Home / Career Explorer / Transportation

Bridge and Lock Tenders

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$58,490	400	0.5%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$58,490

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

400

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

0.5%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year

Detailed Work Activities

Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
Record operational details of travel.
Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
Direct vehicle traffic.
Prepare accident or incident reports.
Monitor vehicle movement or location.
Monitor traffic signals.
Monitor vehicle movement or location.
Monitor vehicle movement or location.
Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.
Clean machinery or equipment.
Record operational details of travel.
Arrange maintenance activities.
Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.
Clean facilities or work areas.
Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
Control pumps or pumping equipment.
Direct vehicle traffic.
Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
Monitor vehicle movement or location.
Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
Secure watercraft to docks, wharves or other vessels.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

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.
Prepare accident reports.
Perform maintenance duties, such as sweeping, painting, and yard work to keep facilities clean and in order.
Turn valves to increase or decrease water levels in locks.
Check that bridges are clear of vehicles and pedestrians prior to opening.
Stop automobile and pedestrian traffic on bridges, and lower automobile gates prior to moving bridges.
Raise drawbridges and observe passage of water traffic or lower drawbridges and raise automobile gates.
Maintain and guard stations in bridges to check waterways for boat traffic.
Clean and lubricate equipment, and make minor repairs and adjustments.
Inspect canal and bridge equipment, and areas, such as roadbeds, for damage or defects, reporting problems to supervisors as necessary.
Attach ropes or cable lines to bitts on lock decks or wharfs to secure vessels.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 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. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Session has been expired