Occupation

Dredge Operators

Human Advantage 63%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
4 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Operate dredge to remove sand, gravel, or other materials in order to excavate and maintain navigable channels in waterways.

Also Known As: Dredge Boat Engineer, Dredge Deckhand, Dredge Engineer, Dredge Hand, Dredge Lever Operator, Dredge Mate, Dredge Operator, Dredge Worker +3 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Move levers to position dredges for excavation, to engage hydraulic pumps, to raise and lower suction booms, and to control rotation of cutterheads.
  2. Start and stop engines to operate equipment.
  3. Start power winches that draw in or let out cables to change positions of dredges, or pull in and let out cables manually.
  4. Pump water to clear machinery pipelines.
  5. Lower anchor poles to verify depths of excavations, using winches, or scan depth gauges to determine depths of excavations.
  6. Direct or assist workers placing shore anchors and cables, laying additional pipes from dredges to shore, and pumping water from pontoons.

Emerging Tasks

New and evolving responsibilities for this role:

  • Perform maintenance on dredge equipment, such as changing engine oil.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
80%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
9%
Less than a High School Diploma
7%
Some College Courses
4%

Technology & Tools

Software (6)

  • Global positioning system GPS software
  • HYPACK DREDGEPACK
  • Programmable logic controller PLC software
  • Teledyne Odom Hydrographic ODOM eChart
  • Trimble HYDROpro
  • Web browser software

Tools & Equipment (33)

  • Anchor winches
  • Chainsaws
  • Clamshell buckets
  • Crawler dozers
  • Cutting torches
  • Davit cranes
  • Density meters
  • Dragline cranes
  • Fathometer sonar equipment
  • Firefighting hoses
  • Front end loaders
  • Grease dispensing guns
  • Heavy duty dump trucks
  • Hydraulic suction dredges
  • Life jackets
  • Mechanical dredges
  • Mobile radios
  • Multipurpose fire extinguishers
  • Oxyacetylene welding equipment
  • Pickup trucks
  • Pneumatic impact wrenches
  • Power winches
  • Ratchet sets
  • Rescue boats
  • Rescue rings
  • Self-propelled dredges
  • Socket wrench sets
  • Soil particle size testers
  • Tractor-trailer trucks
  • Vacuum gauges
  • Velocity meters
  • Water quality samplers
  • Weed harvesters

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Industrial Machinery Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Dredge Operators You are here

Equipment Operation & Maintenance Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Dredge Operators You are here

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Real Talk

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