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What They Do
About This Career
Repairs and opens locks, makes keys, changes locks and safe combinations, and installs and repairs safes.
This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Maintenance, Installation and Repair pathway.
A person in this career:
- Cuts new or duplicate keys, using key cutting machines.
- Cuts new or duplicate keys, using impressions or code key machines.
- Disassembles mechanical or electrical locking devices, and repairs or replaces worn tumblers, springs, and other parts, using hand tools.
- Opens safe locks by drilling.
- Installs door hardware, such as locks and closers.
- Inserts new or repaired tumblers into locks to change combinations.
- Sets up and maintains master key systems.
- Keeps records of company locks and keys.
- Moves picklocks in cylinders to open door locks without keys.
- Repairs and adjusts safes, vault doors, and vault components, using hand tools, lathes, drill presses, and welding and acetylene cutting apparatus.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
- Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
- Lighting is either extremely bright or inadequate
- Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
- Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
- Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
- Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
- Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
Working in this career involves (physical activities):
- Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
- Seeing clearly up close
- Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
- Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
- Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring
Work Hours and Travel
- Irregular hours
- Weekend work
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- Certified Master Locksmith (CML)
- Certified Master Safecracker (CMS)
- Forensic Locksmith — Analyses a lock to determine if it has been broken into, finding out the means of access, the tools used and the time and skill that went into play in order to aid law-enforcement agencies.
- Lock Technician
- Road Service Locksmith
- Safe Technician
- Certified Master Safe Cracker
- Registered Safe Technician (RST)
- Vault Technician
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
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