Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In Texas, bridge and lock tenders earn $45,820 at the median, or about $22.03 an hour. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $50,082 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,415/month, about 42.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Texas. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $46K get you in Texas?
About bridge and lock tenders
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What this looks like in Texas
Pay for bridge and lock tenders in Texas runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $58K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,415/month, which is 43.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $42K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track bridge and lock tenders salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 43.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,911/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 74% 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 Texas?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $46K here vs. $58K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Texas compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
Texas pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in Texas?
The median is $45,820 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,850, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $74,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,238/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 43.7% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $50,082 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.