Bridge and Lock Tenders Career, Salary and Skills
Bridge and Lock Tenders have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $57,700 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 3,040. Wage data is published for 33 locations.
Occupation description
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.
O*NET code
53-6011.00
Job zone
2
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Experience
None
National salary and employment
Median annual
$57,700
Hourly median
$27.74
Employment
3,040
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring | 3.25 | 3.00 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.00 | 2.62 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Active Listening | 3.00 | 2.75 |
| Operation and Control | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Speaking | 3.00 | 2.88 |
| Coordination | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Writing | 2.88 | 2.88 |
| Service Orientation | 2.88 | 2.62 |
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Control machinery to open and close canal locks and dams, railroad or highway drawbridges, or horizontally or vertically adjustable bridges.
Technology
- Email software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Oracle PeopleSoft
- SAP software
- Virtual private networking VPN software
Bridge and Lock Tenders salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in FLMedian $28,090 · Employment 470
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in LAMedian $39,090 · Employment 370
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in ILMedian $70,890 · Employment 290
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in NYMedian $51,560 · Employment 210
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in MIMedian $50,540 · Employment 130
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in New York, NYMedian $54,720 · Employment 120
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in Chicago, ILMedian $73,110 · Employment 120
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in PAMedian $68,810 · Employment 110
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in WIMedian $57,350 · Employment 110
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in OHMedian $58,410 · Employment 110
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in Pittsburgh, PAMedian $68,810 · Employment 110
- Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary in KYMedian $58,220 · Employment 100
Related careers
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- Security GuardsNational median $38,020
- Locksmiths and Safe RepairersNational median $51,320
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersNational median $95,320
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsNational median $59,850
- RiggersNational median $62,640
- Dredge OperatorsNational median $49,640
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship LoadersNational median $58,870
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.