Also called: Lock Operator, Lock and Dam Equipment Mechanic
Raises and lowers barges and boats through river locks and operates dam gates, often for the Army Corps of Engineers.
You radio a tugboat pushing 15 barges, open the giant gates, flood the chamber to lift the whole tow, and log river levels.
Federal wage-grade pay.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school diploma; federal civil service training.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Military. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing slowly. Stable federal jobs.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Remote and automated lock controls are spreading; operators still handle lines, barges, safety and maintenance.
Age 18+. One way to start: Search USAJOBS for Army Corps of Engineers lock and dam operator openings First: Federal hiring and background check, which often take 1–3 months
Classes: Earth science, Algebra, Driver's education.
Official data: O*NET occupation 53-6011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.