Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In Pennsylvania, bridge and lock tenders earn $68,810 at the median, or about $33.08 an hour. The range runs from $62K at the entry level to $73K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $72,454 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 29.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $69K get you in Pennsylvania?
About bridge and lock tenders
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sits well above the national pay line for bridge and lock tenders, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $58K. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $62K. Mid-career wages sit at $69K. Top earners bring in $73K or more, a $11K spread from bottom to top.
Bridge and Lock Tenders salary by metro in Pennsylvania
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | $69K | +0% | 110 |
Compare to other states
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $69K, rent takes 29.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bridge and lock tenders in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $62K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,694/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $69K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
Pennsylvania pays $69K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $68,810 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,570, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $72,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $69K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,557/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 29.6% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $72,454 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.