While many manual trades struggle to recruit, locksmithing shows a paradox: full order books and not enough hands. A more strategic career choice than it seems.

Structurally strong demand

Security remains the top concern of households and shopkeepers
The ageing property stock generates a continuous flow of replacements and compliance upgrades
Motorised closures (shutters, blinds, gates) widen the trade's scope

Salaries and progression

A salaried beginner starts around the minimum wage at €1,900 gross; an experienced technician in Île-de-France commonly exceeds €2,500 to €3,000 gross including on-call bonuses. Self-employed, a serious, well-reviewed craftsman builds a clearly higher income — reputation is the trade's real capital.

The changes reshaping the trade

Connected locks and access control: the locksmith becomes an integrator too
Motorisation and home automation: electronic diagnostics, radio programming
Eco-renovation: insulating closures and high-performance joinery

Our advice for a good start

Train broadly (locksmithing + metalwork + closures), cut your teeth with a demanding craftsman before setting up, and nurture every customer review. At DRM, we train our technicians on every type of closure in Île-de-France — motivated applications are always welcome.