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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.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,510 | 3.2 % | $22.44 | $46,680 | 1.1 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $12.22 | $17.11 | $23.60 | $26.96 | $29.68 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $25,420 | $35,590 | $49,090 | $56,070 | $61,740 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 1,140 | 0.06 | $25.49 | $53,030 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 900 | 0.02 | $20.24 | $42,100 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 740 | 0.03 | $20.29 | $42,210 |
| Rail Transportation | 330 | 0.15 | $25.11 | $52,230 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rail Transportation | 330 | 0.15 | $25.11 | $52,230 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 1,140 | 0.06 | $25.49 | $53,030 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 740 | 0.03 | $20.29 | $42,210 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 900 | 0.02 | $20.24 | $42,100 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 1,140 | 0.06 | $25.49 | $53,030 |
| Rail Transportation | 330 | 0.15 | $25.11 | $52,230 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 740 | 0.03 | $20.29 | $42,210 |
| Local Government (OES Designation) | 900 | 0.02 | $20.24 | $42,100 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 560 | 0.29 | 11.75 | $16.49 | $34,310 |
| New York | 340 | 0.04 | 1.48 | $20.02 | $41,650 |
| Illinois | 320 | 0.05 | 2.18 | $29.63 | $61,630 |
| New Jersey | 240 | 0.06 | 2.43 | $24.76 | $51,490 |
| Wisconsin | 210 | 0.07 | 2.93 | $22.82 | $47,470 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 560 | 0.29 | 11.75 | $16.49 | $34,310 |
| West Virginia | 70 | 0.10 | 3.90 | $24.79 | $51,570 |
| Wisconsin | 210 | 0.07 | 2.93 | $22.82 | $47,470 |
| New Jersey | 240 | 0.06 | 2.43 | $24.76 | $51,490 |
| Mississippi | 60 | 0.06 | 2.23 | $21.23 | $44,150 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 320 | 0.05 | 2.18 | $29.63 | $61,630 |
| Minnesota | 70 | 0.03 | 1.05 | $28.24 | $58,750 |
| Iowa | 50 | 0.03 | 1.33 | $26.11 | $54,320 |
| Texas | 60 | 0.01 | 0.22 | $25.96 | $54,010 |
| Tennessee | 60 | 0.02 | 0.90 | $25.86 | $53,800 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 210 | 0.03 | 1.30 | $22.16 | $46,100 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 120 | 0.03 | 1.37 | $33.08 | $68,800 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 120 | 1.28 | 51.27 | $12.72 | $26,450 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 110 | 0.10 | 3.85 | $24.89 | $51,760 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 100 | 0.10 | 3.86 | $26.83 | $55,800 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 100 | 0.18 | 7.18 | $15.09 | $31,390 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 90 | 0.24 | 9.60 | $20.11 | $41,830 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 60 | 0.04 | 1.58 | $25.26 | $52,540 |
| Ocean City, NJ | 50 | 1.36 | 54.56 | $27.25 | $56,670 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 50 | 0.28 | 11.17 | $26.21 | $54,520 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean City, NJ | 50 | 1.36 | 54.56 | $27.25 | $56,670 |
| Houma-Thibodaux, LA | 120 | 1.28 | 51.27 | $12.72 | $26,450 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 40 | 0.35 | 14.07 | $17.86 | $37,160 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 50 | 0.28 | 11.17 | $26.21 | $54,520 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 90 | 0.24 | 9.60 | $20.11 | $41,830 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 100 | 0.18 | 7.18 | $15.09 | $31,390 |
| Lafayette, LA | 30 | 0.15 | 5.94 | $19.87 | $41,320 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 110 | 0.10 | 3.85 | $24.89 | $51,760 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 100 | 0.10 | 3.86 | $26.83 | $55,800 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 60 | 0.04 | 1.58 | $25.26 | $52,540 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, IL Metropolitan Division | 120 | 0.03 | 1.37 | $33.08 | $68,800 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 30 | 0.03 | 1.01 | $30.02 | $62,440 |
| Ocean City, NJ | 50 | 1.36 | 54.56 | $27.25 | $56,670 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 100 | 0.10 | 3.86 | $26.83 | $55,800 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 50 | 0.28 | 11.17 | $26.21 | $54,520 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 60 | 0.04 | 1.58 | $25.26 | $52,540 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 110 | 0.10 | 3.85 | $24.89 | $51,760 |
| Oakland-Hayward-Berkeley, CA Metropolitan Division | 30 | 0.03 | 1.11 | $24.37 | $50,690 |
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 210 | 0.03 | 1.30 | $22.16 | $46,100 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 90 | 0.24 | 9.60 | $20.11 | $41,830 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.00 | 40.12 | $21.45 | $44,610 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.39 | 15.42 | $27.74 | $57,700 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.34 | 13.44 | $22.91 | $47,660 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.25 | 10.12 | $26.59 | $55,310 |
| Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.17 | 6.81 | $26.81 | $55,760 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.00 | 40.12 | $21.45 | $44,610 |
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.39 | 15.42 | $27.74 | $57,700 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.38 | 15.03 | $25.84 | $53,750 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.34 | 13.44 | $22.91 | $47,660 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.25 | 10.12 | $26.59 | $55,310 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.39 | 15.42 | $27.74 | $57,700 |
| Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.17 | 6.81 | $26.81 | $55,760 |
| West Central Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.25 | 10.12 | $26.59 | $55,310 |
| South Illinois nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.38 | 15.03 | $25.84 | $53,750 |
| Capital/Northern New York nonmetropolitan area | 50 | 0.34 | 13.44 | $22.91 | $47,660 |
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OES estimates and related information:
May 2016 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017