Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In California, bridge and lock tenders earn $72,390 at the median, or about $34.8 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $87K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $68,202 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 52.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of California. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $72K get you in California?
About bridge and lock tenders
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What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for bridge and lock tenders, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,471/month, which is 52.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. The pay premium is real, but so are the offsets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $72K. Top earners bring in $87K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track bridge and lock tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $72K, rent takes 52.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for bridge and lock tenders in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,906/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 85% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is bridge and lock tender a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $72K here vs. $58K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
California pays $72K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in California?
The median is $72,390 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,440, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $86,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $72K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,702/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 52.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a bridge and lock tenders salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bridge and lock tenders salary is worth about $68,202 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do bridge and lock tenders get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.