How much does a commercial diver make?
a year · about $35 an hour
A typical commercial diver in the United States makes $72,990 a year, about $35 an hour, about 1.4× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
After a safety briefing, a diver checks gear and enters the water while teammates stay on a boat or shore. The diver uses a line or phone to talk with them while inspecting or repairing underwater structures.
Did you know? After a very deep dive, commercial divers may spend hours in a pressure chamber while it slowly brings them back to normal air pressure.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $43,330 and $157,790How do you become one?
Finish high school or a GED, pass a dive physical, and complete commercial-diving school for entry-level tender/diver training. In the U.S., ADCI cards start at 18; new workers usually begin as tenders and advance with experience.
School needed: Vocational school or a few years' experience
Good for people who like building and doing and figuring things out
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience and extra certifications can lead to harder, specialized jobs that pay more. Pay also varies by employer and industry, location, and how much work is available; schedules and projects can be uneven.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Washington ($161,800), lowest in Texas ($46,490).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $43,330 | $72,990 | $157,790 | about 3,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $161,800 | — |
| New York | $157,800 | about 170 |
| Rhode Island | $126,320 | — |
| California | $101,540 | about 310 |
| Hawaii | $95,750 | about 70 |
Official definition: 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).
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2007/winter/yawhat.pdf
- www.energy.gov/cmei/water/commercial-diver
- www.adc-int.org/files/ADCI%20PHYSICAL%20%26%20MEDICAL%20REQUIREMENTS%202_0.pdf
- www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.421
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2022/may/oes499092.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY