How long does it take to become a Key Holder?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a key holder. That is the time it takes to learn specific key holder skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 5 to 7 years years to become a key holder.

How To Become A Key Holder: What It Is and Career Path

What is a key holder and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A key holder is responsible for securing and managing the keys to a building or business. They are typically trusted employees who have been given the authority to open and close the building. Key holders secure the premises, and oversee activities such as locking up at night, opening in the morning, and granting access to authorized personnel. They also maintain and organize the keys, keeping track of their location and uses.

ScoreKey HolderUS Average

Salary

2.5

Avg. Salary $31,779

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.4

Growth Rate -6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.65%

Asian 6.61%

Black or African American 8.55%

Hispanic or Latino 18.14%

Unknown 4.65%

White 61.39%

Gender

female 71.95%

male 28.05%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress Level

9.4

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

5.2

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

4.6

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Key Holder?

Pros

Higher pay compared to non-key holder positions
Flexibility in scheduling and hours
Additional training and development opportunities
Gain valuable experience in the retail or hospitality industry
Potential for career advancement within the company

Cons

Increased stress and pressure to perform well
Greater risk of theft or security breaches
Increased liability if something goes wrong while on duty
Potential for conflict with other employees or customers over access to restricted areas or equipment
Greater chance of being called in on short notice in case of emergencies or staffing shortages

Key steps to become a key holder

Explore key holder education requirements

Most common key holder degrees

High School Diploma

35.2 %

Bachelor's

31.8 %

Associate

20.7 %

Start to develop specific key holder skills

Skills	Percentages
Sales Floor	18.09%
Product Knowledge	10.69%
Visual Standards	9.07%
Bank Deposits	6.88%
Loss Prevention	6.52%

Complete relevant key holder training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New key holders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a key holder based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real key holder resumes.

Gain additional key holder certifications

Key holder certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific key holder certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for key holders include Professional Credit Associate (PCA) and Automotive Sales Professional.

More About Certifications

Research key holder duties and responsibilities

Achieve and exceed store and company sales and KPI goals.
Manage monetary transactions and POS operations.
Used upselling techniques daily when selling gaming systems and accessories.
Maintain operational duties in the manager's absence including scheduling and review of KPI reports.

Prepare your key holder resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your key holder resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a key holder resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Key Holder Resume templates

Build a professional Key Holder resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Key Holder resume.

Apply for key holder jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a key holder job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do key holders rate their job?

4/5

Based On 1 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Key Holder reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022

Pros

A cashier I get to count, hold conversations, clean my area,stock my area

4.0

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

Customer interactions, stocking shelves and recovering

Cons

The amount of stolen items and items simply put on any shelf.