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Bridge and Lock Tenders
Transportation and Material Moving · SOC 53-6011
0.0% AI Exposure — Low
$57,700
Median Annual Salary
Average
O*NET Outlook
400
Proj. Annual Openings
3,040
Employment (OEWS 2025)
100/100
AI Resiliency Score
AI exposure from the Anthropic Economic Index (2025); salary from BLS; skills from O*NET. See /sources.
AI Exposure Analysis
AI Exposure0.0%
AI Resiliency100/100
Exposure BandLow
Sector Avg. Exposure0.8%
Top Skills
1.Monitoring
2.Active Listening
3.Speaking
4.Critical Thinking
5.Coordination
O*NET occupation profile
What this work involves
Operate and tend bridges, canal locks, and lighthouses to permit marine passage on inland waterways, near shores, and at danger points in waterway passages. May supervise such operations. Includes drawbridge operators, lock operators, and slip bridge operators.
Common titles: Bridge Operator, Bridge Tender, Lock Tender
Representative Tasks
- •Control machinery to open and close canal locks and dams, railroad or highway drawbridges, or horizontally or vertically adjustable bridges.
- •Direct movements of vessels in locks or bridge areas, using signals, telecommunication equipment, or loudspeakers.
- •Observe position and progress of vessels to ensure best use of lock spaces or bridge opening spaces.
- •Record names, types, and destinations of vessels passing through bridge openings or locks, and numbers of trains or vehicles crossing bridges.
- •Observe approaching vessels to determine size and speed, and listen for whistle signals indicating desire to pass.
Detailed Work Activities
- •Control pumps or pumping equipment.
- •Control equipment that regulates vehicle traffic.
- •Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
- •Monitor vehicle movement or location.
- •Direct vehicle traffic.
Tools & Technologies
Microsoft Excel · hotMicrosoft Office software · hotMicrosoft Outlook · hotOracle PeopleSoft · hotSAP software · hotEmail softwareVirtual private networking VPN software
Employment Projections & AI Exposure
15
Occupations Shown
0.8%
Avg AI Exposure
6
Bright Outlook
Sector Comparison
| Metric | This Career | Sector Average |
|---|---|---|
| AI Exposure | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| Outlook | Average | 24% Bright |
| Median Salary | $57,700 | N/A |
| AI Resiliency | 100/100 | N/A |