Jobs Similar to Dredge Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to dredge operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Loading and Moving Machine Operators and Logging Equipment Operators.
Dredge Operators: $49,640 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
- 1Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
81% similar · $57,430 (+16%) · High school
- 2Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
80% similar · $74,500 (+50%) · High school
- 3Logging Equipment Operators
80% similar · $49,740 (0%) · High school
- 4Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
79% similar · $46,350 (−7%) · High school
- 5Fallers
79% similar · $52,100 (+5%) · High school
- 6Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
79% similar · $67,890 (+37%) · High school
- 7Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
79% similar · $58,620 (+18%) · High school
- 8Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
79% similar · $96,710 (+95%) · High school
- 9Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
79% similar · $59,850 (+21%) · High school
- 10Helpers--Extraction Workers
79% similar · $47,730 (−4%) · High school
- 11Rock Splitters, Quarry
79% similar · $48,740 (−2%) · High school
- 12Pourers and Casters, Metal
79% similar · $51,810 (+4%) · High school
- 13Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
78% similar · $54,430 (+10%) · High school
- 14Tire Builders
78% similar · $57,390 (+16%) · High school
- 15Recycling and Reclamation Workers
78% similar · $40,240 (broader group) · High school · Same group
- 16Continuous Mining Machine Operators
78% similar · $61,810 (+25%) · High school
- 17Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
78% similar · $46,170 (−7%) · High school
- 18Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
78% similar · $60,190 (+21%) · High school
- 19Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons
78% similar · $61,290 (+23%) · High school
- 20Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators
78% similar · $70,070 (+41%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than dredge operators.
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers79% similar · $96,710 (+95%)
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining80% similar · $74,500 (+50%)
- Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators78% similar · $70,070 (+41%)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas79% similar · $67,890 (+37%)
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators78% similar · $61,810 (+25%)
- Refractory Materials Repairers, Except Brickmasons78% similar · $61,290 (+23%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for dredge operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where dredge operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Sailors and Marine Oilers (86)
- Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas (83)
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining (83)
- Logging Equipment Operators (80)
- Motorboat Operators (80)
- Fallers (79)
- Helpers--Extraction Workers (79)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (79)
- Pourers and Casters, Metal (79)
- Rock Splitters, Quarry (79)
Questions about jobs like dredge operators
What jobs are most similar to dredge operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators (81% similar), Loading and Moving Machine Operators (80% similar), Logging Equipment Operators (80% similar), Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers (79% similar) and Fallers (79% similar).
Which jobs like dredge operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +95%; usually a high school diploma), Loading and Moving Machine Operators ($74,500, +50%; usually a high school diploma) and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators ($70,070, +41%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with dredge operators ($49,640). Without more preparation than dredge operators usually need: Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers, Loading and Moving Machine Operators and Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.