Dredge Operators Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for dredge operatorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Texas$67,450
- New Jersey$66,300
- Iowa$60,620
- Florida$55,170
- Wisconsin$53,870
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $67,450 | $65,580 | $32 | +20.2% | — |
| 2 | New Jersey | $66,300 | $63,810 | $32 | +18.1% | 30 |
| 3 | Iowa | $60,620 | $57,990 | $29 | +8% | 60 |
| 4 | Florida | $55,170 | $52,800 | $27 | -1.7% | 40 |
| 5 | Wisconsin | $53,870 | $54,310 | $26 | -4% | — |
| 6 | Alabama | $53,770 | $50,030 | $26 | -4.2% | 50 |
| 7 | Ohio | $51,930 | $53,310 | $25 | -7.5% | 40 |
| 8 | Nebraska | $49,650 | $45,290 | $24 | -11.5% | 30 |
| 9 | Louisiana | $48,710 | $48,590 | $23 | -13.2% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 3 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $72,960 | $68,470 | — |
| 2 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $49,390 | $50,180 | — |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $48,980 | $50,070 | 40 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing dredge operatorss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $56,480 | $66,050 | 50 |
| 2 | Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $56,480 | $66,050 | 50 |
| 3 | Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $56,090 | $56,240 | 280 |
| 4 | Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $56,090 | $56,240 | 280 |
| 5 | Sector 21 - Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $56,090 | $56,240 | 280 |
| 6 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $52,800 | $59,100 | 90 |
| 7 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $52,800 | $59,100 | 90 |
| 8 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $52,800 | $59,100 | 90 |
| 9 | State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $49,640 | $49,940 | 40 |
| 10 | State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $49,640 | $49,940 | 40 |
| 11 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $49,640 | $56,120 | 1,040 |
| 12 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $49,410 | $55,830 | 940 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do dredge operators make in the U.S.?
The median dredge operators salary in the United States is $49,640 per year (mean $56,120), and about 80% earn between $41,080 and $74,140.
How much do dredge operators make per hour?
Roughly $27 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $56,120 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays dredge operators the most?
Texas has the highest average pay for dredge operators at $67,450 per year (median $65,580).
What is the job outlook for dredge operators?
Employment is projected to change +1.2% from 2024 to 2034 (Slower than average), with about 100 openings per year.