What Do Dredge Operators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Dredge Operators

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

Salary
$53790
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job Description

Job Description

Dredge Operators operate dredge to remove sand, gravel, or other materials in order to excavate and maintain navigable channels in waterways. They also move levers to position dredges for excavation, to engage hydraulic pumps, to raise and lower suction booms, and to control rotation of cutterheads.

Other tasks include:

  • Start and stop engines to operate equipment.
  • Start power winches that draw in or let out cables to change positions of dredges, or pull in and let out cables manually.
  • Pump water to clear machinery pipelines.
  • Lower anchor poles to verify depths of excavations, using winches, or scan depth gauges to determine depths of excavations.
  • Direct or assist workers placing shore anchors and cables, laying additional pipes from dredges to shore, and pumping water from pontoons.

We asked Dredge Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

61%

How meaningful is this job

47%


61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Dredge Operators move levers to position dredges for excavation, to engage hydraulic pumps, to raise and lower suction booms, and to control rotation of cutterheads. They start power winches that draw in or let out cables to change positions of dredges, or pull in and let out cables manually.

A typical day for a Dredge Operator will also include:

  • Pump water to clear machinery pipelines.
  • Start and stop engines to operate equipment.
  • Lower anchor poles to verify depths of excavations, using winches, or scan depth gauges to determine depths of excavations.
  • Direct or assist workers placing shore anchors and cables, laying additional pipes from dredges to shore, and pumping water from pontoons.

We asked some Dredge Operators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 24% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 34% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 95% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 3% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 0% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 59% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Dredge Operators also direct or assist workers placing shore anchors and cables, laying additional pipes from dredges to shore, and pumping water from pontoons. They may also lower anchor poles to verify depths of excavations, using winches, or scan depth gauges to determine depths of excavations.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Dredge Operators Start power winches that draw in or let out cables to change positions of dredges, or pull in and let out cables manually. They might also Pump water to clear machinery pipelines.

In addition, they Start and stop engines to operate equipment.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Move levers to position dredges for excavation, to engage hydraulic pumps, to raise and lower suction booms, and to control rotation of cutterheads.


Working life

Working hours

More than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Dredge Operator, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Do Dredge Operators work in an office-style work environment?

Never
61%


Every day
20%


Do Dredge Operators work outdoors?

Every day
81%


Never
10%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Builders and The Organizers

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Dredge Operators

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Related to Dredge Operators Job Description

Dredge Operators job description, what do Dredge Operators do, typical day for Dredge Operators, what is it like to work as a Dredge Operator, how many hours do Dredge Operators work, day to day work of a Dredge Operator

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/transportation-and-material-moving/material-moving-machine-operators.htm
http://www.werc.org/
http://www.iuoe.org/
http://www.nccco.org/


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