Bridge and Lock Tenders Salary
In West Virginia, bridge and lock tenders earn $65,460 at the median, or about $31.47 an hour. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $73,526 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of West Virginia. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $65K get you in West Virginia?
About bridge and lock tenders
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What this looks like in West Virginia
West Virginia sits well above the national pay line for bridge and lock tenders, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $58K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,008/month, 23.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, West Virginia offers a genuinely strong financial position for bridge and lock tenderss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level bridge and lock tenders (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $9K 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 West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a bridge and lock tender afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 23.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for bridge and lock tenders in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new bridge and lock tenders typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,646/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is bridge and lock tender a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $65K here vs. $58K nationally.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for bridge and lock tenders?
West Virginia pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $58K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do bridge and lock tenders make in West Virginia?
The median is $65,460 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,760, and experienced bridge and lock tenders can clear $69,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,331/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 23.3% 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 West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (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 $73,526 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.