SOC 53-7031 · Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Dredge Operators
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries
Nationally, dredge operators earned a median of $49,640 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 1,040 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.
National pay distribution
Pay by state
Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.
| State | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $65,580 | $31.53 | Not published | Not published |
| New Jersey | $63,810 | $30.68 | 30 | 0.0 |
| Iowa | $57,990 | $27.88 | 60 | 0.0 |
| Wisconsin | $54,310 | $26.11 | Not published | Not published |
| Ohio | $53,310 | $25.63 | 40 | 0.0 |
| Florida | $52,800 | $25.39 | 40 | 0.0 |
| Alabama | $50,030 | $24.05 | 50 | 0.0 |
| Louisiana | $48,590 | $23.36 | Not published | Not published |
| Nebraska | $45,290 | $21.78 | 30 | 0.0 |
Pay by metro area
All 3 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.
| Metro area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $72,960 | $35.08 | Not published | Not published |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $49,390 | $23.74 | Not published | Not published |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $48,980 | $23.55 | 40 | 0.0 |
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.