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Commercial Divers in Connecticut

Thinking about a career as a Commercial Divers in Connecticut? Here’s what the data says. 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. Excludes “Athletes and Sports Competitors” (27-2021), “Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers” (33-3051), and “Fishing and Hunting Workers” (45-3031).

What do Commercial Divers Make in Connecticut?

For a commercial divers working in Connecticut, the median annual wage is $58,170 per year (or about $27.97/hour).Pay can range from $52,170 at the 10th percentile to $81,510 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$52,170	$25.08
25th percentile	$57,430	$27.61
Median (50th)	$58,170	$27.97
75th percentile	$69,560	$33.44
90th percentile	$81,510	$39.19

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Connecticut compared to the national average — is 4.25, suggesting that commercial divers are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, commercial divers earn a median of $52,232 per year ($25.11/hour), exceeding the Connecticut median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 354,165 commercial divers nationwide. In Connecticut alone, approximately 160 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 140 commercial divers.

Top Connecticut Metros for Commercial Divers

These are the Connecticut metros with the most commercial divers in Connecticut.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	80	$58,170
Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	40	$60,020

Top States for Commercial Divers Employment

These states have the highest employment of commercial divers work.

State	Number Employed
Florida	570
Louisiana	350
Texas	250
New York	200
Connecticut	160
Maine	140
Virginia	120
Washington	100
Indiana	60
Wisconsin	50
Hawaii	40
Guam	30

Highest-Paying States for Commercial Divers

These states pay the most for commercial divers.

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

Skills

The most important commercial divers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for commercial divers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Day-to-day, commercial divers typically:

• 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.
• Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools.
• Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.
• Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.
• Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures.

Work Activities

• Performing General Physical Activities
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Getting Information
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Training and Teaching Others
• Controlling Machines and Processes

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved:

• Diving logbook software (data base user interface and query software)
• Diving table software (data base user interface and query software)
• Dynamic positioning DP software (analytical or scientific software)
• Remote operated vehicle ROV dive log software (data base user interface and query software)
• Web browser software (internet browser software)

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

• Marine Transportation

Related Careers

Related occupations to commercial divers include:

• Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
• Boilermakers
• Construction Laborers
• Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
• Pipelayers
• Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters

Also Known As

Aquarium Diver, Area Commercial Diver, Certified Diver, Commercial Diver, Deep Sea Diver, Dive Tender, Divemaster, Diver, Diver Tender, Hard Hat Diver, Marine Diver, Navy Diver, Non Destructive Testing Under Water Welder (NDT U/W Welder), Non Destructive Testing Underwater Welder (NDT U/W Welder), Plongeur.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 49-9092.00