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Diver

Overview and Key Facts

diver
Education
Education
Post high school credential
Median Pay
Median Pay
$61,130
Job Growth
Job Growth
8.50%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
4,500

What Do They Do?

A commercial diver could...

 
turtle
Film sea turtles for an educational documentary.
bridge demo
Rig underwater explosives for a bridge demolition.
pipeline
Help build underwater structures.
shipwreck
Salvage treasure from an ancient shipwreck.
 
turtle bridge demo pipeline shipwreck

Overview Listen to this section

Thousands of structures, like bridge supports, ocean oil rigs, and marine research equipment lie underwater and it is the job of commercial divers to maintain those structures. Using scuba gear, commercial divers do a wide variety of underwater tasks, including installing equipment and structures, conducting tests or experiments, rigging explosives, and photographing structures or marine life.
Watch this video if you've ever wondered who invents and tests diving equipment. See the Naval Experimental Diving Unit in action creating new diving products and pushing the physical limits of commercial diving.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht9gTHI9eMg

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Diver?


  1. Critical Thinking: ?
  2. Active Listening: ?
  3. Operations Monitoring: ?
  4. Speaking: ?
  5. Quality Control Analysis: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Diver might do:
  • 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.
  • Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports.
  • Install, inspect, clean, or repair piping or valves.
  • Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea.
  • Install pilings or footings for piers or bridges.
  • Salvage wrecked ships or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools and explosive charges, when necessary.
  • Remove obstructions from strainers or marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic or power hand tools.
  • Set or guide placement of pilings or sandbags to provide support for structures, such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms.
  • Perform activities related to underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery, or cleanup operations.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state
No data available for some states (white on the map)

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Diver Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Diver jobs (8.50%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Diver

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Commercial divers typically need a high school diploma or GED. Training and certification through a commercial diving school is mandatory for most jobs. Basic scuba diving certification should be obtained prior to attending a commercial diving program.

Because there are a large variety of jobs to be done underwater, commercial divers may also need to acquire other skills, like underwater welding, photography, or construction, depending on the type of work they'll be doing. In some companies, on-the-job training by more experienced divers also occurs.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Post high school credential ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

A high school diploma or GED and certification through a commercial diving school are necessary for most commercial diving jobs.

Companies That Hire Divers

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Find out about the exciting and not-so-exciting parts of diving (like repairing sewers) in this interview with Michael Lombardi, an exploration, scientific, and commercial diver.
Throughout college, I pursued three parallel professions: scientific diving via the program at the University of New Hampshire, marine science as my major, and commercial diving during every free moment that I had. 
Michael Lombardi, Commercial Diver

Nature of the Work

Commercial divers perform underwater activities related to construction, salvage, repair, research, rescue and photography. They use specialized scuba equipment. The exact type of equipment depends on the diving conditions, but

Commercial divers find employment with many types of companies and organizations. Oil companies, demolition companies, police and fire departments, underwater salvage companies, and the Navy are just a few of the places where commercial divers work. Depending on the task, commercial divers may need other skills, such as welding, rigging explosives, photography, or emergency management.

Work Environment

Commercial divers spend their working hours in wet suits and scuba gear, swimming around in a variety of bodies of water, from freezing oceans to murky lakes. They are found in swamps, streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, ports, harbors, locks, weirs, reservoirs, spillways, quarries, pools, and sewers.

More Information

Ask Questions

Do you have a specific question about a career as a Diver that isn't answered on this page? Post your question on the Science Buddies Ask an Expert Forum.

Sources

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