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Bridge and Lock Tenders

Typical education: High school diplomaLower pressure

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $57,700 Median per year · $27.74/hr Most earn $28,090–$75,360

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Raise drawbridges and observe passage of water traffic or lower drawbridges and raise automobile gates.
  • Observe approaching vessels to determine size and speed, and listen for whistle signals indicating desire to pass.
  • Inspect canal and bridge equipment, and areas, such as roadbeds, for damage or defects, reporting problems to supervisors as necessary.
  • Check that bridges are clear of vehicles and pedestrians prior to opening.
  • Prepare accident reports.
  • Direct movements of vessels in locks or bridge areas, using signals, telecommunication equipment, or loudspeakers.

Job outlook

United States
2% fewer jobs by 2035, declining · about 300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Federal government, excluding postal service41.0%
  • Local government, excluding education and hospitals22.9%
  • State government, excluding education and hospitals18.2%
  • Support activities for road transportation10.7%
  • Rail transportation5.2%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 3 months

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 3 monthsEntry-level

Bridge and Lock Tender is an entry-level job. You can usually start with a high school diploma and a short on-the-job training period of about 1 to 3 months.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school with solid math, science, and reliable habits, since the job needs careful attention to signals, schedules, and safety rules.

  2. Bridge and Lock Tender

    1-3 months of on-the-job training, then ongoing work

    You learn to run bridge or lock controls, follow waterway traffic signals, and keep the equipment safe under an experienced tender's guidance.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Bridge Tender

    3-5 years of experience first

    Experienced tenders may take on supervising other operators and checking that equipment and procedures are followed, which the career description notes can be part of this work. Employers' requirements vary, so check local job postings.

  2. Captain, Mate, or Pilot of Water Vessels

    2-4 years of related experience of experience first

    Some people move onto boats and ships, which usually requires a certificate or apprenticeship and more experience on the water.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and physical scienceAlgebra, geometry, and physics help you understand how bridges, gates, and locks work and how water levels and timing affect them.
  • Get a part-time or summer jobAny job that teaches responsibility, following procedures, and working on a schedule prepares you for shift work and safety checks.
  • Get CPR and first aid certifiedMany public and waterfront jobs value basic emergency skills, and these courses are often offered by community groups or the Red Cross.
  • Spend time on or near the waterVolunteering at a local boat club, sailing program, or waterfront park builds familiarity with boats and water safety.

In college

  • Take basic mechanical or electrical coursesKnowing how motors, hydraulics, and control panels work helps you maintain and troubleshoot lock and bridge equipment.
  • Build a clean work recordReliable attendance and good safety habits at a campus or part-time job are the kinds of things public employers look for.
  • Get a boating or water safety certificationLocal boating safety courses, often run by community organizations or marine groups, show you understand waterway rules.
  • Learn to communicate clearlyTenders work with boat crews, road traffic, and supervisors, so clear radio and written communication matters.

Tips for getting started

  • Look up job postings from city, county, state, and port or transportation agencies, since many bridge and lock operators work for public employers. Read each posting's requirements carefully.
  • Get comfortable around water and boats. Summer or part-time work at a marina, boat dock, or lifeguarding can show employers you are safe and dependable.
  • Ask a local bridge or lock operator, if you can reach one, what a typical shift looks like and what they wish they had known when they started.

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

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