DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
53-7031 Dredge Operators
Occupational Description:
Operate dredge to remove sand, gravel, or other materials in order to excavate and maintain navigable channels in waterways.| Percentiles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| Minnesota | 90 | 36 | $34.67/hr | $2.25/hr | $24.09/hr | $32.54/hr | $35.34/hr | $38.12/hr | $42.43/hr |
| U S | 1,550 | 180 | $25.24/hr | $0.83/hr | $15.82/hr | $18.73/hr | $23.13/hr | $32.25/hr | $38.32/hr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
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| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change 2023 - 2025 | |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 10,240 | $33.03/hr | 5.1% |
| Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | 840 | $28.91/hr | 6.9% |
| Crane and Tower Operators | 460 | $26.04/hr | 5.2% |
| Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 300 | $26.79/hr | 4.4% |
| Pile-Driver Operators | 70 | $35.00/hr | 3.1% |
Tasks for Dredge Operators
- Starts and stops engines to operate equipment.
- Lowers anchor pole to verify depth of excavation, using winch, or scans depth gauge to determine depth of excavation.
- Directs workers placing shore anchors and cables, laying additional pipes from dredge to shore, and pumping water from pontoons.
- Starts power winch that draws in or lets out cable to change position of dredge, or pulls in and lets out cable manually.
- Moves levers to position dredge for excavation, engage hydraulic pump, raise and lower suction boom, and control rotation of cutterhead.
