Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI, bridge and lock tenders earn $35,000 at the median, or about $16.83 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 100.3), that's roughly $34,895 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,411/month, about 59.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $35K actually covers in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Detroit-Warren-Dearborn’s Regional Price Parity (100.3). 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn
Pay for bridge and lock tenders in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn runs about 39% below the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,411/month, which is 59.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 100.3) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for bridge and lock tenders.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $35K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $18K 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 annually. We'll email you when Detroit-Warren-Dearborn numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $35K, rent takes 59.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,411/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $700/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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,213/month. At HUD’s $1,411/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
Local pay runs 39% below the national median — $35K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does Detroit-Warren-Dearborn compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn pays $35K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 100.3), the purchasing-power equivalent is $35K — below the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI?
The median is $35,000 a year, that works out to about $17 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,210, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $50,540. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $35K enough to live in Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,389/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,411/month, which eats 59.1% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn?
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn has a Regional Price Parity of 100.3 (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 $34,895 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.