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Commercial Divers in Florida

Considering working as a Commercial Divers in Florida? Below are the key facts. 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 Florida?

The commercial divers working in Florida, the median annual wage is $52,680 per year (or about $25.33/hour).Annual wages span from $40,450 at the 10th percentile to $85,000 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$40,450	$19.45
25th percentile	$47,570	$22.87
Median (50th)	$52,680	$25.33
75th percentile	$65,350	$31.42
90th percentile	$85,000	$40.87

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Florida compared to the national average — is 2.63, 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 Florida median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 354,165 commercial divers nationwide. In Florida alone, approximately 570 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 140 commercial divers.

Top Florida Metros for Commercial Divers

The largest metro-area employers of commercial divers in Florida.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	170	$62,050
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	60	$58,490
Jacksonville, FL	50	$48,540

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

Where commercial divers earn the most: 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

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

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for commercial divers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• 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?

Related college programs include:

• Marine Transportation

Related Careers

Other careers like 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