Dredge Operators Salary
The median pay for a dredge operators in Wisconsin is $54,310/year ($26.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $65K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.33), which stretches that salary to about $57,574 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,202/month, about 33.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Wisconsin. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $54K get you in Wisconsin?
About dredge operators
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What this looks like in Wisconsin
Dredge operators pay in Wisconsin tracks closely to the national median, $54K locally vs. $50K nationwide, a 9% difference. Rent runs $1,202/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.33 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Wisconsin
Entry-level dredge operators (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $54K. Top earners bring in $65K or more, a $20K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track dredge operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Wisconsin numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a dredge operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Wisconsin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $54K, rent takes 32.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,202/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for dredge operators in Wisconsin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new dredge operators typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,651/month. At HUD’s $1,202/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Wisconsin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $54K locally vs. $50K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Wisconsin compare to the national average for dredge operators?
Wisconsin pays $54K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.33), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do dredge operators make in Wisconsin?
The median is $54,310 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,190, and experienced dredge operators can clear $64,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $54K enough to live in Wisconsin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,654/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,202/month, which eats 32.9% 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 Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has a Regional Price Parity of 94.33 (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 $57,574 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.