Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In New York, bridge and lock tenders earn $51,560 at the median, or about $24.79 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $71K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $52,500 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,917/month, about 56.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $52K get you in New York?
About bridge and lock tenders
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What this looks like in New York
Pay for bridge and lock tenders in New York runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,917/month, which is 55.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for bridge and lock tenderss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $52K. Top earners bring in $71K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Bridge and Lock Tenders salary by metro in New York
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $55K | +6% | 120 |
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $52K, rent takes 55.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,934/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 99% 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 York?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $52K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does New York compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
New York pays $52K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — below the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in New York?
The median is $51,560 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,240, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $71,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $52K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,436/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 55.8% 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 New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $52,500 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.