How much does a dredge operator make?
a year · about $24 an hour
A typical dredge operator in the United States makes $49,640 a year, about $24 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
On a dredge, operators pull levers to lower the suction boom and spin the cutterhead, then watch gauges to check how deep they are digging. They adjust cables, keep pipes clear, and help the crew move anchors and pipeline.
Did you know? The U.S. Army Corps’ dredge Goetz can pump dredged material through up to 10,000 feet of pipeline when using a booster.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $41,080 and $74,140How do you become one?
A high-school diploma or GED is the usual starting point in the United States; operators learn the equipment on the job, with training ranging from days to a year. A registered Dredge Operator apprenticeship is another route.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the United States, experience and extra machine skills can help, and pay differs among construction companies, mines, and government employers. Location and longer hours can matter too; many dredge operators work more than 40 hours a week.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Texas ($65,580), lowest in Nebraska ($45,290).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $41,080 | $49,640 | $74,140 | about 1,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | $65,580 | — |
| New Jersey | $63,810 | about 30 |
| Iowa | $57,990 | about 60 |
| Wisconsin | $54,310 | — |
| Ohio | $53,310 | about 40 |
Official definition: Operate dredge to remove sand, gravel, or other materials in order to excavate and maintain navigable channels in waterways.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/53-7031.00
- data.bls.gov/oesprofile?areas=INDUSTRY%2CSTATE%2CMSA&major_group=530000&measure=
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/print/wage-differences.htm
- www.apprenticeship.gov/apprenticeship-occupations/listings?occupationCode=53-703
- www.nap.usace.army.mil/Missions/Factsheets/Fact-Sheet-Article-View/Article/49071
- www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Spatial-Data-Branch/Dredging-Quality-Management/
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY