Commercial divers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $43,330 | $20.83 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $72,990 | $35.09 |
| Mean (average) | $88,320 | $42.46 |
| 90th percentile | $157,790 | $75.86 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Commercial divers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 19 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $85,990 | $85,810 | $92,530 | ||
| California | $101,540 | $39,980 | $152,760 | 310 | 0.76 |
| Connecticut | $59,690 | $53,540 | $83,700 | 120 | 3.29 |
| Florida | $49,640 | $39,200 | $70,120 | 370 | 1.69 |
| Hawaii | $95,750 | $49,010 | $134,060 | 70 | 4.89 |
| Indiana | $83,510 | $79,040 | $104,980 | ||
| Kentucky | $63,550 | $37,550 | $84,950 | ||
| Louisiana | $62,230 | $32,430 | $99,160 | 230 | 5.4 |
| Maine | $74,610 | $37,300 | $80,110 | ||
| Michigan | $54,620 | $49,420 | $76,450 | 80 | 0.78 |
| Missouri | $63,030 | $50,710 | $89,530 | ||
| New Jersey | $86,920 | $65,200 | $144,470 | ||
| New York | $157,800 | $62,400 | $157,820 | 170 | 0.81 |
| Rhode Island | $126,320 | $73,130 | $126,340 | ||
| South Carolina | $49,260 | $43,110 | $92,720 | 30 | 0.63 |
| Texas | $46,490 | $33,050 | $62,510 | ||
| Vermont | $85,780 | $83,260 | $101,690 | 80 | 11.38 |
| Virginia | $62,340 | $45,200 | $97,100 | ||
| Washington | $161,800 | $122,290 | $250,960 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for commercial divers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 14.8%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for commercial divers
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Diver, Professional and Instructor CIP 49.0304
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.
- Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.
- 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.
- 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.
- Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
- Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.
- Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.
Technology skills
- Diving logbook software
- Diving table software
- Dynamic positioning DP software
- Remote operated vehicle ROV dive log software
- Web browser software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Quality Control Analysis, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance.
Common job titles: Diver, Diver Tender, Diving Coordinator, Hard Hat Diver, NDT UW Welder (Non Destructive Testing Under Water Welder), Salvage Diver, Saturation Diver.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do commercial divers make?
The national median annual wage for commercial divers was $72,990 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $43,330 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $157,790. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do commercial divers need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is commercial divers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of commercial divers to change +4.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay commercial divers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($161,800), New York ($157,800), Rhode Island ($126,320). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.