16 Pros & Cons Of Being a Locksmith

Being a locksmith offers some real benefits.

The job is the sheer opposite of a desk job, where you are stuck in one room all day.

You are likely to spend quite a bit of time on the road, moving from place to place in response to service calls.

This prospect is appealing to many people.

However, there are both good and bad sides to working as a locksmith.

It’s important to review both sides before you start your training.

Pros of Being a Locksmith

Wondering about the top benefits of being a locksmith?

These are some of the best parts of the job.

1. You Will Have Job Security

As with many technical jobs, being a locksmith offers a lot of job security.

You may have heard that openings for locksmiths have fallen in recent years; despite this, the simple fact remains that there will always be a need for people to provide these services.

As a locksmith, you will have niche skills that few others have, which means that your services will always be in demand.

2. There Are Comparatively Lower Startup Costs

Most technical jobs can be expensive investments to start.

You will need to pay for special materials and training.

For some career tracks, this can involve significant startup costs.

Learning to be a locksmith, however, is much more affordable than many other career tracks.

Though there are startup costs as with any technical training, people pay, on average, between $400 and $1000 for their courses and course materials (many other training programs are much higher).

3. The Money Is Good

Locksmiths usually make quite a decent living wage, with an average income of $20-$30 per hour or about $46,000 a year.

This can vary significantly depending on whether you start your own business or are hired by an existing company.

If you start your own locksmith service, you will have the freedom to set your own rates, which means that you can earn quite a respectable income for your time and skills.

4. The Training Is Quick

The exact amount of time you will spend learning to be a locksmith depends on where you live.

Different states have varying legal requirements.

In some states, you may only need to go through a year of locksmith training before you can start working on your own.

This is significantly shorter than many other career tracks, which might include years of training before you can start earning money.

5. You Have Control Over Many Aspects Of Your Job

Depending on where you work, you may have a surprising amount of freedom in deciding when and how long you work.

You may even be able to specialize in certain types of locksmithing work and choose what kind of jobs you take.

Some of this, of course, depends on whether you choose to seek a job at an existing business or start your own locksmith service.

If you start your own business, you decide what your workday looks like.

6. You Can Advance In Your Career

Worried that you will be stuck doing the same kind of work for the rest of your career?

Don’t be.

Becoming a locksmith offers lots of freedom to advance in your line of work.

This might mean becoming a supervisor or specializing in a certain niche.

Most locksmiths do a variety of work and have the freedom to decide if they want to change things up.

7. You’ll Move Around a Lot

If you can’t see yourself working at a desk, being a locksmith might be a great choice.

The job involves a lot of physicalities, including going from location to location throughout the day.

You’ll never need to follow a workout routine while being a locksmith — you might be surprised by how many calories you burn just moving throughout your day.

8. You Establish a Reputation

Because working as a locksmith is a niche skill, you will quickly establish a reputation as an expert in the field.

Once customers know that you can be relied on, they are likely to recommend you to friends and aquaintances.

This means that you might work in a tight community that relies strongly on networking and word-of-mouth recommendations; once you are a part of it, the benefits stack up quickly.

Cons of Being a Locksmith

Of course, there are downsides to every job, and being a locksmith is no exception.

Here are some cons you should know about before pursuing this career.

1. You Might Find Yourself Bored

Many locksmiths say that there are two modes to the job: either stressful or boring.

Most of the time, the work you do will be highly routine, which means you might find your average workday dull.

On the other hand, there are also times when the job is highly stressful — particularly if you’re dealing with frustrated or upset customers — which might not be the most welcome change.

2. You’ll Put a Lot Of Money Down Upfront

Hang on, didn’t we say that the startup costs for becoming a locksmith were lower than most?

Well, yes — if you plan on joining an established business.

But many people want to start their own company.

While there are upsides to this, it can also be a costly venture that requires lots of upfront costs and may take a while to get a significant return.

3. It Might Take a While To Become Successful

If you go the route of starting your own locksmith company, it might be a while before you get established.

This is because, in addition to the usual process of starting a business and getting all the proper licenses, you need to network within your community.

People need to trust locksmiths in order to hire their services — and of course, like any other business, you will need to market your company, which can be a long process at first.

4. You’ll Deal With a Lot Of People

Being a locksmith involves seeing a lot of people on a daily basis.

For some people, this is a great situation.

But if you aren’t great with people or your own personality is more introverted, you might find this aspect challenging or tiring.

And, like any customer-facing job, you will sometimes deal with rude or unpleasant people — or people who are frustrated or anxious because of the circumstances that have led them to need your services.

5. The Work Can Be Dirty

Like many service jobs, working as a locksmith can be tiring, sweaty, and dirty work.

You may be surprised at how dirty you get during an average day.

Like car mechanics, locksmiths have to get into tight spaces, deal with chemicals, and work in hot conditions.

It may be a good idea to use separate work clothes so that you don’t ruin the clothes you wear outside of work.

6. Your Earnings Might Fluctuate

Locksmiths tend to experience slow periods, where their workload drops and they aren’t getting as many calls.

This can seriously affect your earnings when most of your income relies on commission.

While most locksmiths earn a decent annual wage, it’s entirely possible that your income might not be steady from month to month.

7. You Can Expect Strict Background Checks

Whether you get hired by an established business or start your own company, you will need to go through a long process of getting licensed and going through background checks.

Customers expect proof that you are trustworthy and can be relied on to have access to their personal information.

While this is an understandable concern, it can also be a long process.

8. Benefits Can Be Hit Or Miss

Benefits are not a guarantee when it comes to working as a locksmith.

Most locksmiths are self-employed, which means that they are responsible for their own personal costs.

This can be a major drawback, particularly for people working in the United States, where medical care out of pocket is extremely expensive.

If you find a job with an established business, you may or may not have insurance — but there isn’t a guarantee.

Pros & Cons Of Being a Locksmith – Summary Table

Pros of Being a Locksmith	Cons of Being a Locksmith
1. You Will Have Job Security	1. You Might Find Yourself Bored
2. There Are Comparatively Lower Startup Costs	2. You’ll Put a Lot Of Money Down Upfront
3. The Money Is Good	3. It Might Take a While To Become Successful
4. The Training Is Quick	4. You’ll Deal With a Lot Of People
5. You Have Control Over Many Aspects Of Your Job	5. The Work Can Be Dirty
6. You Can Advance In Your Career	6. Your Earnings Might Fluctuate
7. You’ll Move Around a Lot	7. You Can Expect Strict Background Checks
8. You Establish a Reputation	8. Benefits Can Be Hit Or Miss

So… Should You Become a Locksmith?

The answer depends on a lot of factors, most of which are highly personal to your unique goals and circumstances.

If you like the idea of a non-traditional job that offers a lot of freedom, it could be a great career path for you.

However, it also offers the downsides of fluctuating work and other challenges, which means that it isn’t for everyone.