How much does a dredge operators make?

The median dredge operators salary in the United States is $49,640 per year ($23.86/hour). Salaries range from $41,080 (10th percentile) to $74,140 (90th percentile). There are 1,040 dredge operators jobs in the U.S. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.

Which state pays dredge operatorss the most?

The highest paying state for dredge operatorss is Texas at $65,580 median salary.

Is dredge operators a good career?

Dredge Operators employment is projected to grow 1.2% from 2024 to 2034 (slower than average). There are approximately 100 job openings per year. Typical education required: High school diploma or equivalent.

Dredge Operators Salary

The median dredge operators salary in the United States is $49,640 per year ($23.86/hour). Salaries range from $41,080 at the entry level to $74,140+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 1,040 dredge operators jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.2% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary

$49,640

per year

Hourly Rate

$23.86

per hour

Employment

1,040

jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile

$41,080

25th percentile

$46,430

Median

$49,640

75th percentile

$62,070

90th percentile

$74,140

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+1.2%

Slower than average

Annual Openings

100

jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

High school diploma or equivalent

Training Needed

Moderate-term on-the-job training

Dredge Operators Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →

Limited data available — BLS only publishes salary data for areas with sufficient survey responses.

Salary Map — Click a state for details

$45K

$66K■ No data

Top Paying States

Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.

State	Median	vs. National	Employment
Texas	$65,580	+32.1%	0
New Jersey	$63,810	+28.5%	30
Iowa	$57,990	+16.8%	60
Wisconsin	$54,310	+9.4%	0
Ohio	$53,310	+7.4%	40
Florida	$52,800	+6.4%	40
Alabama	$50,030	+0.8%	50
Louisiana	$48,590	-2.1%	0
Nebraska	$45,290	-8.8%	30

Dredge Operators Salary by Metro Area

Limited metro data available — BLS only publishes data for areas with sufficient survey responses.

Metro Area	Median	vs. National
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$72,960	+47.0%
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$49,390	-0.5%
Kansas City, MO-KS	$48,980	-1.3%

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.

How does this compare to pro athletes?

A dredge operators earning $49,640/year would need 1201 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1289 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.

See all sports & celebrity salaries →

📈 See how dredge operators salaries have changed over the past decade.

View Dredge Operators salary trend (2011–2024) →