53-6011.00

Bridge and Lock Tenders

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.

9.3OUT OF 10SAFEHIGH RISK
High Risk

The bots have your desk already — start pivoting

Top 3% most at-risk occupations we track

Frey & Osborne (2013) estimated 97% probability of automation for this role
paper →
Top 3%
most at-risk
28
jobs riskier than this
-3.3%
projected growth

Disruption Vector

Disruption Type

Physical Robots

Physical robotics, autonomous machines, and automated equipment are the main threat to the physical tasks in this occupation.

AI navigation assistance and automated lock and bridge control systems are being developed, but bridge and lock tender operations in the US remain under human control due to safety requirements and the relatively small scale of the role making automation investment marginal. The combination of physical operations, vessel traffic management, and emergency response in a highly variable environment makes full automation expensive to justify. Through 2027 this role faces minimal AI displacement; the US waterway system modernization is slow and human operators remain standard.

Disrupted byBoston DynamicsAmazon RoboticsTesla Optimus

Salary & Job Outlook

Median Annual Pay
$58,490
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
10-Year Job Growth
-3.3%
Little or no change
Education Required
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2 / 5

AI Risk Timeline

9.3
10.0
10.0
10.0
Today
5 Years
10 Years
20 Years

Projection model: Based on current AI capability growth rates. High-risk occupations are projected to see compounding automation pressure, while human-centric roles show slower risk accumulation. These are statistical projections, not guarantees.

Skills Analysis — AI Vulnerability

AI can replicate (0)
AI-resistant (1)
Mixed
Active Listening65%
Speaking60%
Coordination62%
Monitoring58%
Time Management55%

Career Pivot Paths

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Bridge and Lock Tenders

9.3
/ 10
High Risk
93% automation risk

"Your job is so automatable, AI finished this analysis before you loaded the page."

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BRIDGE AND LOCK TENDERS
9.3

/ 10

HIGH RISK

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You're more at risk than a Security Management Specialists (score: 3.4). Maybe it's time to rethink.

This analysis is for informational purposes only and is based on statistical models and academic research. It does not constitute career advice and is not a guarantee of future employment outcomes. AI impact varies significantly by employer, region, and individual circumstances. Learn about our methodology →