SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Operate and tend bridges, canal locks, and lighthouses to permit marine passage on inland waterways, near shores, and at danger points in waterway passages. May supervise such operations. Includes drawbridge operators, lock operators, and slip bridge operators.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 53-6011.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $28,090 | $2,341 | $540 | $13.51 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $38,640 | $3,220 | $743 | $18.58 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $57,700 | $4,808 | $1,110 | $27.74 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $69,620 | $5,802 | $1,339 | $33.47 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $75,360 | $6,280 | $1,449 | $36.23 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Bridge and Lock Tenders is $57,700, which is 13% higher. Among the 50 occupations of the field Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks number 23 by median pay. With 3,040 jobs, it makes up about 0.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Bridge and Lock Tenders pay by state
The highest median pay was in Washington ($78,020), Mississippi ($74,730) and Minnesota ($74,420). The lowest was in Florida ($28,090), Louisiana ($39,090) and North Carolina ($41,380). The most jobs were in Florida (470), Louisiana (370) and Illinois (290). The occupation is most concentrated in Louisiana, where its share of all jobs is 9.8 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 50 | $78,020 | $76,240 | $37.51 |
| Mississippi | 50 | $74,730 | $64,030 | $35.93 |
| Minnesota | 60 | $74,420 | $72,570 | $35.78 |
| Missouri | 40 | $74,110 | $70,970 | $35.63 |
| California | 80 | $72,390 | $68,070 | $34.80 |
| Illinois | 290 | $70,890 | $71,700 | $34.08 |
| Iowa | 50 | $70,890 | $69,410 | $34.08 |
| Pennsylvania | 110 | $68,810 | $68,520 | $33.08 |
| Alabama | 70 | $66,830 | $65,360 | $32.13 |
| West Virginia | 60 | $65,460 | $66,610 | $31.47 |
| Indiana | 60 | $60,780 | $58,740 | $29.22 |
| Tennessee | 60 | $60,420 | $58,520 | $29.05 |
| Ohio | 110 | $58,410 | $56,770 | $28.08 |
| Kentucky | 100 | $58,220 | $58,200 | $27.99 |
| Wisconsin | 110 | $57,350 | $58,760 | $27.57 |
| Massachusetts | 40 | $55,830 | $57,130 | $26.84 |
| New York | 210 | $51,560 | $49,980 | $24.79 |
| Michigan | 130 | $50,540 | $48,540 | $24.30 |
| Virginia | 40 | $47,120 | $53,000 | $22.65 |
| Texas | 70 | $45,820 | $52,890 | $22.03 |
| North Carolina | 50 | $41,380 | $41,080 | $19.90 |
| Louisiana | 370 | $39,090 | $50,700 | $18.80 |
| Florida | 470 | $28,090 | $34,680 | $13.51 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
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- Hoist and Winch Operators$56,450 a year
- Rail Transportation Workers, All Other$56,360 a year
Common questions
How much do Bridge and Lock Tenders earn in the United States?
The median pay was $57,700 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $28,090 and the highest-paid 10% more than $75,360.
How many people work as Bridge and Lock Tenders?
About 3,040 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.