Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In Florida, bridge and lock tenders earn $28,090 at the median, or about $13.51 an hour. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $28,495 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 79.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Florida. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $28K get you in Florida?
About bridge and lock tenders
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Florida
Pay for bridge and lock tenders in Florida runs about 51% below the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 80.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) 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 tenderss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $28K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $24K 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 Florida numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $28K, rent takes 80.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/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 Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,622/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 102% 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 Florida?
Local pay runs 51% below the national median — $28K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
Florida pays $28K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -51%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $28K — below the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in Florida?
The median is $28,090 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,040, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $50,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $28K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,051/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 80.8% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $28,495 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.