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Lock and Dam Operator - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Lock and Dam Operator"
How much does a Lock and Dam Operator in the federal government get paid? $63,570.54* *Based on the 2021 average.Lock and Dam Operator was the 461st most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 24 employed. The most common payscale was the nonsupervisory pay schedules - federal wage system payscale.
In 2021, the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation hired the most employees titled Lock And Dam Operating, with an average salary of $62,708.
Government Lock And Dam Operating jobs are classified under the Federal Wage Schedule, Wage Grade (FWS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Lock And Dam Operating job is FWS-6, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is FWS-8. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This standard is used for grading nonsupervisory jobs which involve primarily the operation of navigation lock and dam equipment and machinery to allow river traffic to pass from one level to another because of the differences in elevation between the bodies of water, and to maintain required pool levels.
Agencies that have hired a Lock and Dam Operator
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation | 23 | $62,707.65 |
| Indian Affairs | 1 | $83,417.00 |
Lock and Dam Operator Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Lock and Dam Operator is $63,570.54. The highest paid Lock and Dam Operator made $83,417 in 2021.
Common Lock and Dam Operator Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Lock And Dam Operating Employees |
|---|---|
| WG - Nonsupervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 19 |
| WL - Leader Pay Schedule - Federal Wage System | 4 |
| BB - Nonsupervisory - Negotiated Pay Employees | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $9.70 to $24.53 / hour at paygrade FWS-6 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $10.68 to $28.58 / hour at paygrade FWS-8 |
| Occupation Family: | INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT OPERATION FAMILY |
Other Jobs at the FWS-6 Paygrade
FWS-6 is the starting paygrade for Lock and Dam Operating jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the FWS-6 paygrade.
| Occupation | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|
| Bindery Working | FWS-5 | FWS-9 |
| Fabric Working | FWS-1 | FWS-9 |
| Fuel Distribution System Operating | FWS-6 | FWS-10 |
| Railroad Maintenance Vehicle Operating | FWS-5 | FWS-9 |
| Tractor Operating | FWS-5 | FWS-9 |
Average Lock And Dam Operating Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Lock and Dam Operator was $42,296. Since then, the average pay has increased to $63,571 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 5426.