Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In Kentucky, bridge and lock tenders earn $58,220 at the median, or about $27.99 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $64,524 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 29% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Kentucky. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $58K get you in Kentucky?
About bridge and lock tenders
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Bridge and lock tenders pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $58K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $72K 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 Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 28.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bridge and lock tenders in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,845/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $58K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
Kentucky pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in Kentucky?
The median is $58,220 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,410, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $71,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,874/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 28.7% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $64,524 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.