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Florida locksmiths can be called out to a wide variety of job sites.
On a typical day, a locksmith may help someone to get into their car or house, install locks on a new commercial building, and perform maintenance on a bank vault.
Many locksmiths have their own business or work as independent contractors, but there are people with this training who work for a large variety of large companies, real estate conglomerates, traded securities.
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Steps to Become a Locksmith in Florida
The state of Florida does not require any specific type of certification or licensure to operate as a locksmith.
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Therefore, becoming a locksmith only requires a person to be trained well enough to do the job.
Fortunately, there are a lot of ways that a person in Florida can get the training they need to become a locksmith.
Online classes, on-site classes, and apprenticeship programs are available in the state.
Choosing the right type of class is a matter of personal preference; all three methods have produced very capable locksmiths.
Licensing Requirements to Become a Locksmith in Florida
The state of Florida does not require aspiring locksmiths to take any specific exams or obtain certification to become a locksmith.
There may be local county or city requirements for this, however.
For example, Dade County requires all locksmiths to follow a rather strict set of regulations in order to legally operate a locksmith business.
Other counties, however, do not seem to have such strict requirements, with most counties and cities simply requiring locksmith businesses to obtain a business license.
Locksmith Programs
There are a lot of programs in Florida that can provide a person with the training they need to work as a locksmith.
Apprenticeships, online training programs, and in-person classes are all great options and are readily available in most major metropolitan areas.
For students in rural areas, online classes and training programs tend to be the most popular choice if there is no one in the local area who is willing to teach the craft.
In-person classes are a popular choice among people who like to have one-on-one help from an instructor.
Locksmith Salary in Florida
The median salary for a locksmith in the suburban areas of Florida is about $50,300 a year.
Rural areas are about 5 to 10 percent below this number, while pay in cities is about ten percent higher.
Typical salaries for this position range between $41,000 and $69,000 a year.
Pay in Florida is slightly lower than the national average, but this tends to be because of a lower cost of living.
Many established construction and repair businesses will encourage their employees to earn a locksmith certification in order to enhance the services they offer.
The cost-effectiveness of adding this training has not been captured in the currently available statistics.
Also, there are some people who have locksmith training but do not work full time.
Part-time business income is very difficult to capture, since many of these locksmiths tend not to report their income, or include locksmithing under the banner of a different type of work, such as construction.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $51,237 |
| Miami | $52,627 |
| Tampa | $51,453 |
| St. Petersburg | $51,464 |
| Hialeah | $52,221 |
| Orlando | $51,426 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $52,496 |
| Tallahassee | $49,031 |
| Hollywood | $52,496 |
| Pembroke Pines | $52,156 |
Regional Salary in Florida
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 50 | $41,830 | $20.11 | $60,950 | $30,600 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 50 | $40,680 | $19.56 | $57,090 | $29,160 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 80 | $43,590 | $20.96 | $60,260 | $30,910 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 60 | $44,200 | $21.25 | $59,450 | $30,530 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 420 | $46,420 | $22.32 | $65,710 | $31,350 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 230 | $43,490 | $20.91 | $60,620 | $31,030 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 30 | $43,290 | $20.81 | $59,730 | $30,460 |
| Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | 40 | $42,110 | $20.25 | $58,620 | $37,210 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 270 | $43,560 | $20.94 | $60,100 | $31,000 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check my local certification or registration requirements?
There are no state requirements for locksmiths to be certified in Florida, but local governments may have additional restrictions.
Call your local professional certification office to check on what type of license you will need in your part of the state.
What are the typical start-up costs for a locksmith business?
Start-up costs can vary a lot, but the vast majority of locksmith businesses are started with less than five hundred dollars.
A set of high-quality tools tends to be the biggest expense, outside of paying for reliable transportation.
Few locksmiths choose to rent a storefront or an office, but many will convert a small part of a garage or shed into a work area if needed.
For a new business, it is important to factor in advertising costs.
Business cards, flyers, or even a small billboard can be good ways to get an initial customer base.
The best form of advertising once a business is established, however, is word of mouth.
What if I do not want to own my own business?
If owning a business does not interest you, there are options in this line of work for people who want the security of a steady paycheck.
Apartment buildings, private security companies, and lock manufacturers will all employ locksmiths.
Knowledge of locksmithing can also help general contractors, handymen, and other construction professionals to qualify for a wider array of jobs.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Locksmith
Locksmith Training by State
Hi,
My name is sami rammah, I am American citizen
Living in Melbourne since 1 month, I know how to unlock a car door and home doors , I am searching for a job in an lock smith company.