How to Become a Gunsmith in District of Columbia (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

U.S. employment of gunsmiths is projected to change 2.0% from 2024 to 2034 (BLS Employment Projections). Training as a Gunsmith here means completing a gunsmithing course or on-the-job training; most states do not license the occupation. An FFL is a federal dealer license, not a worker license.

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Key Facts

Compare Gunsmith Schools in District of Columbia

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
159.1Contact school for pricing$46,77288%—191 mi
255.3$4,776 in-state / $7,488 out-of-state$48,71555%Yes*784 mi
352.6$2,538 in-state / $8,682 out-of-state$41,82484%Yes*291 mi
452.4$2,556 in-state / $8,700 out-of-state$37,25120%Yes*202 mi
551.1$3,186 in-state / $9,330 out-of-stateNot reported63%Yes*338 mi
649.9$2,578 in-state / $8,722 out-of-state$48,05036%Yes*256 mi
745.7$4,775 in-state / $6,923 out-of-state$44,55533%Yes*431 mi
845.5$2,628 in-state / $8,772 out-of-state$48,13824%Yes*286 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

District of Columbia offers career opportunities for gunsmiths. This page covers how to become a Gunsmith in District of Columbia, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: gunsmithing course or on-the-job training (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: a gunsmithing course or on-the-job training; most states do not license the occupation. An FFL is a federal dealer license, not a worker license

Quick Answers About How to Become a Gunsmith in District of Columbia

How to become a Gunsmith in District of Columbia? Complete a gunsmithing course or on-the-job training; most states do not license the occupation. An FFL is a federal dealer license, not a worker license. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a gunsmithing course or on-the-job training; most states do not license the occupation. An FFL is a federal dealer license, not a worker license. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in District of Columbia? Licensing varies. See the licensing section below for the District of Columbia path.

How to Become a Gunsmith in District of Columbia

  1. Get gunsmithing training. Complete a gunsmithing course or paid on-the-job training. This is not a registered apprenticeship in most shops.
  2. An FFL is not a worker license. A Federal Firearms License is a dealer or manufacturer license. Employees of a licensed shop typically do not need their own FFL. Do not treat an FFL as a requirement to be hired as a gunsmith.
  3. Optional association credentials. Industry credentials can help hiring. They are not a state gunsmith license.
  4. Most states do not license this occupation. Do not apply to a licensing board for a gunsmith credential that does not exist. Confirm employer rules.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Gunsmith License Requirements in District of Columbia

Most states do not license gunsmiths. An FFL is a federal dealer license, not a worker license, and is not required to be employed as a gunsmith at a licensed shop.

Typical path

  1. Complete a course or OJT.

  2. Do not treat an FFL as a worker license.

  3. Confirm employer rules, not a state gunsmith board.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Gunsmith Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Gunsmith Wages by Metro Area in District of Columbia

Note: The BLS does not track gunsmith wages separately. The data below is based on the closest matching category: Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other (SOC 49-9069).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other wages in District of Columbia vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria50$82,200$80,800$61,760$109,320

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for gunsmiths in District of Columbia? Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.0% from 2024 to 2034 1.

What training programs are available in District of Columbia? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in District of Columbia.

In District of Columbia

Top local programs

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in District of Columbia

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)