About
The Locksmith Ledger 2024 National Average Price Survey is an annual industry report published by Locksmith Ledger, the leading trade publication for physical and electronic security specialists. Designed as a practical pricing tool, the survey aggregates real-world data from locksmiths across the country to reveal national averages for service call fees, hourly labor rates (both regular and after-hours), trip charges, and mileage fees. In 2024, the survey reported an average service call fee of $94, regular-hour labor at $104/hour, and after-hours labor at $151/hour — reflecting a modest but consistent year-over-year increase compared to 2023 figures. New to the 2024 edition is a dedicated section on price increases, examining how rising costs in gas, parts, and labor are influencing locksmith pricing strategies. The report also features candid, anonymized commentary from survey participants detailing how they structure their pricing — from flat per-service fees to distance-based trip charges and time-per-minute billing models. It covers a range of locksmith disciplines including residential, commercial, automotive, safe work, access control, and CCTV services. This resource is ideal for independent locksmiths, small security firms, and locksmith business owners who want data-driven insights to remain competitively priced while keeping their operations profitable. It is freely available online through the Locksmith Ledger website.
Key Features
- National Pricing Benchmarks: Provides average service call fees, regular and after-hours labor rates, and trip charges based on real survey data from locksmiths nationwide.
- Price Increase Analysis: New in 2024: tracks year-over-year price changes driven by rising costs in gas, labor, and parts, helping businesses stay ahead of inflation.
- Real-World Pricing Strategies: Anonymized practitioner commentary reveals how locksmiths structure their charges — from flat-rate services to mileage-based and time-per-minute billing.
- Multi-Service Coverage: Covers pricing across residential, commercial, automotive, safe, access control, and CCTV locksmith service categories.
- High Response Rate Data: The 2024 edition achieved the highest participation rate in recent years, increasing the statistical reliability of the reported averages.
Use Cases
- A self-employed locksmith benchmarks their service call fee against the $94 national average to decide whether a price increase is warranted.
- A locksmith business owner reviews the after-hours labor rate of $151/hour to set competitive emergency service pricing.
- A new locksmith startup uses the survey data to establish initial pricing for residential and commercial services.
- A locksmith trade association references the survey in educational materials to guide members on sustainable pricing practices.
- A locksmith evaluates competitor pricing strategies by reviewing the anonymized billing model examples included in the survey commentary.
Pros
- Free and Accessible: The survey is published freely online, making it easy for any locksmith professional to access and apply the data without a subscription.
- Practical Benchmarking Tool: Provides directly actionable pricing data that helps locksmiths compare their rates against national averages and make informed adjustments.
- Candid Industry Insights: Anonymized quotes from real locksmith businesses add qualitative depth beyond the raw numbers, illustrating diverse pricing strategies.
Cons
- Not a Scientific Study: The survey is self-reported and not statistically controlled, which means results may not perfectly represent all regions or business sizes.
- Annual Cadence Only: Data is updated just once per year, so mid-year market shifts in labor costs or fuel prices are not captured in real time.
- U.S.-Focused Only: The survey covers national U.S. averages and does not include regional breakdowns or international pricing data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Locksmith Ledger Price Survey?
It is an annual industry survey published by Locksmith Ledger that compiles national average pricing data for locksmith services, including service call fees, labor rates, and trip charges.
What were the average locksmith rates in 2024?
In 2024, the average service call fee was $94, regular-hour labor was $104/hour, and after-hours labor averaged $151/hour.
How can locksmiths use this survey?
Locksmiths can compare their own pricing against the national averages provided to evaluate whether they are competitively priced and to justify price increases to customers.
Is the survey free to access?
Yes, the survey results are published freely on the Locksmith Ledger website and are available to anyone without a paywall.
How often is the survey published?
The survey is published annually by Locksmith Ledger, with each edition reflecting the most recent pricing trends from the prior year.
