Other Transportation Workers

How to become a Bridge and Lock Tender

Official title: Bridge and Lock Tenders

Also called: Bridge Operator, Bridge Tender, Lock Tender

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.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $57,700 a year The middle half earn $38,640 to $69,620.
About 3,100 people work in this job now, and about 3,100 are projected by 2035. (-2.3%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How much does a Bridge and Lock Tender earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $57,700 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $38,640 to $69,620.

Is a Bridge and Lock Tender a growing career in the US?

Employment is projected to fall 2% by 2035, from about 3,100 to about 3,100 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Bridge and Lock Tender?

Not always. 31% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Bridge and Lock Tender?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

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.