Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In Iowa, bridge and lock tenders earn $70,890 at the median, or about $34.08 an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $79,777 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 22.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $71K get you in Iowa?
About bridge and lock tenders
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa 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. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 23.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Iowa offers a genuinely strong financial position for bridge and lock tenderss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $71K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Bridge and Lock Tenders salary by metro in Iowa
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | $71K | +0% | 50 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $71K, rent takes 23.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bridge and lock tenders in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,802/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is bridge and lock tender a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay is 23% above the national median — $71K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
Iowa pays $71K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in Iowa?
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 $63,360, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $74,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $71K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,554/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 23.4% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $79,777 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.