Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In Illinois, 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 $86K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $75,535 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 30.2% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Illinois. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in Illinois?
About bridge and lock tenders
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What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois 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 $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Bridge and Lock Tenders salary by metro in Illinois
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $73K | +3% | 120 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 30.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/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 Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,311/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Illinois?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $71K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
Illinois pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $76K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in Illinois?
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 $55,190, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $86,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,562/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 30.8% 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 Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (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 $75,535 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.