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Commercial Divers: Career Profile
Work below surface of water, using surface-supplied air or scuba equipment to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures. May use a variety of power and hand tools, such as drills, sledgehammers, torches, and welding equipment. May conduct tests or experiments, rig explosives, or photograph structures or marine life.
The Daily Work of Commercial Divers Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of commercial divers span:
- Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.
- Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.
- Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones.
- Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.
- Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
- Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.
- Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.
- Inspect and test docks, ships, buoyage systems, plant intakes or outflows, or underwater pipelines, cables, or sewers, using closed circuit television, still photography, and testing equipment.
What Commercial Divers Need to Know
Effective commercial divers draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Types of Commercial Divers Jobs
People in this occupation may also be known by titles such as:
- Aquarium Diver
- Area Commercial Diver
- Certified Diver
- Commercial Diver
- Deep Sea Diver
- Dive Tender
- Divemaster
- Diver
How Many Commercial Divers Are There?
There are about 354,165 commercial divers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +13.6% over the projection horizon.
Commercial Divers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $52,232 |
| Hourly median | $25.11 |
| 10th percentile | $32,849 |
| 25th percentile | $42,540 |
| 75th percentile | $61,924 |
| 90th percentile | $71,615 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Commercial Divers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $153,990 |
| Washington | $117,210 |
| Vermont | $98,610 |
| New Jersey | $94,820 |
| Hawaii | $94,710 |
| Wisconsin | $85,310 |
| Virginia | $79,090 |
| Indiana | $78,680 |
| Maine | $72,800 |
| Missouri | $61,420 |
| California | $61,100 |
| Connecticut | $58,170 |
| Texas | $56,340 |
| West Virginia | $55,680 |
| Florida | $52,680 |
| Michigan | $52,360 |
| Guam | $49,420 |
| Louisiana | $48,550 |
| South Carolina | $48,010 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for commercial divers vary by region. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $153,990 | 9.7% | 0.94 |
| Far Western US | $110,781 | 6.8% | 1.73 |
| Great Lakes | $81,693 | 5.3% | 0.81 |
| New England | $64,997 | 14.5% | 6.76 |
| Southwest | $56,340 | 12.1% | 0.80 |
| Southeast | $54,337 | 50.2% | 4.40 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $49,420 | 1.4% | 22.37 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $154,000 | 190 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $131,960 | |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $94,710 | 30 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | VA | $75,030 | 90 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | FL | $62,050 | 170 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | CT | $60,020 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | CA | $58,800 | 230 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $58,680 | 90 |
Top Industries Employing Commercial Divers
The largest employers of commercial divers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 1,220 | $63,240 |
| Construction | 1,050 | $61,420 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 640 | $63,900 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 170 | $38,190 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 120 | $71,210 |
| Manufacturing | 40 | $81,510 |
Below are examples of industries where commercial divers work:
Software Commercial Divers Use
- Data base user interface and query software: Diving logbook software
- Data base user interface and query software: Diving table software
- Analytical or scientific software: Dynamic positioning DP software
- Data base user interface and query software: Remote operated vehicle ROV dive log software
- Internet browser software: Web browser software
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for commercial divers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Contact With Others
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
Most commercial divers positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (Supplemental)
- Boilermakers (Primary-Short)
- Construction Laborers (Supplemental)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Pipelayers (Primary-Long)
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Primary-Short)
- Helpers–Electricians (Supplemental)
- Helpers–Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring commercial divers typically earn programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
Sources
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 49-9092.00 (Commercial Divers).
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