Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In New Orleans-Metairie, LA, bridge and lock tenders earn $39,110 at the median, or about $18.81 an hour. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $42,235 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,331/month, about 49.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $39K get you in New Orleans-Metairie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New Orleans-Metairie’s Regional Price Parity (92.6). 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
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What this looks like in New Orleans-Metairie
Pay for bridge and lock tenders in New Orleans-Metairie runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,331/month, which is 49.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for bridge and lock tenderss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for bridge and lock tenders in metros near New Orleans-Metairie, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $70K | $77K |
| Lafayette | $75K | $86K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $39K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $48K 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 with published data
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 New Orleans-Metairie numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Orleans-Metairie?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $39K, rent takes 49.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,331/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/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 New Orleans-Metairie?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,003/month. At HUD’s $1,331/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $39K here vs. $58K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does New Orleans-Metairie compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
New Orleans-Metairie pays $39K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median is $39,110 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,390, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $81,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $39K enough to live in New Orleans-Metairie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,692/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 49.4% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
New Orleans-Metairie has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $42,235 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.