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.
U.S. Workers
2,720
Median Salary
$58,490
10-Year Growth
-3.3%
Annual Openings
300
Typical entry: High school diploma or equivalent
20 of 20 tasks have some AI capability
Exposure Trend
This score reflects estimated AI technical capability for tasks in this occupation. It does not predict employment changes, and it does not account for company-specific constraints, regulation, or adoption barriers.
Move levers to activate traffic signals, navigation lights, and alarms.
AI: Fully automatable - Simple mechanical actions such as moving levers to activate signals, lights, and alarms can be fully automated using actuators and control systems.
Record names, types, and destinations of vessels passing through bridge openings or locks, and numbers of trains or vehicles crossing bridges.
AI: Fully automatable - Automated sources (AIS), cameras and sensors can reliably record vessel names, types, destinations and count trains/vehicles, enabling full automation of this logging task.
Prepare accident reports.
AI: Fully automatable - AI can assemble sensor logs, witness statements and templates to generate structured accident reports reliably and consistently.
Observe approaching vessels to determine size and speed, and listen for whistle signals indicating desire to pass.
AI: Fully automatable - Radar/AIS/camera fusion and acoustic detection systems can determine vessel size and speed and detect whistle signals automatically.
Observe position and progress of vessels to ensure best use of lock spaces or bridge opening spaces.
AI: Fully automatable - Real‑time tracking, sensor fusion and scheduling/optimization algorithms enable AI to monitor vessel positions and manage lock/bridge space usage effectively.
Operate lighthouses to assist marine passage near shores and dangerous waters.
AI: Fully automatable - Lighthouses have been largely automated for decades and can be operated and monitored remotely with AI-driven scheduling and fault detection.
Log data such as water levels and weather conditions.
AI: Fully automatable - Water level and weather data can be fully logged automatically via sensors, telemetry and integrated data systems.
Check that bridges are clear of vehicles and pedestrians prior to opening.
AI: Partial - Computer vision can detect vehicles and pedestrians from cameras, but occlusions, edge cases and safety/regulatory requirements mean humans are typically retained for final clearance decisions.
Turn valves to increase or decrease water levels in locks.
AI: Partial - Valve turning can be automated where actuators and remote controls are installed, but many locks remain manual and require on-site human operation or supervision.
Stop automobile and pedestrian traffic on bridges, and lower automobile gates prior to moving bridges.
AI: Partial - Stopping traffic and lowering gates can be performed by automated systems with sensors and actuators, but the safety-critical nature and legacy infrastructure limit fully autonomous deployment.
Raise drawbridges and observe passage of water traffic or lower drawbridges and raise automobile gates.
AI: Partial - Raising and lowering drawbridges can be mechanized and monitored by AI, but full hands-off operation is constrained by safety, legacy equipment, and regulatory practices.
Control machinery to open and close canal locks and dams, railroad or highway drawbridges, or horizontally or vertically adjustable bridges.
AI: Partial - Some locks and bridges are already automated or remotely controlled, but safety, regulatory oversight and complex edge cases still typically require human supervision, so control is only partially automatable.
Direct movements of vessels in locks or bridge areas, using signals, telecommunication equipment, or loudspeakers.
AI: Partial - AI can direct vessel movements via signals, radio and automated advisories, but legal authority, nuanced situational judgment and communication etiquette limit full autonomous replacement of human operators.
Maintain and guard stations in bridges to check waterways for boat traffic.
AI: Partial - AI can continuously monitor waterways from stations using cameras and sensors, but cannot fully replace the physical presence and some on-site responsibilities of guarding and maintaining stations.
Add and remove balance weights to bridge mechanisms as necessary.
AI: Partial - Adding or removing balance weights is heavy, context-dependent mechanical work that lacks widely deployed robotic solutions and typically requires human technicians.
Inspect canal and bridge equipment, and areas such as roadbeds for damage or defects, reporting problems to supervisors as necessary.
AI: Partial - Drones, computer vision and sensors can detect many defects and auto-report them, but nuanced inspections and judgment about structural integrity still often require human inspectors.
Clean and lubricate equipment, and make minor repairs and adjustments.
AI: Partial - Automated lubrication systems and some robotic maintenance exist, but general cleaning, minor repairs and on‑site adjustments still largely require human dexterity and judgment.
Attach ropes or cable lines to bitts on lock decks or wharfs to secure vessels.
AI: Partial - Attaching mooring lines requires dexterous, situational handling; autonomous mooring prototypes exist but broad, reliable deployment is uncommon by 2025.
Write and submit maintenance work requisitions.
AI: Partial - AI can draft and submit digital maintenance requisitions via integrated workflows, but often requires human validation and site-specific judgment.
Perform maintenance duties such as sweeping, painting, and yard work to keep facilities clean and in order.
AI: Partial - Outdoor sweeping, painting, and varied yard work are physical tasks that have limited robotic support by 2025 and generally still rely on human labor.