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Bridge and Lock Tenders

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 53-6011.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$57,699

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
−0.4%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

80% of the workforce

Employment
4.46K jobs

Growing to 4.45K by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What bridge and lock tenders do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Control machinery to open and close canal locks and dams, railroad or highway drawbridges, or horizontally or vertically adjustable bridges.
  • Direct movements of vessels in locks or bridge areas, using signals, telecommunication equipment, or loudspeakers.
  • Observe position and progress of vessels to ensure best use of lock spaces or bridge opening spaces.
  • Record names, types, and destinations of vessels passing through bridge openings or locks, and numbers of trains or vehicles crossing bridges.
  • Observe approaching vessels to determine size and speed, and listen for whistle signals indicating desire to pass.
  • Move levers to activate traffic signals, navigation lights, and alarms.
  • Write and submit maintenance work requisitions.
  • Log data, such as water levels and weather conditions.
  • Prepare accident reports.
  • Perform maintenance duties, such as sweeping, painting, and yard work to keep facilities clean and in order.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$28,101
25th percentile
$38,646
50th percentile
$57,699
75th percentile
$69,618
90th percentile
$75,358

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $57,699 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

−0.4%projected to decline
20254,464 jobs
2035 projected4,448 jobs

16 fewer positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
80%
Certificate
20%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Influencing Without Authority
  • Visual Acuity
  • Lifting Ability
  • Machinery
  • Operation Maintenance
  • Industrial Equipment
  • Public Works
  • Housekeeping
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Power Tool Operation
  • Writing Systems
  • Electrical Equipment
  • Heavy Equipment
  • Loading And Unloading
  • Safety Procedures
  • Snow Removal
  • Data Entry
  • Facility Repair And Maintenance
  • Forklift Truck
  • Machine Operation

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Persuasion
Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Negotiation
Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01Bridge Tenders60 postings
  2. 02Dock Operators38 postings
  3. 03Bridge Interns30 postings
  4. 04Bridge Engineers22 postings
  5. 05Operators22 postings
  6. 06Scoreboard Operators4 postings
  7. 074th/5th Grade Teachers3 postings
  8. 08Basketball Managers3 postings
  9. 09Federal Agents3 postings
  10. 10Directors of Football Operations2 postings
  11. 11Field Coordinators2 postings
  12. 12Game Operators2 postings
  13. 13High School Cooks2 postings
  14. 14Sawyers2 postings
  15. 15Scorekeepers2 postings
  16. 16Set Up Operators2 postings
  17. 17Upper Block Clerks2 postings
  18. 18Baler Operators1 postings
  19. 19Beach Managers1 postings
  20. 20Bridge Workers1 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Velociti Services41 postings
  2. 02Fdi Services37 postings
  3. 03Mueller Industries5 postings
  4. 04Cerro Flow Products4 postings
  5. 05Kansas City Southern4 postings
  6. 06Amtrak3 postings
  7. 07Doddridge County High School3 postings
  8. 08Mueller Copper Tube3 postings
  9. 09New York City3 postings
  10. 10State Of West Virginia3 postings
  11. 11United States Department of Transportation3 postings
  12. 12Aerotek2 postings
  13. 13BNSF Railway2 postings
  14. 14Carpenter Agency2 postings
  15. 15City Of Chesapeake2 postings
  16. 16City of Billings2 postings
  17. 17City of New York2 postings
  18. 18County Of Door2 postings
  19. 19Cpt2 postings
  20. 20Doddridge County Middle School2 postings

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