Dredge Operators
Operate dredge to remove sand, gravel, or other materials in order to excavate and maintain navigable channels in waterways.
Also called: Dredge Boat Engineer, Dredge Deckhand, Dredge Engineer, Dredge Hand, Dredge Lever Operator, Dredge Mate
Median pay
$49,640
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$41,080 – $74,140
People employed
1,040
Holland code
RCI
Realistic · Conventional · Investigative
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Would you rather not deal with customers or the public?
- 2.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 3.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 4.Do you prefer a steady pace without constant deadlines?
- 5.Do you prefer doing your own work rather than directing others?
- 6.Do you want variety, with new tasks often?
- 7.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 8.Are you comfortable following clear instructions?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
Dredge Operators pay by state
Annual median pay by state (9 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What dredge operators do
- 01Move levers to position dredges for excavation, to engage hydraulic pumps, to raise and lower suction booms, and to control rotation of cutterheads.
- 02Start and stop engines to operate equipment.
- 03Start power winches that draw in or let out cables to change positions of dredges, or pull in and let out cables manually.
- 04Pump water to clear machinery pipelines.
- 05Lower anchor poles to verify depths of excavations, using winches, or scan depth gauges to determine depths of excavations.
- 06Direct or assist workers placing shore anchors and cables, laying additional pipes from dredges to shore, and pumping water from pontoons.
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
Knowledge
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Public Safety and Security
- Administration and Management
- Production and Processing
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs a high school diploma (O*NET Job Zone 2).
- Related work experience: over 4 years, up to and including 6 years.
- On-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from dredge operators
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining91% · +16%
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas89% · +37%
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators89% · +21%
- Helpers--Extraction Workers89% · −4%
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas86% · +18%
Change into dredge operators
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Sailors and Marine Oilers86% · $51,520
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas83% · $58,620
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining83% · $57,430
- Logging Equipment Operators80% · $49,740
- Motorboat Operators80% · $47,520
Majors that lead here
- Construction/Heavy Equipment/Earthmoving Equipment Operation
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.