Dredge Operators
Dredge Operators (SOC 53-7031) earn a median $49,640 a year ($23.86 an hour) in the United States, with 1,040 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Texas.
What dredge operators do
Dredge operators run the equipment that removes sand, gravel, and other material from waterways to open and maintain navigable channels. The work is done on dredges, and O*NET alternate titles such as dredge deckhand, dredge engineer, dredge mate, and dredgemaster show that a dredge carries a crew with several roles. From the controls the operator moves levers to position the dredge, engage the hydraulic pumps, raise and lower the suction boom, and turn the cutterhead that loosens the bottom. Winches pull cables in or let them out to shift the dredge's position, and the operator uses anchor poles or depth gauges to confirm how deep the digging is. Pumping water through the pipelines clears machinery, and the operator may direct or assist those placing shore anchors and laying extra pipe between the dredge and the shore. The operator also starts and stops the engines that run the equipment.
Typical entry: O*NET reports that most workers in this occupation have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: Dredge Boat Engineer, Dredge Deckhand, Dredge Engineer, Dredge Hand, Dredge Lever Operator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $19.75 | $22.32 | $23.86 | $29.84 | $35.65 | $26.98 | 1,040 |
| Annual | $41,080 | $46,430 | $49,640 | $62,070 | $74,140 | $56,120 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where dredge operators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Texas | Hourly | $28.47 | $30.07 | $31.53 | $35.08 | $36.26 | $32.43 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $59,210 | $62,540 | $65,580 | $72,960 | $75,410 | $67,450 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $27.01 | $28.22 | $30.68 | $35.10 | $35.76 | $31.87 | 30 | 0.01 | 1.10 |
| Annual | $56,180 | $58,700 | $63,810 | $73,010 | $74,390 | $66,300 | ||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $26.95 | $27.64 | $27.88 | $28.85 | $33.45 | $29.14 | 60 | 0.04 | 6.25 |
| Annual | $56,060 | $57,500 | $57,990 | $60,000 | $69,580 | $60,620 | ||||
| Wisconsin | Hourly | $21.25 | $22.27 | $26.11 | $29.34 | $31.05 | $25.90 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $44,190 | $46,320 | $54,310 | $61,030 | $64,580 | $53,870 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $21.23 | $23.12 | $25.63 | $26.82 | $29.02 | $24.97 | 40 | 0.01 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $44,160 | $48,090 | $53,310 | $55,790 | $60,370 | $51,930 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Iowa | Hourly | $26.95 | $27.64 | $27.88 | $28.85 | $33.45 | $29.14 | 60 | 0.04 | 6.25 |
| Annual | $56,060 | $57,500 | $57,990 | $60,000 | $69,580 | $60,620 | ||||
| Alabama | Hourly | $23.44 | $23.67 | $24.05 | $27.50 | $30.11 | $25.85 | 50 | 0.02 | 3.28 |
| Annual | $48,760 | $49,230 | $50,030 | $57,190 | $62,620 | $53,770 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $19.20 | $22.45 | $25.39 | $29.01 | $29.96 | $26.52 | 40 | 0.00 | 0.54 |
| Annual | $39,930 | $46,690 | $52,800 | $60,340 | $62,310 | $55,170 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $21.23 | $23.12 | $25.63 | $26.82 | $29.02 | $24.97 | 40 | 0.01 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $44,160 | $48,090 | $53,310 | $55,790 | $60,370 | $51,930 | ||||
| Nebraska | Hourly | $18.64 | $19.73 | $21.78 | $22.51 | $43.33 | $23.87 | 30 | 0.03 | 4.75 |
| Annual | $38,780 | $41,040 | $45,290 | $46,830 | $90,130 | $49,650 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $30.07 | $30.07 | $35.08 | $35.08 | $35.08 | $32.92 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $62,540 | $62,540 | $72,960 | $72,960 | $72,960 | $68,470 | ||||
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | Hourly | $20.92 | $22.20 | $23.74 | $23.76 | $29.05 | $24.12 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $43,520 | $46,170 | $49,390 | $49,410 | $60,410 | $50,180 | ||||
| Kansas City, MO-KS | Hourly | $18.33 | $18.33 | $23.55 | $25.47 | $35.64 | $24.07 | 40 | 0.04 | 5.46 |
| Annual | $38,130 | $38,130 | $48,980 | $52,980 | $74,130 | $50,070 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kansas City, MO-KS | Hourly | $18.33 | $18.33 | $23.55 | $25.47 | $35.64 | $24.07 | 40 | 0.04 | 5.46 |
| Annual | $38,130 | $38,130 | $48,980 | $52,980 | $74,130 | $50,070 | ||||
Top industries employing dredge operators
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction employ 53.8% of dredge operators nationally (560 jobs) at a median $48,990 a year ($23.55 an hour), followed by Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (26.9%) and Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (4.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction NAICS 237900 | 560 | 53.8% | $48,990 | $23.55 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying NAICS 212300 | 280 | 26.9% | $56,090 | $26.96 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 50 | 4.8% | $56,480 | $27.15 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 40 | 3.8% | $49,640 | $23.87 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (1,040). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $46,210 for dredge operators in May 2021 and $49,640 in May 2025, with employment of 1,650 and 1,040.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $46,210 | $22.22 | 1,650 |
| May 2022 | $47,090 | $22.64 | 940 |
| May 2023 | $50,440 | $24.25 | 940 |
| May 2024 | $48,430 | $23.28 | 1,030 |
| May 2025 | $49,640 | $23.86 | 1,040 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
9 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas profile | $31.53 | $65,580 | $59,210 | $75,410 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $30.68 | $63,810 | $56,180 | $74,390 | 30 | 0.01 | 1.10 |
| 3 | Iowa profile | $27.88 | $57,990 | $56,060 | $69,580 | 60 | 0.04 | 6.25 |
| 4 | Wisconsin profile | $26.11 | $54,310 | $44,190 | $64,580 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Ohio profile | $25.63 | $53,310 | $44,160 | $60,370 | 40 | 0.01 | 1.08 |
| 6 | Florida profile | $25.39 | $52,800 | $39,930 | $62,310 | 40 | 0.00 | 0.54 |
| 7 | Alabama profile | $24.05 | $50,030 | $48,760 | $62,620 | 50 | 0.02 | 3.28 |
| 8 | Louisiana profile | $23.36 | $48,590 | $42,400 | $57,740 | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | Nebraska profile | $21.78 | $45,290 | $38,780 | $90,130 | 30 | 0.03 | 4.75 |
Part of Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 53-7031 Dredge Operators.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 53-7031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-7031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.