Locksmiths — Average Employee Salary

The average employee in the locksmiths industry earns $55,382 per year ($26.63/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.

$55,382
Avg Annual Pay
17,312
Total Employees
4,265
Total Establishments
4
Avg Employees/Business

What Do Locksmiths Workers Earn?

At $55,382/year (equivalent to $26.63/hour for a full-time worker), locksmiths wages are below the national average of ~$65,000.

Lower wages in this industry are common in service-oriented or retail-adjacent sectors where entry barriers are lower. This can be an advantage for business owners managing payroll costs, but may contribute to higher turnover.

The typical locksmiths business employs 4 people. Most operations are small — often owner-operated with a handful of staff. Labor costs are manageable relative to revenue.

Wages as a Percentage of Revenue

64.7%

For the average locksmiths business generating $342K/year with 4 employees at $55,382 each, total payroll represents roughly 64.7% of revenue. This is a labor-intensive industry — payroll is the dominant expense.

What This Means for Business Owners

If you're starting or running a locksmithsbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:

  • Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $71,997/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
  • Typical team size: 4 employees = ~$221,528/year in base payroll.
  • Hourly equivalent: $26.63/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
  • Revenue needed: With average revenue of $342K/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.

See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.

View full Locksmiths revenue benchmarks →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do locksmiths employees make?
The average locksmiths employee earns $55,382 per year, which is equivalent to $26.63/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is below the national average of approximately $65,000.
How many people work in the locksmiths industry?
The locksmiths industry employs 17,312 workers across 4,265 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 4 employees.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).