Bridge and Lock Tenders salary in Illinois
Bridge and Lock Tenders in Illinois earn a median of $70,890 a year ($34.08 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $55,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,390 for the top 10%. That is 23% higher than the national median of $57,700. Illinois ranks 6th of 23 states for bridge and lock tenders pay. There are 0.05 bridge and lock tenders per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $71,700, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for bridge and lock tenders in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $55,190 | $26.53 |
| 25th percentile | $64,640 | $31.08 |
| Median | $70,890 | $34.08 |
| 75th percentile | $74,110 | $35.63 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $86,390 | $41.54 |
| Average (mean) | $71,700 | $34.47 |
Half of bridge and lock tenders earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $5,907.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,953.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,726.54 |
| Weekly | $1,363.27 |
| Hourly | $34.08 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Bridge and Lock Tenders salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $74,480 | 30 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $73,110 | 120 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | $70,890 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for bridge and lock tenders
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $78,020 |
| Mississippi | $74,730 |
| Minnesota | $74,420 |
| Missouri | $74,110 |
| California | $72,390 |
| Illinois | $70,890 |
| Iowa | $70,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $68,810 |
| Alabama | $66,830 |
| West Virginia | $65,460 |
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Attendant | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $36,010 | $17.31 |
| Passenger Attendant | $38,930 | $18.72 |
| Transportation Inspector | $47,990 | $23.07 |
| Aircraft Service Attendant | $39,070 | $18.78 |
| Transportation Workers, All Other | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| Traffic Technician | $70,970 | $34.12 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,680 | $18.11 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,420 | $31.45 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,090 | $17.35 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-6011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bridge and lock tenders make in Illinois?
The median salary for bridge and lock tenders in Illinois is $70,890 a year, or $34.08 an hour. Pay ranges from $55,190 for the lowest-paid 10% to $86,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid bridge and lock tenders make in Illinois?
The top 10% of bridge and lock tenders in Illinois earn at least $86,390 a year. The top 25% earn $74,110 or more.
What is the starting pay for bridge and lock tenders in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $55,190 a year, and a quarter of bridge and lock tenders earn $64,640 or less.
How many bridge and lock tenders work in Illinois?
About 290 bridge and lock tenders are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.