Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL, bridge and lock tenders earn $70,890 at the median, or about $34.08 an hour. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.08), which stretches that salary to about $79,580 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,143/month, or 24.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $71K get you in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Davenport-Moline-Rock Island’s Regional Price Parity (89.08). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About bridge and lock tenders
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What this looks like in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island sits well above the national pay line for bridge and lock tenders, local pay runs about 23% higher than the U.S. median of $58K. Rent runs $1,143/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.08 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for bridge and lock tenders in metros near Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $73K | $71K |
| St. Louis | $74K | $78K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $19K spread from bottom to top.
Bridge and Lock Tenders pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Bridge and Lock Tenders salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $78K | +35% | 50 |
| Mississippi | $75K | +30% | 50 |
| Minnesota | $74K | +29% | 60 |
| Missouri | $74K | +28% | 40 |
| California | $72K | +25% | 80 |
| Illinois | $71K | +23% | 290 |
| Iowa | $71K | +23% | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $69K | +19% | 110 |
| Alabama | $67K | +16% | 70 |
| West Virginia | $65K | +13% | 60 |
| Indiana | $61K | +5% | 60 |
| Tennessee | $60K | +5% | 60 |
| Ohio | $58K | +1% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $58K | +1% | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $57K | -1% | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $56K | -3% | 40 |
| New York | $52K | -11% | 210 |
| Michigan | $51K | -12% | 130 |
| Virginia | $47K | -18% | 40 |
| Texas | $46K | -21% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $41K | -28% | 50 |
| Louisiana | $39K | -32% | 370 |
| Florida | $28K | -51% | 470 |
Showing 1–10 of 23 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track bridge and lock tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Davenport-Moline-Rock Island numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 25.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,143/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bridge and lock tenders in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,325/month. At HUD’s $1,143/month FMR, rent would take 34% 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 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $71K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does Davenport-Moline-Rock Island compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.08), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL?
The median is $70,890 a year, that works out to about $34 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,410, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $74,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,554/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,143/month, which eats 25.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a bridge and lock tenders salary go in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island?
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island has a Regional Price Parity of 89.08 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median bridge and lock tenders salary is worth about $79,580 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.