Dredge Operators Salary
The median pay for a dredge operators in Kansas City, MO-KS is $48,980/year ($23.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers.
So what does $49K get you in Kansas City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kansas City’s Regional Price Parity (92.5). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About dredge operators
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What this looks like in Kansas City
Dredge operators pay in Kansas City tracks closely to the national median, $49K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 1% difference. Rent runs $1,146/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.5 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kansas City, MO-KS
Entry-level dredge operators (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Dredge Operators pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
Track dredge operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kansas City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dredge operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas City?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 34.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,146/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dredge operators in Kansas City?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dredge operators typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,288/month. At HUD’s $1,146/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Kansas City?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $49K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Kansas City compare to the national average for dredge operators?
Kansas City pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.5), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dredge operators make in Kansas City, MO-KS?
The median is $48,980 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,130, and experienced dredge operators can clear $74,130. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Kansas City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,321/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,146/month, which eats 34.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a dredge operators salary go in Kansas City?
Kansas City has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median dredge operators salary is worth about $52,951 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.