How much do Bridge and Lock Tenders make?
Bridge and Lock Tenders earn a median annual salary of $57,700 in the United States, which works out to roughly $27.74 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $28,090 at the entry level and $75,360 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $38,640 and $69,620 a year.
That is $3,690 less than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Bridge and Lock Tenders salary range by percentile
Half of all Bridge and Lock Tenders earn between $38,640 and $69,620 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,090 | $13.50 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $38,640 | $18.58 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $57,700 | $27.74 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $69,620 | $33.47 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,360 | $36.23 |
Highest-paying states for Bridge and Lock Tenders
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Washington leads the country for Bridge and Lock Tenders pay at $78,020 a year, followed by Mississippi ($74,730) and Minnesota ($74,420). At the other end, Florida posts the lowest median at $28,090 — a gap of $49,930 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $78,020 | $37.51 | +35% |
| 2 | Mississippi | $74,730 | $35.93 | +30% |
| 3 | Minnesota | $74,420 | $35.78 | +29% |
| 4 | Missouri | $74,110 | $35.63 | +28% |
| 5 | California | $72,390 | $34.80 | +25% |
Bridge and Lock Tenders salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 23 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 3,000 people work as Bridge and Lock Tenders in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $55,370 — below the median, unusual for salaried roles. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Related salaries
Other transportation roles with similar pay.