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AI Work Index

Headline risk

4%

Very Low Risk

Dredge operators

United States AI Work IndexISCO 8342crosswalk_exact

United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.

1.1 current · 1.2 projectedConfidence high

Why This Score

Tasks 100%

Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities

Wage $48K

Median annual wage

Demand 1%

Projected employment change over 10 years

Preparation Zone 2

Typical preparation needed for this occupation

Occupation profile

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

Task evidence

100% weighted task match · 0% effective coverage

Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works

United States Now

Median Wage

USD 48,430

Employment 2024

1.1K

Projected Change (2024–34)

1.2%

Openings (2024–34)

0.1K

Wage distribution

Bottom 10%: USD 42,06025th pctl: USD 46,120Median: USD 48,43075th pctl: USD 60,300Top 10%: USD 75,050

Demand outlook

Overall employment of material moving machine operators is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent Experience: —

Role Profile

Fine motorProblem solving and decision makingAdaptability

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. AI use: 0%
  • 2. Start and stop engines to operate equipment. AI use: 0%
  • 3. Start power winches that draw in or let out cables to change positions of dredges, or pull in and let out cables manually. AI use: 0%
  • 4. Pump water to clear machinery pipelines. AI use: 0%
  • 5. Direct or assist workers placing shore anchors and cables, laying additional pipes from dredges to shore, and pumping water from pontoons. AI use: 0%
  • 6. Lower anchor poles to verify depths of excavations, using winches, or scan depth gauges to determine depths of excavations. AI use: 0%

Technologies

Global positioning system GPS softwareHYPACK DREDGEPACKProgrammable logic controller PLC softwareTeledyne Odom Hydrographic ODOM eChartTrimble HYDROproWeb browser software

Requirements

Work context

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets 4.9/5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams 4.9/5
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls 4.7/5
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions 4.5/5
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable 4.4/5
Contact With Others 4.3/5

Worker profile

Median age 40.9 · 404K employed

Under 25: 14% · 25–54: 65% · 55+: 21%

Related

No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.

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