Most good locksmiths learned the same way: next to someone who already knew the work. Books, videos and courses help a lot, but there is no substitute for watching an experienced locksmith read a door, pick the right approach, and finish the job without leaving a mark. That is what an apprenticeship gives you.
Watch Bill do it start to finish
What an apprenticeship really looks like: training a new locksmith to pin and rekey locks on a live job.
Want more full-length jobs? Open Bill’s Video Library · Watch on YouTube
The catch is that locksmith apprenticeships are not always advertised like electrician or plumber programs. Here is how to find one, what the first months really look like, and the honest truth about pay, including what it looks like in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles.
What a locksmith apprenticeship actually is
In this trade, “apprenticeship” can mean two different things:
- An informal apprenticeship. A shop hires you as a helper or trainee and teaches you on the job. This is by far the most common route. There may be no paperwork beyond a normal job, unless your state or city requires a trainee registration.
- A registered apprenticeship. A formal program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor or a state apprenticeship agency, with a written training plan, set on-the-job hours and classroom instruction. Locksmiths and Safe Repairers (O*NET 49-9094.00) is a recognized apprenticeable occupation, but registered locksmith programs are much less common than informal ones.
For a sense of what a formal program covers, New York State’s Department of Labor publishes a time-based locksmith outline of about 8,000 hours of on-the-job training: roughly 4,000 hours of bench work on keys and locks, 3,500 hours on locks, closers, doors and keyless entry, and 500 optional hours on safes. It also requires at least 144 hours of related classroom instruction each year. That works out to about four years of full-time work, which tells you how much there is to learn.
How to find a locksmith apprenticeship
This is the part that takes some legwork. Here is what tends to work:
- Call or visit local shops in person. Many small shops never post a job ad. Ask for the owner, keep it short, and say you want to learn the trade and are willing to start at the bottom.
- Look beyond lockout companies. Hardware stores with key counters, door and hardware distributors, and in-house locksmith departments at universities, hospitals, school districts and large property managers all train people.
- Search the official apprenticeship finders. Try Apprenticeship.gov and your state’s apprenticeship office for registered programs. In New York, the state DOL apprenticeship pages list approved trades.
- Show up with basics already learned. Owners take a chance on people who have done their homework: you know the parts of a pin tumbler lock, you have practiced rekeying on your own hardware, and you know what tools do what.
- Be reliable and clean-cut. You will be in people’s homes and businesses. A valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and being on time matter more than most beginners realize.
- Be upfront about your background. Many shops and most licensed states run background checks. If you have a record, read our guide on becoming a locksmith with a felony before you apply.
What to expect in your first year
Expect to earn your way up. A typical progression looks like this:
- The first weeks: cutting and duplicating keys, sorting and labeling inventory, cleaning and organizing the van, riding along and handing over tools.
- The first few months: rekeying cylinders at the bench, pinning, basic lock installs, learning how doors, strikes and latches line up, and talking to customers.
- Later in the first year: running simpler calls with less supervision, then moving into commercial hardware, master keying, automotive or safes as your mentor trusts you.
Before you start, it helps to know what is in a working toolkit. See what tools locksmiths use and locksmith tools for beginners so you are not caught off guard on day one.
The honest pay reality
Apprentices and trainees usually start near the bottom of the local pay range, and pay climbs as your skills do. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report apprentice pay separately, but the 10th percentile wage is a reasonable picture of entry-level pay. In the May 2025 data, the national 10th percentile for locksmiths and safe repairers is $35,530 a year, against a national median of $51,320. You will always be owed at least your state or local minimum wage, which is higher than the federal minimum in all three of the cities below.
Our locksmith salary by state page has the full numbers for every state.
Locksmith apprenticeships in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles
Big cities have more shops and more work, but also more rules. Here is what is different in each.
New York City
New York State has no statewide locksmith license, but New York City does. The city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) requires a Locksmith Apprentice license for anyone employed by and learning under a DCWP-licensed locksmith. You need a letter from your employer confirming your job and the employer’s DCWP license number. The apprentice period cannot exceed 36 months. After that, you must get a full Locksmith license to keep doing locksmith work. The apprentice license runs two years and costs $20 if you apply at the start of the cycle. DCWP has also announced a move to a Locksmith Business license category in 2027, so check the current rules. BLS pay for the New York City metro area (May 2025): median $61,830, 10th percentile $38,640. More in our New York guide.
