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.
National median · BLS
$57,700
▼ -1.35%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$55,370
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
3,040
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Bridge and Lock Tenders
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$28,090
25th
$38,640
Median (50th)
$57,700
75th
$69,620
90th — top pay
$75,360
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Bridge and Lock Tenders
BLS projects employment of bridge and lock tenders to decline 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, while employment across all occupations grows 3.5%.
About 300 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
3,100 → 3,100
-100 jobs
Projected change
-2.3%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
300
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
No related experience required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What bridge and lock tenders do
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.
Also called
Bridge OperatorBridge TenderLock Tender
More job titles for this occupation (29)
Bridge Crew MemberBridge LevermanBridge OpenerBridge Saw OperatorBridgemanCrossing TenderCrossing WatchmanDam AttendantDam OperatorDam RepairerDam TenderDraw OperatorDrawbridge OperatorDrawbridge TenderGate AttendantLevermanLighthouse KeeperLock and Dam OperatorLock and Dam RepairerLock KeeperLock MasterLock OperatorLock RepairerLock Tender OperatorLockmanLocks TenderMarine Tower OperatorSlip Bridge OperatorStation Gateman
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Bridge and Lock Tenders, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $57,700.
