Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In Lafayette, LA, bridge and lock tenders earn $75,340 at the median, or about $36.22 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.21), which stretches that salary to about $86,389 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,019/month, or 20.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $75K get you in Lafayette?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lafayette’s Regional Price Parity (87.21). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Lafayette
Lafayette sits well above the national pay line for bridge and lock tenders, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $58K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,019/month, 20.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.21 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Lafayette offers a genuinely strong financial position for bridge and lock tenderss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for bridge and lock tenders in metros near Lafayette, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $39K | $42K |
| Baton Rouge | $70K | $77K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lafayette, LA
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $42K 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
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 quarterly. We'll email you when Lafayette numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lafayette?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 20.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,019/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bridge and lock tenders in Lafayette?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,318/month. At HUD’s $1,019/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 Lafayette?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $75K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does Lafayette compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
Lafayette pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in Lafayette, LA?
The median is $75,340 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,640, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $81,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Lafayette?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,897/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,019/month, which eats 20.8% 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 Lafayette?
Lafayette has a Regional Price Parity of 87.21 (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 $86,389 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.