Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for bridge and lock tenders in the U.S. is $57,700 ($27.74 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $57,700
- Mean annual wage
- $55,370
- Median hourly wage
- $27.74
- Employment
- 3,040
3,040 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $28,090 | $13.51 |
| 25th percentile | $38,640 | $18.58 |
| Median (50th) | $57,700 | $27.74 |
| 75th percentile | $69,620 | $33.47 |
| 90th percentile | $75,360 | $36.23 |
Highest-paying states for bridge and lock tenders
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $78,020 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $74,730 | 50 |
| Minnesota | $74,420 | 60 |
| Missouri | $74,110 | 40 |
| California | $72,390 | 80 |
| Illinois | $70,890 | 290 |
| Iowa | $70,890 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,810 | 110 |
| Alabama | $66,830 | 70 |
| West Virginia | $65,460 | 60 |
Lowest-paying states
- Florida: $28,090 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $39,090 median annual wage
- North Carolina: $41,380 median annual wage
- Texas: $45,820 median annual wage
- Virginia: $47,120 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Observe position and progress of vessels to ensure best use of lock spaces or bridge opening spaces.
- Prepare accident reports.
- Turn valves to increase or decrease water levels in locks.
- Control machinery to open and close canal locks and dams, railroad or highway drawbridges, or horizontally or vertically adjustable bridges.
- Write and submit maintenance work requisitions.
- Perform maintenance duties, such as sweeping, painting, and yard work to keep facilities clean and in order.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 5.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 27.4% |
| Some college, no degree | 27.5% |
| Associate's degree | 12.3% |
| Bachelor's degree | 17.6% |
| Master's degree | 8.3% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 1.5% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.