53
Bridge and Lock Tenders is a notable career in the 53 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Bridge and Lock Tenders against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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13
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13
| soc | 53-6011 |
| title | Bridge and Lock Tenders |
| onet code | 53-6011.00 |
| 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. |
| job zone | 2 |
| major group | 53 |
| tot emp | 2,720 |
| a mean | 56,520 |
| a median | 58,490 |
| a pct10 | 32,690 |
| a pct25 | 43,700 |
| a pct75 | 69,530 |
| a pct90 | 74,400 |
| h mean | 27 |
| h median | 28 |
The day-to-day work of a bridge and lock tenders typically centers on control machinery to open and close canal locks and dams, railroad or highway drawbridges, or horizontally or vertically adjustable bridges. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Monitoring, Critical Thinking, and Coordination. Across the top 8 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.03 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working bridge and lock tenders, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (65.0%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 0% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Washington at $75,920 and lowest in North Carolina at $33,970 — a 2.2× spread. The top five states (Washington, Mississippi, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa) average $72,992. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $75,920 | $72,820 | $66,370 | $82,040 | 50 |
| Mississippi | $73,240 | $62,460 | $29,780 | $73,240 | 50 |
| Minnesota | $72,960 | $69,040 | $53,640 | $77,710 | 70 |
| Missouri | $72,700 | $68,730 | $58,390 | $76,880 | 40 |
| Iowa | $70,140 | $68,780 | $59,260 | $74,400 | 60 |
| Illinois | $69,530 | $73,490 | $56,890 | $84,860 | 290 |
| Alabama | $68,000 | $67,390 | $58,220 | $73,240 | 60 |
| Pennsylvania | $67,500 | $66,440 | $54,700 | $71,490 | 120 |
| West Virginia | $65,460 | $65,660 | $58,410 | $69,620 | 60 |
| Tennessee | $65,060 | $62,650 | $58,220 | $65,060 | 40 |
| Kentucky | $60,780 | $59,860 | $46,850 | $79,090 | 90 |
| Texas | $59,300 | $55,940 | $30,990 | $74,240 | 70 |
| California | $57,750 | $64,950 | $47,570 | $84,620 | 70 |
| Michigan | $56,260 | $59,260 | $45,830 | $74,860 | 60 |
| Ohio | $56,080 | $55,590 | $43,700 | $71,360 | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $55,530 | $58,820 | $49,080 | $77,710 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $53,310 | $52,170 | $42,960 | $60,290 | 40 |
| New York | $51,340 | $49,340 | $31,200 | $69,890 | 220 |
| Indiana | $47,670 | $54,750 | $47,560 | $71,610 | 90 |
| Florida | $42,470 | $43,300 | $29,680 | $56,410 | 180 |
| Louisiana | $35,870 | $44,830 | $24,930 | $76,650 | 350 |
| North Carolina | $33,970 | $35,740 | $33,400 | $43,250 | — |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for bridge and lock tenders. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Bridge Crew Member or Bridge Leverman frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Bridge and Lock Tenders compares to others in the 53 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Bridge and Lock Tenders
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.
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