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Salary comparison

Bridge and Lock Tenders vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?

Bridge and Lock Tenders out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by $17K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Bridge and Lock Tenders land at $57,700 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand at $40,240. The education gap is real: bridge and lock tender programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Bridge and Lock Tenders is Washington ($78,020); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand it's Minnesota ($46,280).

Bridge and Lock Tenders
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Median salary
$57,700
$40,240
Hourly rate
$27.74/hr
$19.35/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$28,090
$31,270
Senior level (90th %)
$75,360
$55,140
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
3,040
2,950,280
Job growth (10-year)
-3.3%
1.5%
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
Washington
Minnesota

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Bridge and Lock Tenders median pay.

State
Bridge and Lock Tenders
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Washington
$78,020
$46,190
Minnesota
$74,420
$46,280
Missouri
$74,110
$39,080
California
$72,390
$44,710
Iowa
$70,890
$43,490
Illinois
$70,890
$40,550
Pennsylvania
$68,810
$42,480
Indiana
$60,780
$41,340
Ohio
$58,410
$39,460
Kentucky
$58,220
$42,770
Wisconsin
$57,350
$44,610
Massachusetts
$55,830
$44,920
New York
$51,560
$44,630
Michigan
$50,540
$38,860
Virginia
$47,120
$39,380

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Bridge and Lock Tenders or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Bridge and Lock Tenders earn more nationally. The median is $57,700 for Bridge and Lock Tenders versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, a difference of $17K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Bridge and Lock Tenders or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand has the better 10-year outlook at 1.5% projected growth, compared to -3.3% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Bridge and Lock Tenders or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Bridge and Lock Tenders typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Bridge and Lock Tenders get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Bridge and Lock Tenders at $78,020/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Bridge and Lock Tenders vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Bridge and Lock Tenders earn $78,020 vs. $46,190 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Bridge and Lock Tenders salary breakdownView →Full Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary breakdownView →Best cities for Bridge and Lock Tenders by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by take-home payExplore →How to become a bridge and lock tendersGuide →How to become a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, handGuide →