Bridge and Lock Tenders: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Bridge and Lock Tenders

Bridge and Lock Tenders 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.

Salary
$49610
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth
Low

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Bridge and Lock Tenders 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.

  • Check that bridges are clear of vehicles and pedestrians prior to opening.
  • Move levers to activate traffic signals, navigation lights, and alarms.
  • Turn valves to increase or decrease water levels in locks.
  • Stop automobile and pedestrian traffic on bridges, and lower automobile gates prior to moving bridges.
Read more about what does a Bridge and Lock Tender really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$47660 per year

Average hourly wage
$23 per hour


Bridge and Lock Tenders with little to no experience tend to make between $24490 and $36210 while the more experienced ones can earn over $57920 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
IL $30 $62,830
MN $29 $59,860
MO $27 $55,960
IA $27 $55,230
WV $26 $54,680

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Bridge and Lock Tender is to move to a higher paying state like IL. Right now, the highest paying states for Bridge and Lock Tenders are IL, MN, MO, IA and WV.

However, a higher pay at IL doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at IL might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Bridge and Lock Tender is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
No degree required

We asked other Bridge and Lock Tenders what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had less than a High School Diploma followed by a High School Diploma.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

NA
Read more about how to become a Bridge and Lock Tender and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Bridge and Lock Tender.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes practical and hands-on work
Suitable for people who values relationships between co-workers and customers and wants to work in a friendly non-competitive environment
This career is perfect for people who love to work both indoors and outdoors.
It is very easy to get into this career. Little or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to work with designs
Salary is below average
Demand for this career is not growing

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
61%

Is this job meaningful
47%


61% of Bridge and Lock Tenders said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Builders and The Organizers

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.



Learn more about Bridge and Lock Tenders

Summary (You are here)
Job Description
Salary
Requirements
Quiz

Related career information

Bridge and Lock Tenders job description, Bridge and Lock Tenders salary, Bridge and Lock Tenders information, what is the job of a Bridge and Lock Tender like, pros and cons about Bridge and Lock Tenders, colleges and universities for Bridge and Lock Tenders, is Bridge and Lock Tenders the right career for me, careers in Transportation

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