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Dredge operator: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$49,640median pay per year, or $23.86 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $41,080lowest 10% earn less
  2. $46,43025th percentile
  3. $49,640median
  4. $62,07075th percentile
  5. $74,140top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Dredge operators earned a median of $49,640 a year in May 2025[1]. BLS projects almost no growth in jobs over the next decade, against faster growth for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+0.7%[2]
Openings per year
100[6]
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent[7]

How much do dredge operators make?

The median wage for dredge operators was $49,640 a year, or $23.86 an hour, in May 2025[1]. Half earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $56,120 a year, or $26.98 an hour[8]. The median for all occupations was $50,980, so dredge operators sat a little below it[1][5].

BLS publishes percentile wages, which are boundaries, not a starting salary[9]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $41,080 a year[4]. Here is the spread:

Measure Annual Hourly
10th percentile[4][10] $41,080 $19.75
25th percentile[4][10] $46,430 $22.32
Median[1] $49,640 $23.86
75th percentile[4][10] $62,070 $29.84
90th percentile[4][10] $74,140 $35.65

These figures cover people paid a wage or salary, and leave out the self-employed and benefits[11]. About 1,040 people held such jobs[12].

Pay by state and city

BLS published state medians for 9 states[13]. Texas was first at $65,580, followed by New Jersey at $63,810 and Iowa at $57,990[13]. Nebraska was last among those listed at $45,290[13].

Iowa had the most jobs with 60, then Alabama with 50[14]. Florida and Ohio had 40 each[14]. Kansas City, MO-KS was the metro area with the most jobs, at 40, and a median of $48,980[15].

Show median pay in 9 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Texas[13]$65,580n/a
New Jersey$63,81030
Iowa$57,99060
Wisconsin$54,310n/a
Ohio$53,31040
Florida$52,80040
Alabama$50,03050
Louisiana$48,590n/a
Nebraska$45,29030

How to become a dredge operator

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education, with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[7]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers a wider group of material moving machine operators, not only dredge operators[16].

In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 80% said a high school diploma or equivalent was required, 9% said a post-secondary certificate and 7% said less than a high school diploma[21]. Useful qualities include steady hands and feet for heavy machinery, basic mechanical skills, and clear communication with workers on the ground[22][23][24].

What dredge operators do

O*NET describes the job as running a dredge to remove sand, gravel or other material, to dig and maintain navigable channels in waterways[25]. Typical tasks include:

Where they work

No fact here describes dredge operators' workplaces on their own. For the wider group of material moving machine operators, BLS says the work happens indoors and outdoors across many industries[27]. Most in that group work full time, and some work overnight shifts[28]. About 19.3% of dredge operators were self-employed in 2025[29].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of dredge operators to grow 0.7% from 2025 to 2035, with the count staying at about 1,300 jobs[2]. For all occupations the projection is 3.5%[3]. About 100 openings a year are expected, including jobs that open when people retire or switch occupations[6]. Each year, 2.8% of workers leave the labor force and 5.1% move to a different occupation[30]. BLS names one factor, more advanced control and monitoring systems that raise each operator's productivity[31].

Is it a good fit?

The median pay is close to the all-occupations median, and the 90th percentile reaches $74,140[1][5][4]. Entry typically needs a high school diploma and on-the-job training, with no related experience[7]. The group is small and growth is near zero, so openings are few[12][2][6]. The facts suit people comfortable with heavy machinery and training on the job.

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[32].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a dredge operator make an hour?
The median was $23.86 an hour and the average was $26.98 an hour in May 2025[1][8].
What education do you need to be a dredge operator?
A high school diploma or equivalent is the typical entry education, with moderate-term on-the-job training[7].
What is the highest paying state for dredge operators?
Among 9 states with published data, Texas had the highest median at $65,580 a year[13].
Is dredge operator work in demand?
BLS projects 0.7% growth from 2025 to 2035, against 3.5% for all occupations, with about 100 openings a year[2][3][6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Dredge Operators in the US was $49,640 per year and $23.86 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Dredge Operators is projected to grow 0.7% from 2025 to 2035, from about 1,300 to 1,300 jobs (a change of +0). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Dredge Operators: 10th percentile $41,080, 25th percentile $46,430, 75th percentile $62,070, 90th percentile $74,140. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 100 openings for Dredge Operators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Dredge Operators: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Dredge Operators was $56,120 per year and $26.98 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Dredge Operators: 10th percentile $19.75, 25th percentile $22.32, 75th percentile $29.84, 90th percentile $35.65. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 1,040 people were employed as Dredge Operators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. Median annual wage for Dredge Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Dredge Operators jobs: Iowa 60; Alabama 50; Florida 40; Ohio 40; Nebraska 30. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Dredge Operators jobs: Kansas City, MO-KS 40 (median $48,980). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Material Moving Machine Operators" covers Dredge Operators together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. O*NET 53-7031.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 80%, Post-Secondary Certificate 9%, Less than a High School Diploma 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Dredge Operators. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Dredge Operators. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Employment Projections: 19.3% of Dredge Operators were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  30. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Dredge Operators: 2.8% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS Employment Projections, factor affecting employment of Dredge Operators: Productivity change - share decreases as dredge control and monitoring systems become more advanced as dredging processes become increasingly more complex, increasing the productivity of dredge operators. BLS Employment Projections
  32. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.