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Salary comparison

Locksmiths and Safe Repairers vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics: Who Earns More?

Locksmiths and Safe Repairerss out-earn Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanicss by $700 a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Locksmiths and Safe Repairerss land at $51,320 and Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanicss at $50,620. The education gap is real: locksmiths and safe repairer programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while automotive service technicians and mechanic programs require postsecondary nondegree award. Top-paying state for Locksmiths and Safe Repairerss is District of Columbia ($76,740); for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanicss it's District of Columbia ($68,660).

Locksmiths and Safe Repairers
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Median salary
$51,320
$50,620
Hourly rate
$24.68/hr
$24.34/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$35,530
$34,660
Senior level (90th %)
$79,400
$81,790
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
Postsecondary nondegree award
U.S. employment
15,040
704,640
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
4%
Category
Repair & Maintenance
Repair & Maintenance
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
District of Columbia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Locksmiths and Safe Repairers median pay.

State
Locksmiths and Safe Repairers
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
District of Columbia
$76,740
$68,660
Connecticut
$69,280
$60,220
Delaware
$63,640
$58,410
California
$61,010
$64,980
Maryland
$60,330
$57,520
Massachusetts
$59,420
$60,760
Minnesota
$59,070
$58,390
Alaska
$58,390
$60,840
Washington
$58,010
$57,270
New Hampshire
$56,510
$59,020
Montana
$56,200
$58,740
Virginia
$53,590
$59,330
Oregon
$50,450
$58,520
Colorado
$47,500
$61,280
North Dakota
$44,310
$57,360

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Locksmiths and Safe Repairerss or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanicss?

Locksmiths and Safe Repairerss earn more nationally. The median is $51,320 for Locksmiths and Safe Repairerss versus $50,620 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanicss, a difference of $700. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Locksmiths and Safe Repairers or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Locksmiths and Safe Repairers or Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics?

Locksmiths and Safe Repairers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics requires postsecondary nondegree award. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Locksmiths and Safe Repairerss get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Locksmiths and Safe Repairerss at $76,740/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Locksmiths and Safe Repairers vs. Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Locksmiths and Safe Repairerss earn $76,740 vs. $68,660 for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanicss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Locksmiths and Safe Repairers salary breakdownView →Full Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics salary breakdownView →Best cities for Locksmiths and Safe Repairerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanicss by take-home payExplore →How to become a locksmiths and safe repairersGuide →How to become a automotive service technicians and mechanicsGuide →