Locksmiths and Safe Repairers Salary
Locksmiths and Safe Repairers in South Carolina make a median of $46,560 a year, or about $22.39 an hour. The range runs from $26K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $49,973 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,263/month, about 39.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $47K get you in South Carolina?
About locksmiths and safe repairers
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Locksmiths and safe repairers pay in South Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $51K nationwide, a 9% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,263/month, which is 39.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level locksmiths and safe repairers (10th percentile) start around $26K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $54K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track locksmiths and safe repairers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a locksmiths and safe repairer afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 39.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for locksmiths and safe repairers in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new locksmiths and safe repairers typically earn — is $26K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,534/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 82% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is locksmiths and safe repairer a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $51K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for locksmiths and safe repairers?
South Carolina pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $51K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do locksmiths and safe repairers make in South Carolina?
The median is $46,560 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $25,570, and experienced locksmiths and safe repairers can clear $79,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,175/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 39.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a locksmiths and safe repairers salary go in South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median locksmiths and safe repairers salary is worth about $49,973 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do locksmiths and safe repairers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.