CareerFacts

All careers › Bridge and Lock Tenders

Bridge operator (bridge and lock tender): pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$57,700median pay per year, or $27.74 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $28,090lowest 10% earn less
  2. $38,64025th percentile
  3. $57,700median
  4. $69,62075th percentile
  5. $75,360top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Bridge and lock tenders, the BLS category for bridge operators, had median pay of $57,700 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects a small decline in jobs from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
-2.3%[2]
Openings per year
300[5]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[6]

How much do bridge operators make?

The median wage for bridge and lock tenders was $57,700 a year, or $27.74 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. The average was $55,370 a year, or $26.62 an hour[7].

The median for all occupations in the US was $50,980[4], so this job's median is above that figure.

Pay covered a wide range in May 2025[3][8]:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[3][8] $28,090 $13.51
25th[3][8] $38,640 $18.58
75th[3][8] $69,620 $33.47
90th[3][8] $75,360 $36.23

The lowest-paid 10% of workers earned less than $28,090[3]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9]. The data cover wage and salary workers, full time and part time. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses not tied to production, and the cost of benefits[10]. This is a very small job, with about 3,040 people employed[11].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state figures for 23 states[12]. Washington had the highest median at $78,020, then Mississippi at $74,730 and Minnesota at $74,420[12]. Florida had the lowest on the list at $28,090[12]. Many of these states have only 40 to 80 jobs, so the numbers rest on small counts[12].

The most jobs were in Florida (470), Louisiana (370) and Illinois (290)[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs[14], Chicago-Naperville-Elgin had the highest median at $73,110. Pittsburgh followed at $68,810, then New York-Newark-Jersey City at $54,720[14]. Chicago and New York each had 120 jobs, the most of any metro area listed[15].

Show median pay in 23 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Washington[12]$78,02050
Mississippi$74,73050
Minnesota$74,42060
Missouri$74,11040
California$72,39080
Illinois$70,890290
Iowa$70,89050
Pennsylvania$68,810110
Alabama$66,83070
West Virginia$65,46060
Indiana$60,78060
Tennessee$60,42060
Ohio$58,410110
Kentucky$58,220100
Wisconsin$57,350110
Massachusetts$55,83040
New York$51,560210
Michigan$50,540130
Virginia$47,12040
Texas$45,82070
North Carolina$41,38050
Louisiana$39,090370
Florida$28,090470

How to become a bridge operator

BLS describes the typical path like this[6]:

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers[16], 65% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required. Another 20% named a post-secondary certificate and 15% said less than a high school diploma[16]. The survey is small, so it is only a rough guide.

O*NET places this job in a group where some jobs need little or no experience and others need several months to a year[17]. The facts here do not name any license or exam.

What bridge and lock tenders do

These workers run and tend bridges, canal locks and lighthouses so that boats can get through waterway crossings, including inland routes, coastal stretches and risky spots[18]. Tasks reported to O*NET include[19]:

Workers report titles such as bridge operator, bridge tender and lock tender[20].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to decline 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, a loss of about 100 jobs from a base of about 3,100[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[21]. The counts include self-employed workers[2].

BLS names automation and remote operation of locks and bridges as a factor that will replace some tasks now done by tenders[22]. Even so, it expects about 300 openings a year on average[5]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[5]. Each year, 4.7% of workers leave the labor force and 6.2% move to a different occupation[23].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a small job with a low barrier to entry. It asks for a high school diploma or equivalent, no related experience and short on-the-job training[6]. The median pay is above the all-occupations median[1][4], but pay differs a lot by state[12]. Jobs are projected to decline, and BLS points to automation as one reason[2][22]. Openings still come up each year as people leave[5]. Because the job is so small[11], the number of places hiring is limited.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[24].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a bridge operator make an hour?
The median was $27.74 an hour in May 2025, and the average was $26.62[1][7].
What education do you need to be a bridge operator?
BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent, with short-term on-the-job training[6].
Is the bridge and lock tender job in demand?
Employment is projected to decline 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, while all occupations grow 3.5%[2][21]. About 300 openings a year are expected[5].
What is the highest paying state for bridge operators?
Washington had the highest median at $78,020 in May 2025[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Bridge and Lock Tenders in the US was $57,700 per year and $27.74 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Bridge and Lock Tenders is projected to decline 2.3% from 2025 to 2035, from about 3,100 to 3,100 jobs (a change of -100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Bridge and Lock Tenders: 10th percentile $28,090, 25th percentile $38,640, 75th percentile $69,620, 90th percentile $75,360. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 300 openings for Bridge and Lock Tenders are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Bridge and Lock Tenders: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Short-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Bridge and Lock Tenders was $55,370 per year and $26.62 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Bridge and Lock Tenders: 10th percentile $13.51, 25th percentile $18.58, 75th percentile $33.47, 90th percentile $36.23. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,040 people were employed as Bridge and Lock Tenders in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Bridge and Lock Tenders in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Bridge and Lock Tenders jobs: Florida 470; Louisiana 370; Illinois 290; New York 210; Michigan 130. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Bridge and Lock Tenders (areas with at least 100 jobs): Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $73,110; Pittsburgh, PA $68,810; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $54,720. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Bridge and Lock Tenders jobs: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 120 (median $73,110); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 120 (median $54,720); Pittsburgh, PA 110 (median $68,810); New Orleans-Metairie, LA 90 (median $39,110); Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL 50 (median $70,890); Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 50 (median $35,000). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. O*NET 53-6011.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 65%, Post-Secondary Certificate 20%, Less than a High School Diploma 15% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  17. O*NET 53-6011.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  18. O*NET description of Bridge and Lock Tenders. O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET task list for Bridge and Lock Tenders. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET 53-6011.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Bridge Operator, Bridge Tender, Lock Tender. O*NET OnLine
  21. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  22. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Bridge and Lock Tenders: Capital/labor substitution - share decreases as an increase in the automation and remote operation of locks and bridges will replace some of the tasks previously performed by bridge and lock tenders. BLS Employment Projections
  23. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Bridge and Lock Tenders: 4.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.2% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  24. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the 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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.