Chicago
Illinois licenses locksmiths statewide through IDFPR, so Chicago follows state rules. As a beginner, you will typically work as an employee of a licensed locksmith agency with a Permanent Employee Registration Card (PERC). A PERC is not permission to work on your own. You can only do locksmith work while employed by a licensed agency. Registered employees must also complete at least 20 hours of approved basic training. When you are ready for your own license, you will need to pass the exam, submit fingerprints and carry at least $1,000,000 in general liability insurance. Keep in mind that Illinois’s locksmith licensing law is scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2029 unless the legislature extends it. BLS pay for the Chicago metro area (May 2025): median $58,110, 10th percentile $36,630. More in our Illinois guide.
Los Angeles
California regulates locksmiths through the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services (BSIS). If you work for a licensed locksmith company, you need a Locksmith Employee registration ($60 initial application at the time of our last review), including Live Scan fingerprints for a DOJ and FBI background check. To run your own shop, you need a Locksmith Company license. Bigger jobs can also trigger California contractor licensing (CSLB C-28 Lock and Security Equipment). BLS pay for the Los Angeles metro area (May 2025): median $57,320, 10th percentile $47,320. That is a higher starting floor than most of the country, but so is the cost of living. More in our California guide.
Other states with formal trainee routes
A few other licensed states build apprenticeships into the law. In North Carolina, the Locksmith Licensing Board offers an apprentice designation under a licensed locksmith’s supervision for up to three years, and you take the licensing exam before it ends. New Jersey’s licensing rules recognize practical experience or an approved apprenticeship. In Virginia, new locksmiths may work up to 90 days while finishing required training, but only under specific DCJS conditions. Check your own state on our license requirements by state page.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a locksmith apprenticeship?
It varies. Informal apprenticeships often last one to three years before you work independently. New York State’s registered locksmith outline is about 8,000 hours, roughly four years full time. New York City caps the apprentice license at 36 months, and North Carolina’s apprentice designation lasts up to three years.
Do locksmith apprentices get paid?
Yes. Apprentices are usually paid employees and must get at least the local minimum wage. Pay usually starts near the low end of local locksmith wages. Nationally, the BLS 10th percentile is $35,530 a year (May 2025).
Do I need a license to be a locksmith apprentice?
In some places, yes. New York City requires a Locksmith Apprentice license, Illinois requires a PERC for employees of licensed agencies, and California requires a Locksmith Employee registration. Many states have no requirement for trainees.
How do I find a locksmith apprenticeship near me?
Call and visit local locksmith shops, hardware stores with key counters, door hardware distributors and in-house locksmith departments at universities and hospitals. Also search Apprenticeship.gov and your state apprenticeship office.
Can I learn locksmithing without an apprenticeship?
You can learn the basics on your own, and it makes you a much stronger apprentice candidate. But hands-on time with an experienced locksmith is still the fastest way to become job-ready. See can you become a locksmith without school.
What should I learn before applying?
Learn how pin tumbler locks work, practice rekeying on hardware you own, learn the names of common tools and hardware, and know your state’s licensing rules. Shops notice people who show up prepared.
Sources
- NYC DCWP: Locksmith Apprentice license checklist
- New York State DOL: Locksmith (time-based) apprenticeship training outline
- Apprenticeship.gov: Locksmiths and Safe Repairers occupation listing
- IDFPR: Locksmith
- 225 ILCS 447/30-10 (scheduled repeal January 1, 2029)
- California BSIS: locksmith companies and employees
- North Carolina G.S. 74F-7.1 (apprentices)
- BLS OEWS May 2025: Locksmiths and Safe Repairers (national and metro data)
- Official sources reviewed October 19, 2026; state rules summarized from our state guides, rechecked October 8, 2026.
Locksmith BlueprintLocks Made Simple
Real locksmith know-how from Bill, a working locksmith in Arizona: short videos, plain-English guides and printable checklists.