Installation, Maintenance, and Repair · Holland code RC
Locksmiths and Safe Repairers
Repair and open locks, make keys, change locks and safe combinations, and install and repair safes.
Also called: CML (Certified Master Locksmith), Lock Technician (Lock Tech), Locksmith, Safe Technician (Safe Tech), Certified Professional Safe Technician (CPS), CMS (Certified Master Safecracker), Forensic Locksmith, Road Service Locksmith.
O*NET 49-9094.00
At a glance
- US median annual pay
- $51,320
- Middle half earn $43,160 to $64,560. BLS OEWS, May 2025.
- Most common education
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
- 62% of workers surveyed by O*NET report this level.
- Preparation needed
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Some preparation. Zone 1 is little or none; zone 5 is graduate-level.
What the work involves
The tasks workers in this occupation rate as most important, from the O*NET survey.
- Cut new or duplicate keys, using impressions or code key machines.
- Insert new or repaired tumblers into locks to change combinations.
- Move picklocks in cylinders to open door locks without keys.
- Cut new or duplicate keys, using key cutting machines.
- Open safe locks by drilling.
- Set up and maintain master key systems.
- Install door hardware, such as locks and closers.
- Keep records of company locks and keys.
Skills and knowledge it leans on
Skills
- Critical Thinking3.4 / 5
- Active Listening3.1 / 5
- Speaking3.1 / 5
- Reading Comprehension3.0 / 5
- Writing2.8 / 5
- Mathematics2.6 / 5
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical4.2 / 5
- Customer and Personal Service4.0 / 5
- Public Safety and Security3.8 / 5
- English Language3.5 / 5
- Administration and Management3.5 / 5
- Law and Government3.4 / 5
Importance ratings on O*NET’s 1 to 5 scale. Higher means the occupation depends on it more.
Who tends to enjoy it
How strongly this occupation draws on each of the six Holland interest types, which is the same profile the career interests test compares you against.
- Realistic85
- Investigative18
- Artistic0
- Social10
- Enterprising7
- Conventional67
The same work abroad
Other countries classify jobs differently, so these are the closest matches through the international ISCO-08 standard, not exact equivalents.
European occupation titles (ESCO)
- tooling engineer · DE Werkzeugingenieur/Werkzeugingenieurin · FR ingénieur outillage/ingénieure outillage
- security alarm investigator · DE Wachmann/Wachfrau Alarmzentrale · FR intervenant sur alarme/intervenante sur alarme
- door installer · DE Türenbauer/Türenbauerin · FR installateur de portes/installatrice de portes
- locksmith · DE Schloss- und Schlüsselmacher/Schloss- und Schlüsselmacherin · FR serrurier/serrurière
- tool and die maker · DE Werkzeugbautechniker/Werkzeugbautechnikerin · FR ajusteur-outilleur/ajusteuse-outilleuse
- fitter and turner · DE Zerspanungsmechaniker/Zerspanungsmechanikerin · FR tourneur ajusteur/tourneuse ajusteuse
Closest UK occupation groups (SOC 2020)
- Tool makers, tool fitters and markers-out (5222)8,600 employed
- Precision instrument makers and repairers (5224)15,800 employed
- Metal machining setters and setter-operators (5221)40,400 employed
Employment is the UK Annual Population Survey for April 2025 to March 2026, all workers in the group, which can be broader than this one occupation.
Pay across Europe, for the whole group
Median annual earnings of all employees in “Craft and related trades workers”. This is the broad ISCO group this occupation falls in, not the occupation itself, so treat it as context for the wage level, not as a salary for this job.
| Country | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Belgium | €40,086 |
| Germany | €38,638 |
| Austria | €38,194 |
| Sweden | €37,856 |
| Netherlands | €37,077 |
| Ireland | €36,098 |
| France | €27,145 |
| Italy | €26,488 |
| Spain | €22,817 |
| Portugal | €11,142 |
| Poland | €10,099 |
Eurostat Structure of Earnings Survey, businesses with ten or more employees outside public administration, in euro and not adjusted for the cost of living. Reference years differ between sources: the US, Japan and Europe figures on this page come from different survey years, so compare them as rough levels, not to the euro or yen.
Exposure to AI
This occupation sits in the lower third of the 774 occupations scored, with an exposure score of -0.87. The scores are standardized across those occupations, so 0 is the average and a score of 1 is about one standard deviation above it.
Our note on reading it: the dataset links AI applications to the abilities that occupations require, so the score reflects overlap between the two. It is a comparison between occupations, not a forecast about jobs. It does not say whether exposure means tasks are replaced or workers get more done with the tools, and it says little about one employer or one role.
Source: Felten, E., Raj, M., & Seamans, R. (2021). Occupational, industry, and geographic exposure to artificial intelligence: A novel dataset and its potential uses. Strategic Management Journal, 42(12), 2195-2217. Matched to this page by 6-digit SOC code (49-9094).
Related careers
Is it a fit for you?
Interest is one input, alongside ability, pay and what is hiring near you. The career interests test takes about thirteen minutes and ranks occupations by how closely their profile matches yours.
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