Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In Ohio, bridge and lock tenders earn $58,410 at the median, or about $28.08 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $63,871 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,188/month, about 31% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Ohio?
About bridge and lock tenders
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What this looks like in Ohio
Bridge and lock tenders pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $58K locally vs. $58K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,188/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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, Ohio
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $28K spread from bottom to top.
Bridge and Lock Tenders salary by metro in Ohio
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $45K | -24% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track bridge and lock tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 29.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bridge and lock tenders in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,670/month. At HUD’s $1,188/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 Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $58K locally vs. $58K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
Ohio pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in Ohio?
The median is $58,410 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,500, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $72,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,005/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 29.7% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $63,871 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.