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Bridge and Lock Tender

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What Do Bridge and Lock Tender Do?

Bridge & Lock Tender Example 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.

Daily Life Of a Bridge & Lock Tender

  • Record names, types, and destinations of vessels passing through bridge openings or locks, and numbers of trains or vehicles crossing bridges.
  • Direct movements of vessels in locks or bridge areas, using signals, telecommunication equipment, or loudspeakers.
  • Perform maintenance duties such as sweeping, painting, and yard work to keep facilities clean and in order.
  • Stop automobile and pedestrian traffic on bridges, and lower automobile gates prior to moving bridges.
  • Prepare accident reports.
  • Maintain and guard stations in bridges to check waterways for boat traffic.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Bridge & Lock Tender?

When polled, Bridge and Lock Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

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.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

  • Dam Tender Assistant
  • Drawbridge Tender
  • Bridge Operator, Slip
  • Lighthouse Keeper
  • Lock Master

Job Demand for Bridge and Lock Tenders

In the United States, there were 3,700 jobs for Bridge and Lock Tender in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 2.7% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 100 new jobs for Bridge and Lock Tender by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 400 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Bridge & Lock Tender are Oregon, Kentucky, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in West Virginia, Washington, or Texas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Do Bridge and Lock Tenders Make A Lot Of Money?

Bridge and Lock Tenders make between $24,490 and $63,620 a year.

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Bridge and Lock Tenders who work in Minnesota, Illinois, or Iowa, make the highest salaries.

How much do Bridge and Lock Tenders make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Arkansas $48,410
California $51,520
Florida $34,090
Illinois $62,830
Indiana $54,410
Iowa $55,230
Kentucky $51,470
Louisiana $34,420
Maryland $43,420
Massachusetts $53,430
Michigan $43,560
Minnesota $59,860
Mississippi $43,070
Missouri $55,960
New Jersey $49,880
New York $48,250
Ohio $50,890
Pennsylvania $54,010
South Carolina $46,580
Tennessee $52,410
Texas $35,330
West Virginia $54,680
Wisconsin $49,890

Tools & Technologies Used by Bridge and Lock Tenders

Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Bridge and Lock Tenders may use on a daily basis:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Email software
  • Word processing software
  • Oracle PeopleSoft
  • SAP software
  • Virtual private networking VPN software

How to Become a Bridge & Lock Tender

Education needed to be a Bridge and Lock Tender:

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What work experience do I need to become a Bridge & Lock Tender?

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Who Employs Bridge and Lock Tenders?

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The table below shows the approximate number of Bridge and Lock Tenders employed by various industries.

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References:

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More about our data sources and methodologies.

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