Bridge and Lock Tenders
Is bridge and lock tenders a good career?
It scores 10/100 and ranks #700 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.
Advantages
- No college degree typically required to enter
Possible tradeoffs
- Employment is projected to decline (-3.3% through 2034)
What bridge and lock tenders earn
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. bridge and lock tenders earn between $38,640 and $69,620 a year.
Best-paying states
Best-paying metros
Live bridge and lock tenders jobs
No live bridge and lock tenders openings yet
When the jobs.best ATS feed launches, verified bridge and lock tenders openings will appear here — each shown against the $57,700 national median. Nothing here is placeholder.
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- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
Related occupations
How much do bridge and lock tenders make?
The national median wage is $57,700 a year, with the middle half earning between $38,640 and $69,620 (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Is bridge and lock tenders a good career?
On the Jobs.best index it scores 10 of 100 and ranks #700 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change -3.3% through 2034.
What education do you need to become a bridge and lock tender?
The typical entry-level education is high school diploma or equivalent.
Where do bridge and lock tenders earn the most?
Among states, Washington pays the highest median ($78,020). Local pay for every state and metro is below.