What Does it Take to Be a Dredge Operator?

Position Description Operate dredge to remove sand, gravel, or other materials in order to excavate and maintain navigable channels in waterways.

List of Dredge Operator Job Duties

• Pump water to clear machinery pipelines.
• Start power winches that draw in or let out cables to change positions of dredges, or pull in and let out cables manually.
• Move levers to position dredges for excavation, to engage hydraulic pumps, to raise and lower suction booms, and to control rotation of cutterheads.
• Lower anchor poles to verify depths of excavations, using winches, or scan depth gauges to determine depths of excavations.
• Direct or assist workers placing shore anchors and cables, laying additional pipes from dredges to shore, and pumping water from pontoons.
• Start and stop engines to operate equipment.

Skills Needed to be a Dredge Operator

These are the skills Dredge Operators say are the most useful in their careers:

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Related Job Titles

• Leverman
• Dredge Engineer
• Dredgemaster
• Dredging Captain
• Operating Engineer

Dredge Operator Job Outlook

There were about 1,800 jobs for Dredge Operator in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 100 new jobs for Dredge Operator by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 200 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Dredge Operator are Florida, South Carolina, and Missouri. Watch out if you plan on working in Tennessee, Ohio, or North Carolina. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

How Much Does a Dredge Operator Make?

The typical yearly salary for Dredge Operators is somewhere between $30,760 and $66,040.

Dredge Operators who work in California, Indiana, or South Carolina, make the highest salaries.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Dredge Operators in different U.S. states.

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$62,270
Florida	$46,050
Indiana	$49,510
Iowa	$42,600
Louisiana	$46,670
Maryland	$46,160
Missouri	$47,750
Nebraska	$34,410
Ohio	$41,610
Oklahoma	$40,300
Pennsylvania	$41,980
South Carolina	$53,800
Texas	$44,120

Tools & Technologies Used by Dredge Operators

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Dredge Operators:

• Web browser software
• Data entry software
• Global positioning system GPS software
• Programmable logic controller PLC software
• Trimble HYDROpro

Becoming a Dredge Operator

Learn what Dredge Operator education requirements there are.

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where Dredge Operators Are Employed

Dredge Operators work in the following industries:

Related Careers

Those interested in being a Dredge Operator may also be interested in:

• Pourers and Casters, Metal

Are you already one of the many Dredge Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

• Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors

References:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics
• College Factual
• O*NET Online

Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.