Bridge and lock tenders salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,090 | $13.51 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| Mean (average) | $55,370 | $26.62 |
| 90th percentile | $75,360 | $36.23 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Bridge and lock tenders pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 23 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $66,830 | $49,900 | $74,730 | 70 | 1.6 |
| California | $72,390 | $48,440 | $86,960 | 80 | 0.24 |
| Florida | $28,090 | $27,040 | $50,640 | 470 | 2.44 |
| Illinois | $70,890 | $55,190 | $86,390 | 290 | 2.45 |
| Indiana | $60,780 | $48,420 | $71,610 | 60 | 0.94 |
| Iowa | $70,890 | $63,360 | $74,420 | 50 | 1.77 |
| Kentucky | $58,220 | $47,410 | $71,610 | 100 | 2.48 |
| Louisiana | $39,090 | $33,390 | $81,100 | 370 | 9.76 |
| Massachusetts | $55,830 | $48,050 | $68,710 | 40 | 0.53 |
| Michigan | $50,540 | $32,210 | $75,520 | 130 | 1.47 |
| Minnesota | $74,420 | $63,810 | $77,710 | 60 | 1.06 |
| Mississippi | $74,730 | $31,250 | $74,730 | 50 | 2.06 |
| Missouri | $74,110 | $63,360 | $78,460 | 40 | 0.73 |
| New York | $51,560 | $32,240 | $71,360 | 210 | 1.13 |
| North Carolina | $41,380 | $34,230 | $45,860 | 50 | 0.49 |
| Ohio | $58,410 | $44,500 | $72,920 | 110 | 0.98 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,810 | $61,570 | $72,920 | 110 | 0.95 |
| Tennessee | $60,420 | $49,900 | $65,060 | 60 | 0.92 |
| Texas | $45,820 | $31,850 | $74,240 | 70 | 0.25 |
| Virginia | $47,120 | $38,160 | $78,100 | 40 | 0.47 |
| Washington | $78,020 | $70,260 | $83,930 | 50 | 0.67 |
| West Virginia | $65,460 | $60,760 | $69,620 | 60 | 4.59 |
| Wisconsin | $57,350 | $41,260 | $75,000 | 110 | 1.9 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for bridge and lock tenders
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for bridge and lock tenders
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Control machinery to open and close canal locks and dams, railroad or highway drawbridges, or horizontally or vertically adjustable bridges.
- Direct movements of vessels in locks or bridge areas, using signals, telecommunication equipment, or loudspeakers.
- Observe position and progress of vessels to ensure best use of lock spaces or bridge opening spaces.
- Record names, types, and destinations of vessels passing through bridge openings or locks, and numbers of trains or vehicles crossing bridges.
- Observe approaching vessels to determine size and speed, and listen for whistle signals indicating desire to pass.
- Move levers to activate traffic signals, navigation lights, and alarms.
- Write and submit maintenance work requisitions.
- Log data, such as water levels and weather conditions.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle PeopleSoft (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Email software
- Virtual private networking VPN software
Transferable skills for career changers: Coordination, Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Judgment and Decision Making, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Bridge Operator, Bridge Tender, Lock Tender.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do bridge and lock tenders make?
The national median annual wage for bridge and lock tenders was $57,700 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $28,090 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $75,360. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do bridge and lock tenders need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is bridge and lock tenders a growing career?
BLS projects employment of bridge and lock tenders to change -2.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay bridge and lock tenders the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($78,020), Mississippi ($74,730), Minnesota ($74,420). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.