Bridge and Lock Tenders pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,160 a year or less, while the top 10% make $88,790 or more. The middle half of bridge and lock tenders in Chicago earn between $64,640 and $86,390.
- $59K10th
- $65K25th
- $73KMedian
- $86K75th
- $89K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $76,220 | $6,352 | $36.64 |
| Median | $73,110 | $6,092 | $35.15 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,640 | $5,387 | $31.08 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $86,390 | $7,199 | $41.53 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Bridge and Lock Tenders pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Bridge and lock tenders in Chicago earn 6% more than the Illinois average ($71,700) and 38% more than the U.S. average ($55,370). At the median the gap is +27% against the U.S. median of $57,700.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $76,220 | $73,110 | $59,160 | $88,790 | 120 |
| Illinois | $71,700 | $70,890 | $55,190 | $86,390 | 290 |
| United States | $55,370 | $57,700 | $28,090 | $75,360 | 3,040 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Bridge and Lock Tenders salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $76,220, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $58,819 a year, or $4,902 a month and $2,262 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $60,194 | $5,016 |
| Working in IL | $58,819 | $4,902 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for bridge and lock tenders? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $76,220 buys what about $73,575 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Bridge and Lock Tenders salary in nearby metro areas
- Davenport, IA$67,900
- Detroit, MI$38,090
- St. Louis, MO$73,220
- Cleveland, OH$45,060
- Pittsburgh, PA$68,350
- New York, NY$55,490
Highest-paying cities for bridge and lock tenders
Chicago, IL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($76,220).
- Chicago, IL$76,220
- St. Louis, MO$73,220
- Pittsburgh, PA$68,350
- Davenport, IA$67,900
- Lafayette, LA$66,710
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Bridge and Lock Tenders salary in Chicago: questions
How much do bridge and lock tenders make an hour in Chicago?
$36.64 an hour on average, and $35.15 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level bridge and lock tenders salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $59,160 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,640, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the bridge and lock tenders take-home pay in Chicago?
About $58,819 a year ($4,902 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $76,220.
Do bridge and lock tenders earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% more than the U.S. average for this job ($55,370).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-6011; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.39, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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