Life As a Dredge Operator
Job Description: Operate dredge to remove sand, gravel, or other materials in order to excavate and maintain navigable channels in waterways.
Life As a Dredge Operator: What Do They Do?
- 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.
- Start and stop engines to operate equipment.
- Direct or assist workers placing shore anchors and cables, laying additional pipes from dredges to shore, and pumping water from pontoons.
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Skills Needed to be a Dredge Operator
Below is a list of the skills most Dredge Operators say are important on the job.
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.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Dredging Captain
- Dredge Mate
- Operating Engineer
- Dredgemaster
- Dredge Boat Engineer
Are There Job Opportunities for Dredge Operators?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 1,800 jobs in the United States for Dredge Operator. 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.
Do Dredge Operators Make A Lot Of Money?
Dredge Operators make between $30,760 and $66,040 a year.
Dredge Operators who work in California, Indiana, or South Carolina, make the highest salaries.
How much do Dredge Operators make in each U.S. state?
| 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 |
What Tools do Dredge Operators Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Dredge Operators may use on a daily basis:
- Web browser software
- Data entry software
- Global positioning system GPS software
- Programmable logic controller PLC software
- Trimble HYDROpro
How do I Become a Dredge Operator?
Are there Dredge Operators education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Dredge Operator?
Where Dredge Operators Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Dredge Operators employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Dredge Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Dredge Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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