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Commercial Divers

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $72,990 Median per year · $35.09/hr Most earn $43,330–$157,790

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Cultivate or harvest marine species or perform routine work on fish farms.
  • Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.
  • Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
  • 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.
  • Cultivate or harvest marine species or perform routine work on fish farms.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 400 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Other support services38.1%
  • Other heavy and civil engineering construction23.0%
  • Self-employed (their own business)14.8%
  • Amusement parks and arcades4.4%
  • Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions2.5%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 6 months to 1 year

Commercial diving usually isn't a straight-out-of-high-school job. Most people finish high school, then complete a diving certificate or apprenticeship and build about 6 months to 1 year of related experience before working as commercial divers. Pay varies by location and experience, so check the career page for typical pay near you and nationally.

  1. High school diploma or GED

    4 years

    Finish high school with strong math, physics, and physical fitness, since dive work involves calculations and hard physical labor underwater and above water.

  2. Commercial diving certificate or apprenticeship

    6 months to 1 year

    Train in diving techniques, underwater tools, welding, and safety procedures, often with hands-on time in the water. This training builds the experience employers look for before you dive on real jobs.

  3. Commercial Diver

    Ongoing career

    Work below the surface using surface-supplied air or scuba gear to inspect, repair, and install structures and equipment, using tools like drills, torches, and welding gear.

Where it can lead

  1. Dive Supervisor

    Several years as a commercial diver of experience first

    You plan dive jobs, lead the dive team, and make sure safety rules are followed, which requires more experience in the water and good judgment under pressure.

  2. Diving Superintendent

    Several years as a dive supervisor of experience first

    You oversee several dive teams and projects, managing schedules, budgets, and crews, so you need strong leadership and planning skills along with diving experience.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and physicsCalculating depth, pressure, and equipment loads is part of dive work, and physics explains how water and air pressure affect the body.
  • Join the swim team or take a water safety courseStrong swimming and comfort in the water are basic needs for commercial diving training.
  • Get CPR and first aid certificationDivers need to respond to emergencies, and this certification is often inexpensive and quick to earn.
  • Get a part-time job at a marina, pool, or lifeguard standWorking around water builds experience, responsibility, and comfort with boats and equipment.
  • Talk to a working diver or a dive schoolHearing from people in the field helps you learn what training is needed and whether the work fits you.

In college

  • Take physics, biology, or marine science coursesThese classes build knowledge about water, pressure, and underwater environments that will help in training and on the job.
  • Look for a commercial diving program at a technical or community collegeA certificate or apprenticeship is the typical training route, and some schools offer diving programs you can explore if they're available near you.
  • Work a summer job on boats or at a marine construction siteWork on a dock, vessel, or job site gives you hands-on experience with tools, safety routines, and teamwork around water.
  • Join a scuba or dive clubClub dives build water experience and connect you with people who already work in or know the diving field.
  • Keep up your fitness and get a first aid certificationPhysical strength, endurance, and emergency skills are required on most dive jobs and are often checked in training.

Tips for getting started

  • Get comfortable in the water now. Strong swimming and good physical fitness matter a lot in this career, and many programs and employers expect them.
  • Ask local dive shops, marinas, or working divers what training programs they recommend and what the job is really like day to day.
  • Look into a commercial diving or related certificate program at a technical or community college, and compare schedules, costs, and job placement help before you enroll.

Related jobs that often lead here

  • Riggers 3 to 6 months of experience

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Marine Transportation Certificate: typical pay 1 year after finishing $46,468 a year · typical debt $5,990

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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