Dredge Operators Salary
The median pay for a dredge operators in Iowa is $57,990/year ($27.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $56K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $65,260 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Iowa. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $58K get you in Iowa?
About dredge operators
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What this looks like in Iowa
Iowa sits well above the national pay line for dredge operators, local pay runs about 17% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,064/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level dredge operators (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $14K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track dredge operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dredge operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 27.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for dredge operators in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dredge operators typically earn — is $56K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,364/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is dredge operator a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay is 17% above the national median — $58K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for dredge operators?
Iowa pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dredge operators make in Iowa?
The median is $57,990 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,060, and experienced dredge operators can clear $69,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,813/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 27.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a dredge operators salary go in Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dredge operators salary is worth about $65,260 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do dredge operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.