Best institutions to study Locksmithing and Safe Repair
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to make, repair, maintain, modify, and open locks; to make keys; to enter and change lock and safe combinations; and install and repair safes.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 43 Locksmithing and Safe Repair students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 47.0403, a specialization of Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.04), and leads most directly to the Locksmiths and Safe Repairers occupation (BLS SOC 49-9094).
About Locksmithing and Safe Repair programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to make, repair, maintain, modify, and open locks; to make keys; to enter and change lock and safe combinations; and install and repair safes.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Locksmithing and Safe Repair program, part of Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians, equips students with the technical knowledge and skills necessary to work with locks and safes. This program is ideal for individuals interested in a hands-on career in mechanical and repair technologies, focusing on security systems.
Students will gain essential skills in critical thinking, mathematics, and active listening, alongside knowledge of mechanical systems and public safety. Coursework includes practical training in cutting keys, changing lock combinations, and opening safes, preparing graduates for real-world challenges in the locksmithing field.
Credentials awarded
What Locksmithing and Safe Repair graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years29 graduates / yr · 2 institutions67%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year14 graduates / yr · 1 institution33%
Graduates over time
Locksmithing and Safe Repair completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 35 |
| 2013 | 35 |
| 2014 | 45 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 42 |
| 2017 | 33 |
| 2018 | 35 |
| 2019 | 43 |
| 2020 | 69 |
| 2021 | 48 |
| 2022 | 72 |
| 2023 | 44 |
| 2024 | 61 |
| 2025 | 43 |
Top 2 institutions for Locksmithing and Safe Repair, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Stuart School of Diamond Setting Brooklyn, NYPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 37 | 100% | $41,229 | — |
| 2 | North Bennet Street School Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 6 | 90% | $35,199 | $23,140 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians field (CIP 47.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 2 states
Where Locksmithing and Safe Repair graduates come from. Each state links to all Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 1 | 37 | Charles Stuart School of Diamond Setting37 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 6 | North Bennet Street School6 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 49-9094, Locksmiths and Safe Repairers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Locksmithing and Safe Repair program typically pursue careers as locksmiths and safe repairers. While job outlook indicates a decline of 8.3%, there are approximately 1,700 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $50,490, with a typical education requirement of a high school diploma or equivalent.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 47.0403
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Locksmiths and Safe Repairersprimary SOC 49-9094 | $51,320 | -8.3% Decline | ~1,700 | High school diploma or equivalent |
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Locksmithing and Safe Repair programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- 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.
Tools and technology used
Other Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians specializations
The 5 other 6-digit CIP codes under Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.04).
- Gunsmithing/CIP 47.0402
Gunsmith 3,371 graduates / yr17 institutions - Musical Instrument Fabrication and RepairCIP 47.0404partial data201 graduates / yr8 institutions
- Watchmaking and JewelrymakingCIP 47.0408partial data78 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Parts and Warehousing Operations and Maintenance Technology/CIP 47.0409
Technician limited data29 graduates / yr1 institutions - Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/CIP 47.0499
Technicians limited data12 graduates / yr2 institutions
See all Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians programs →
Common questions
What skills will I learn in this program?+
You will learn critical thinking, mathematics, and mechanical skills, along with active listening and customer service.
What kind of jobs can I get after graduation?+
Graduates can work as locksmiths and safe repairers, focusing on security and maintenance.
What is the job outlook for locksmiths?+
The job outlook shows a decline of 8.3%, but there are about 1,700 annual openings.
What is the typical education required for this field?+
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for locksmithing positions.
What is the CIP code for Locksmithing and Safe Repair?+
Locksmithing and Safe Repair is CIP 47.0403 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians (CIP 47.04). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to make, repair, maintain, modify, and open locks; to make keys; to enter and change lock and safe combinations; and install and repair safes.
How many institutions offer Locksmithing and Safe Repair programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Locksmithing and Safe Repair graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 43 credentials in the year. That is 1.2% of all Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians graduates.
How much do Locksmithing and Safe Repair graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Locksmiths and Safe Repairers occupation, which Locksmithing and Safe Repair most directly leads to, pays a median of $51,320 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Precision Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians field report median earnings of $23,140 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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