Also called: Dredgeman
Runs massive dredges that dig sand and mud from harbor channels so ships do not run aground.
On a dredge vessel, the operator controls a huge cutterhead or bucket, digging the channel to an exact depth while a pipeline pumps sediment away, sometimes to rebuild beaches. Crews often work 12-hour shifts for weeks.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. On-the-job training, starting as a deckhand on dredge crews.
Ways in: On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Heavy Equipment Operation (trade school).
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. GPS and auto-depth control help precision, but running a dredge in changing mud, weather and traffic stays hands-on.
Classes: Physics, Earth science, Shop class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 53-7031.
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