,050
- New Mexico $37,050
- Nebraska $37,109
- Arizona $38,357
- Oklahoma $38,500
- North Carolina $39,000
- Ohio $39,000
- Wisconsin $39,244
Variables that can Affect the Average Salary of a Locksmith
- Cost of Living: With any job, the cost of living in a state will also influence salary. So wages in Mississippi will drastically differ from those in Washington or New York.
- Experience: Years of experience in the business will also affect how much you can earn.
- Service Area: Do you live in a big city or a small town? Larger cities have more locksmiths because there are more people in general, which also means more people locking themselves out of cars and homes or changing the locks after they got rid of that problem roommate. All this creates more demand for locksmiths.
- Niche: Do you have a specialty that sets you apart? For example, your business is on call 24 hours and thrives off late-night customers.
- Saturation: How saturated is the locksmith market in your area? If you’re in a small town, are you the only one? Or are locksmiths a dime a dozen?
Is going into business as a locksmith and becoming your own boss the right choice for you?
Now that we’ve whetted your appetite with some juicy figures of the average salary of a locksmith, let’s review some fundamentals if you want to become a locksmith and go into business for yourself.
Here’s a glimpse of a locksmith’s job description: A locksmith is responsible for troubleshooting, maintaining, repairing, and installing locks and keys. A locksmith makes duplicate keys and replaces and re-keys locks as necessary, and they may design new key or lock systems for a business or organization. Additionally, a locksmith records changes and additions to an organization’s key systems.
Training: Becoming a locksmith requires 3-5 years of relevant experience or two years of experience with additional training or certification.
Do you have the guts: Are you outgoing, willing to take risks, and a self-starter? If so, starting your own business may be a good fit for you. If you’re ok with a bit of unpredictability and are motivated to go out there, promote yourself, and get jobs, being your own boss may be an excellent fit for you.
Start-up costs: Of course, you will need funds to start your own business, not only for any tools and equipment but things like marketing, licenses, permits, insurance, or fees.
Administrative help and organization: It can be hard to make it on your own as a small business owner; you may need behind-the-scenes help. After all, the more time you save, your average salary increases. Tedious tasks include keeping track of client info and what kind of lock system they have, job tracking, and route optimization for those busy days. All add up to extra time, energy, and money. That’s why you need an excellent software app to help take some of the load off. Apps like ServiceWorks make it virtually effortless to take care of the pesky administrative tasks like accounts payable and receivable, customer satisfaction surveys, and more and help eliminate the need for an office assistant, which saves you time and money since you won’t have to pay another employee or the benefits associated with said employee. Who doesn’t love to save time and money? There is a 14-day risk-free trial, so head to ServiceWorks today and discover your new best employee.
