How to hire locksmiths and safe repairers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Cut new or duplicate keys, using impressions or code key machines. • Cut new or duplicate keys, using key cutting machines. • Insert new or repaired tumblers into locks to change combinations. • Install door hardware, such as locks and closers. • Keep records of company locks and keys. • Move picklocks in cylinders to open door locks without keys. • Open safe locks by drilling. • Set up and maintain master key systems. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong critical thinking, active listening, speaking and reading comprehension skills • Working knowledge of mechanical, customer and personal service and public safety and security • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $24.68 an hour ($51,320 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for locksmiths and safe repairers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to cut new or duplicate keys, using impressions or code key machines. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to cut new or duplicate keys, using key cutting machines. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to insert new or repaired tumblers into locks to change combinations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to install door hardware, such as locks and closers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Describe a decision at work where the obvious answer was wrong. How did you work out the better choice?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What locksmiths and safe repairers do
- Cut new or duplicate keys, using impressions or code key machines.
- Cut new or duplicate keys, using key cutting machines.
- Insert new or repaired tumblers into locks to change combinations.
- Install door hardware, such as locks and closers.
- Keep records of company locks and keys.
- Move picklocks in cylinders to open door locks without keys.
- Open safe locks by drilling.
- Set up and maintain master key systems.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for locksmiths and safe repairers
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Long-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: -11.7% over ten years, declining · about 1,200 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay locksmiths and safe repairers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| New York | $61,830 |
| California | $61,010 |
| Pennsylvania | $52,160 |
| Florida | $49,120 |
| Texas | $43,860 |
See locksmiths and safe repairers pay in every state
Related hiring guides
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- Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
- Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
- Electronic Equipment Installers and Repairers, Motor Vehicles
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.