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Dredging Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

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Dredging information

See Tennessee salary details

$12

$23

$37

How much do dredging jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 20, 2026, the average hourly pay for dredging in Tennessee is $23.74, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.62 and $25.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is dredging?

Dredging is the process of removing sediment, debris, and other materials from the bottom of bodies of water such as rivers, harbors, and canals. Professionals in dredging operate specialized equipment to excavate these materials, helping to maintain navigable waterways, prevent flooding, and support construction or environmental restoration projects. Their work ensures safe passage for ships, protects shorelines, and can also contribute to land reclamation and wetland restoration efforts.

What does a dredging operator do?

Dredging jobs focus on the removal of sediment from water routes, including streams, rivers, lakes, and artificially created areas. In this role, you operate a large piece of equipment known as a dredge. You also coordinate with a safety engineer and otherwise help ensure marine traffic can continue to work as normal. Many regions also dredge areas that host fish and wildlife, helping to ensure that the area remains safe for aquatic life. Outside of waterway cleaning, people sometimes hire dredges to create new waterways, excavate areas for future work, reclaim damaged areas, deepen existing waterways, or perform other maintenance. Dredging jobs often require traveling to different areas to work as needed, so you may be away from home for extended periods while on the job.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a dredging operator?

To thrive as a Dredging Operator, you need mechanical aptitude, knowledge of dredging techniques, and relevant certifications such as a heavy equipment operator license or maritime credentials. Familiarity with GPS navigation systems, dredging machinery, and safety protocols is typically required. Strong attention to detail, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities help operators adapt to changing conditions and maintain project efficiency. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring safe operations, minimizing environmental impact, and meeting project goals in marine and waterway construction.

What are some of the common challenges faced by professionals working in dredging operations?

Professionals in dredging often face challenges such as working in variable weather conditions, maintaining equipment in harsh marine environments, and adhering to strict environmental and safety regulations. Dredging projects can also require coordination with multiple stakeholders, including port authorities, marine engineers, and environmental agencies, which makes strong communication skills essential. Additionally, project timelines can be impacted by unexpected technical issues or regulatory changes, so adaptability and problem-solving abilities are highly valued in this role.

What is the difference between Dredging vs Excavation?

AspectDredgingExcavation
Primary PurposeRemoving sediment and debris from water bodiesDigging and removing earth from land surfaces
Work EnvironmentWaterways, ports, harborsConstruction sites, land development
Required CertificationsHeavy equipment operation, safety certificationsHeavy equipment operation, safety certifications
Industry UsageMaritime, environmental managementConstruction, infrastructure projects

While both dredging and excavation involve earth-moving activities, dredging focuses on removing sediment from water bodies to maintain navigability or environmental health, whereas excavation involves digging land for construction or development projects. Understanding these differences helps in selecting the right skill set and equipment for each task.

How do you become a dredging professional?

To become a dredging professional, individuals typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by specialized training or an apprenticeship in dredging operations. Relevant skills include knowledge of heavy machinery, safety procedures, and environmental regulations, and certifications such as OSHA safety training are often required.

Is dredging a hard job?

Dredging is physically demanding work that often involves operating heavy machinery in challenging outdoor environments. It requires technical skills, safety awareness, and sometimes certifications, making it a job that can be considered physically and technically challenging.
More about Dredging jobs

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For Dredging jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Dredging jobs in Tennessee look for?

The top searched job categories for Dredging jobs in Tennessee are:

What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Dredging jobs?

Cities in Tennessee with the most Dredging job openings:

Dredging jobs near you
Infographic showing various Dredging job openings in Tennessee as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $49,381 per year, or $23.7 per hour.

Project Civil Engineer - Marine Infrastructure

Foth

Nashville, TN • On-site

$82K - $109K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago

Job description

Foth is a 100% member-owned science and engineering consulting firm headquartered in Wisconsin, with over 85 years of success. Our 750 members across 33 locations are dedicated to solving our clients' toughest science and engineering challenges. Consistently ranked by Engineering News Record in the top 150 firms, we offer a values-based, collaborative, and flexible work environment with professional growth opportunities. If you thrive working alongside a smart and caring team, Foth may be the place for you.
Join our team and experience the Foth difference that contributes to our impressive 92+% member retention rate! Learn more at foth.com/careers. 


Foth is currently seeking a team-focused, innovative, and results-oriented Project Civil Engineer for Marine Infrastructure Engineering Services who is looking for new learning experiences, an opportunity for career growth, and a desire to contribute to our clients' success. Candidates must be located in the Memphis or Nashville, TN areas. This is a unique opportunity to growth Foth's regional presence in the state of Tennessee!
Primary Responsibilities:
  • Work closely with Project Managers to establish and monitor project budgets, schedules, and deliverables
  • Develop construction documents including plans and specifications
  • Work with Foth's Technical Competency Leaders and discipline leaders to develop Foth's technical library for waterfront projects
  • Develop and continuously improve standard work practices
  • Support Client Team Leader efforts with new and existing clients to help develop business, create proposals, and cultivate client relationships
  • Prepare/review technical approaches and proposals for projects and/or coastal engineering tasks supporting large multi-disciplinary projects
  • Lead communication efforts with clients from proposal phase to project completion phase, as the technical expert
  • Make formal and informal presentations to both technical and lay audiences
  • Build and facilitate teamwork among members across all disciplines and levels, with a focus on waterfront services
  • Coach, mentor, motivate, and develop technical members
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering
  • 7+ years of marine engineering experience in the areas of marine infrastructure and dredging
  • Experience with developing construction documents including plans and specifications
  • Professional Engineer license for Tennessee, or ability to obtain within 1 year
Preferred Qualifications:
  • 15+ years with an engineering consulting firm, with an emphasis in coastal engineering/marine construction
  • Prior experience serving as technical lead/designer on a variety of waterfront and coastal engineering-related projects
  • Experience performing coastal conditions calculations and structural analyses to develop/review design drawings for various types of marine infrastructure projects
  • Experience leading planning, engineering, construction, and rehabilitation of various coastal shoreline protection and stabilization projects, along with marine/waterfront structures
  • Prior experience navigating existing and proposed regulations related to marine infrastructure and coastal engineering
  • Previous experience with integrating complex engineering and environmental sciences on marine projects
All Foth Companies are equal opportunity employers, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. Qualified women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. All locations are tobacco-free.  Subject to applicable state law, all applicants who have received a written offer of employment and a copy of Foth's Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace Program Policy, will be required to undergo testing for commonly abused controlled substances. Applicants must complete the required drug testing within two business days of offer acceptance.  Foth will pay for all drug testing, which will be conducted by a licensed independent medical laboratory that follows testing requirements in accordance with applicable state law.
 
Colorado Residents: In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
 
Notice to Third Party Recruiters/Agencies: Foth does not accept unsolicited resumes from third party recruiting firms. Absent a signed recruiting agreement coordinated through Foth, Foth reserves the right to pursue and hire candidates without financial obligation to third party recruiters or agencies.
Artificial Intelligence: Foth uses artificial intelligence and other technology-assisted tools in connection with parts of our recruiting and hiring process, including to assist with reviewing application materials, identifying potentially qualified candidates, sourcing candidates, and supporting interview preparation. These tools are used to support, but do not replace, human decision-making, and all employment decisions are made by qualified human reviewers. Where required by law, we will provide additional information regarding the use of these tools, and applicants may contact us with questions or request reasonable accommodation regarding their use.
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