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Locksmithing & Safe Repair

Types of Degrees Locksmithing & Safe Repair Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Locksmithing & Safe Repair have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	18
Master’s Degree	43

What Locksmithing & Safe Repair Majors Need to Know

Programs in Locksmithing & Safe Repair emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Locksmithing & Safe Repair graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Locksmithing & Safe Repair emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mechanical — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Public Safety and Security — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills developed in a Locksmithing & Safe Repair program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Repairing — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.1 / 7.
• Time Management — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 2.9 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3 / 7.
• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.1 / 5; level 3 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Locksmithing & Safe Repair careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Near Vision — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Importance 4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Finger Dexterity — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Control Precision — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Visualization — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Locksmithing & Safe Repair graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Handling and Moving Objects	4.2 / 7
Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.1 / 7
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment	4.1 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	4.1 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	4.0 / 7
Thinking Creatively	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Locksmithing & Safe Repair professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
WH Software InstaCode	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	—
Intuit QuickBooks	Accounting software	—
Mapping software	Map creation software	—
Marathon Data Systems ServiceCEO	Data base user interface and query software	—
Inventory tracking software	Inventory management software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	—
dESCO ESC	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
WH Software MasterKey	Inventory management software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Locksmithing & Safe Repair graduates include:

• Time Lock Expert
• Safe Expert
• CMS (Certified Master Safecracker)
• Vault Mechanic
• Lock Setter
• Vault Technician (Vault Tech)
• Locksmith Tech (Locksmith Technician)
• Keysmith
• Safe Service Mechanic
• Key Maker
• Lock Fitter
• Safe Mechanic
• Safe Technician (Safe Tech)
• CML (Certified Master Locksmith)
• Lock Expert

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Locksmithing & Safe Repair graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	61.5%
Postsecondary certificate	15.4%
Some college courses	7.7%
Less than a high school diploma	7.7%
Bachelor’s degree	3.9%
First professional degree	3.9%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Locksmithing & Safe Repair?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 96.7% of Locksmithing & Safe Repair degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	2	3.3%
Men	59	96.7%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Locksmithing & Safe Repair graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	22	36.1%
Asian	6	9.8%
Hispanic or Latino	14	23.0%
Black or African American	15	24.6%
Race Unknown	4	6.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Locksmithing & Safe Repair Graduates Earn?

The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of Locksmithing & Safe Repair graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$47,220
4 years	$39,373
5 years	$44,868

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $44,868 — roughly -5% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Locksmithing & Safe Repair Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Locksmithing & Safe Repair graduates earn a median of $39,373 four years after completion — roughly 4% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians	2,926
Gunsmithing/Gunsmith	2,555
Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair	190
Watchmaking and Jewelrymaking	81
Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, Other	21
Parts and Warehousing Operations and Maintenance Technology/Technician	18

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.