Commercial Divers: Career Overview
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.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Commercial Divers Do?
Typical responsibilities of commercial divers 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful commercial divers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Other Commercial Divers Job Titles
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 roughly 354,165 commercial divers working in the United States today. Employment is projected 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 |
Wages vary widely 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 |
Pay by U.S. Region
Earnings for commercial divers differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| 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 |
Which Industries Hire Commercial Divers
The largest employers of commercial divers are concentrated in the following sectors:
| 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 |
Commercial Divers work in the following industries:
Tech Stack
- 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
The on-the-job environment of 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
Education and Training
Typical commercial divers positions require some college, no degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
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
Students preparing for commercial divers typically earn programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Statistics shown above are sourced 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).
Course Advisor provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© Course Advisor – All Rights Reserved.