Somewhat Resilient
Last Update: 8/30/2026
AI Resilience Score for Bridge and Lock Tenders:
40.6%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
High
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Low
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Low
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forBridge and Lock Tenders
$57,700 median salary•300 annual openings•SOC Code: 53-6011.00
Bridge and Lock Tenders are somewhat less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
Bridge and lock tender work is "Somewhat Resilient" because while AI and remote control technology are starting to change how the job gets done, humans are still needed to make real-time safety calls that algorithms simply cannot handle, like spotting a deckhand who falls overboard and responding immediately. The industry moves on very long timelines (think decades, not years), so sweeping changes won't happen overnight, but the routine parts of the job, like logging data and tracking vessel positions, are already being handled more and more by automated systems.
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Bridge and lock tender work is "Somewhat Resilient" because while AI and remote control technology are starting to change how the job gets done, humans are still needed to make real-time safety calls that algorithms simply cannot handle, like spotting a deckhand who falls overboard and responding immediately. The industry moves on very long timelines (think decades, not years), so sweeping changes won't happen overnight, but the routine parts of the job, like logging data and tracking vessel positions, are already being handled more and more by automated systems.
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View analysisChat with CoachLatest newsMore career infoAnalysisChatNewsMoreAnalysis of Current AI Resilience
Bridge and Lock Tenders
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Bridge and Lock Tenders jobs?
If you're worried about robots taking over bridge and lock tender jobs overnight, take a breath — the reality is more of a slow evolution than a sudden replacement. The biggest shift is coming from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is piloting "off-site" remote lock operations where a control room is located off-site in a regional operation center and local control remains in all operating scenarios to maintain operation in an emergency, and off-site operations are not equivalent to autonomous operations, as a lock operator will still control all lock operations. In other words, humans are still in the driver's seat — they're just steering from a different room.
AI is also augmenting the data-heavy parts of the job. Abt Global reports it is partnering with USACE's Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center to strengthen America's capacity to deliver reliable navigation data through AI-enabled waterborne commerce intelligence, using automation, cloud-based data management, and AI readiness to keep U.S. navigation intelligence accurate, timely, and actionable. Meanwhile, researchers publishing in Nature Scientific Reports [1] are building multi-sensor vessel-tracking systems that fuse cameras and radar to warn of ship-bridge collisions — tech that could support (not replace) the "observing vessel position" task tenders already do.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Bridge and Lock Tenders?
Adoption will likely stay gradual. As one industry leader told The Waterways Journal in June 2026 [2], while it is nearly impossible to automate most jobs on the river, positions such as towboat captain and lock operator are beginning to see shifts, and the primary concern when making these kinds of positions remote is safety. She added that the lock operator is your line of defense for safety — if a deckhand falls in, that is the person that is your first responder, a human judgment role that's hard to hand to an algorithm.
Big infrastructure projects like the Montgomery Locks modernization on the Ohio River [3] also show the industry moves on decades-long timelines, so change is slow by nature. And the USACE remote operations plan [4] emphasizes it is committed to its workforce and stakeholders and will work closely with everyone throughout this process. For young people curious about this field: expect fewer routine logging tasks and more roles that blend safety judgment, tech monitoring, and hands-on maintenance — a combination AI can't easily replace.
Sources
Will AI replace Bridge and Lock Tenders?
Not entirely. We think AI will take over some tasks, but not the whole job.
Our 40.6% AI Resilience Score reflects a role that is genuinely changing, but not disappearing. The biggest shift is remote operations: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is piloting off-site control rooms where human operators still control all lock operations, just from a different location [4]. Researchers are also building AI-powered vessel-tracking systems to help warn of ship-bridge collisions, tools designed to support tenders rather than replace them [1].
What stays human is the part that matters most for safety. As one industry leader put it, the lock operator is your line of defense, your first responder if a deckhand falls in [2]. That kind of real-time judgment in unpredictable situations is genuinely hard to hand off to an algorithm. Infrastructure projects like the Montgomery Locks modernization also move on decades-long timelines, so wholesale change is slow by nature [3].
The honest part: long-term employer demand and earning potential for this role are both weak, so the career path carries real risk. If this field interests you, focus on building skills around tech monitoring, safety response, and systems operation. Those are the pieces AI is least likely to absorb anytime soon.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Bridge and Lock Tenders
The articles highlight that while Bridge and Lock Tenders face some AI automation risk, their roles are still relatively secure compared to other professions. For instance, they scored 69 and 74 out of 100 on risk assessments, indicating moderate pressure from AI tools. This means students can focus on developing skills that emphasize human oversight and decision-making in operations. Additionally, understanding how AI can assist rather than replace their work, such as in workflow management, can help future-proof their careers in this field.
Bridge And Lock Tenders AI Risk: 74/100 - AI Job Checker
www.aijobchecker.com • 8/20/2026
Bridge And Lock Tenders score 74/100 for AI replacement risk. See which tasks automate first, key timelines, and how to future-proof your career.
Could AI Design a Bridge? | Michael Rustell
www.linkedin.com • 8/20/2026
The talk covers practical implementation strategies for AI-assisted workflows, including how to maintain quality control when delegating tasks ... Read more
Will AI Replace Bridge and Lock Tenders? Risk Score
www.aiexposure.org • 8/20/2026
Bridge and Lock Tenders scored 69/100 for AI automation risk. this occupation faces significant pressure from AI tools despite weak projected growth. earn $58K ...
The Jobs AI Can't Touch (Yet): Why Some Roles Are Safe ...
dev.to • 8/20/2026
Aug 14, 2025 — The Jobs AI Can ... impact, some roles were barely touched by AI. Think dredge operators, pile driver operators, or bridge and lock tenders. Read more
Dredge Operator Jobs Least Likely to Be Adversely Impacted by AI
dredgewire.com • 8/3/2025
Maritime jobs were 4 of Top 10 at least risk–out of almost 2,000 job categories! “AI can't dredge a river”. DredgeWire Exclusive.
More Career Info
Career: Bridge and Lock Tenders
They operate bridges and locks to let boats pass safely, ensuring everything works smoothly and on schedule.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$57,700
Jobs (2025)
3,100
Growth (2025-35)
-2.3%
Annual Openings
300
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-2035
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Attach ropes or cable lines to bitts on lock decks or wharfs to secure vessels.
2
Perform maintenance duties, such as sweeping, painting, and yard work to keep facilities clean and in order.
3
Clean and lubricate equipment, and make minor repairs and adjustments.
4
Inspect canal and bridge equipment, and areas, such as roadbeds, for damage or defects, reporting problems to supervisors as necessary.
5
Direct movements of vessels in locks or bridge areas, using signals, telecommunication equipment, or loudspeakers.
6
Maintain and guard stations in bridges to check waterways for boat traffic.
7
Observe position and progress of vessels to ensure best use of lock spaces or bridge opening spaces.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
