Bridge and Lock Tenders Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for bridge and lock tenderss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Washington$76,240
- Minnesota$72,570
- Illinois$71,700
- Missouri$70,970
- Iowa$69,410
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Florida$34,680
- North Carolina$41,080
- Michigan$48,540
- New York$49,980
- Louisiana$50,700
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $76,240 | $78,020 | $37 | +37.7% | 50 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $72,570 | $74,420 | $35 | +31.1% | 60 |
| 3 | Illinois | $71,700 | $70,890 | $34 | +29.5% | 290 |
| 4 | Missouri | $70,970 | $74,110 | $34 | +28.2% | 40 |
| 5 | Iowa | $69,410 | $70,890 | $33 | +25.4% | 50 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $68,520 | $68,810 | $33 | +23.7% | 110 |
| 7 | California | $68,070 | $72,390 | $33 | +22.9% | 80 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $66,610 | $65,460 | $32 | +20.3% | 60 |
| 9 | Alabama | $65,360 | $66,830 | $31 | +18% | 70 |
| 10 | Mississippi | $64,030 | $74,730 | $31 | +15.6% | 50 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | $58,760 | $57,350 | $28 | +6.1% | 110 |
| 12 | Indiana | $58,740 | $60,780 | $28 | +6.1% | 60 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $58,520 | $60,420 | $28 | +5.7% | 60 |
| 14 | Kentucky | $58,200 | $58,220 | $28 | +5.1% | 100 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $57,130 | $55,830 | $27 | +3.2% | 40 |
| 16 | Ohio | $56,770 | $58,410 | $27 | +2.5% | 110 |
| 17 | Virginia | $53,000 | $47,120 | $25 | -4.3% | 40 |
| 18 | Texas | $52,890 | $45,820 | $25 | -4.5% | 70 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $50,700 | $39,090 | $24 | -8.4% | 370 |
| 20 | New York | $49,980 | $51,560 | $24 | -9.7% | 210 |
| 21 | Michigan | $48,540 | $50,540 | $23 | -12.3% | 130 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $41,080 | $41,380 | $20 | -25.8% | 50 |
| 23 | Florida | $34,680 | $28,090 | $17 | -37.4% | 470 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 16 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette, LA | $75,340 | $66,710 | 30 |
| 2 | Upper East Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $74,730 | $73,310 | 40 |
| 3 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $74,480 | $73,220 | 30 |
| 4 | Upper Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area | $74,180 | $66,490 | 30 |
| 5 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $73,110 | $76,220 | 120 |
| 6 | North Missouri nonmetropolitan area | $72,910 | $70,220 | 30 |
| 7 | Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | $72,010 | $69,780 | 30 |
| 8 | Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $70,890 | $67,900 | 50 |
| 9 | West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | $70,890 | $68,110 | 40 |
| 10 | Baton Rouge, LA | $69,970 | $63,860 | 40 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing bridge and lock tenderss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $69,200 | $68,240 | 1,210 |
| 2 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $69,200 | $68,240 | 1,210 |
| 3 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $60,820 | $58,920 | 2,440 |
| 4 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $60,820 | $58,920 | 2,440 |
| 5 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $60,820 | $58,920 | 2,440 |
| 6 | Rail Transportation | $57,730 | $61,390 | 200 |
| 7 | Rail Transportation | $57,730 | $61,390 | 200 |
| 8 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $57,700 | $55,370 | 3,040 |
| 9 | Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $48,950 | $51,640 | 700 |
| 10 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $48,950 | $51,640 | 700 |
| 11 | State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $43,100 | $47,450 | 530 |
| 12 | State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $43,100 | $47,450 | 530 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in the U.S.?
The median bridge and lock tenders salary in the United States is $57,700 per year (mean $55,370), and about 80% earn between $28,090 and $75,360.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make per hour?
Roughly $27 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $55,370 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays bridge and lock tenders the most?
Washington has the highest average pay for bridge and lock tenders at $76,240 per year (median $78,020).
What is the job outlook for bridge and lock tenders?
Employment is projected to change -3.3% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 300 openings per year.