Commercial Divers
Commercial Divers (SOC 49-9092) earn a median $72,990 a year ($35.09 an hour) in the United States, with 3,450 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Washington.
What commercial divers do
Commercial divers work underwater, breathing surface-supplied air or using scuba gear, to inspect, repair, remove or install equipment and structures. They inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures, and inspect and test docks, ships, buoyage systems, plant intakes or outflows, and pipelines, cables or sewers below the surface, using closed circuit television, still photography and testing equipment. Divers may use power and hand tools such as drills, sledgehammers, torches and welding equipment, and some conduct tests or experiments, rig explosives, or photograph structures or marine life. Before a dive they obtain information about the task and environmental conditions, take safety precautions such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities, and check and maintain equipment such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses and gauges. They descend with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits, and communicate with workers on the surface by signal lines or telephones. Some supervise or train other divers. Athletes and sports competitors, police and sheriff's patrol officers, and fishing and hunting workers are excluded.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a postsecondary certificate, meaning training completed after high school but short of a degree.
Also called: Aquarium Diver, Area Commercial Diver, Certified Diver, Commercial Diver, Deep Sea Diver.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $20.83 | $26.35 | $35.09 | $48.82 | $75.86 | $42.46 | 3,450 |
| Annual | $43,330 | $54,810 | $72,990 | $101,550 | $157,790 | $88,320 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where commercial divers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington | Hourly | $58.80 | $65.51 | $77.79 | $120.65 | $120.66 | $89.09 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $122,290 | $136,260 | $161,800 | $250,940 | $250,960 | $185,300 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $30.00 | $47.03 | $75.87 | $75.87 | $75.88 | $62.88 | 170 | 0.02 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $62,400 | $97,820 | $157,800 | $157,820 | $157,820 | $130,790 | ||||
| Rhode Island | Hourly | $35.16 | $60.73 | $60.73 | $60.74 | $60.74 | $56.46 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $73,130 | $126,320 | $126,320 | $126,340 | $126,340 | $117,430 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $19.22 | $19.22 | $48.82 | $63.04 | $73.44 | $47.47 | 310 | 0.02 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $39,980 | $39,980 | $101,540 | $131,110 | $152,760 | $98,740 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $23.56 | $34.85 | $46.04 | $48.65 | $64.45 | $42.87 | 70 | 0.11 | 4.89 |
| Annual | $49,010 | $72,480 | $95,750 | $101,180 | $134,060 | $89,180 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.85 | $20.83 | $23.86 | $28.89 | $33.71 | $25.13 | 370 | 0.04 | 1.69 |
| Annual | $39,200 | $43,330 | $49,640 | $60,080 | $70,120 | $52,270 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $19.22 | $19.22 | $48.82 | $63.04 | $73.44 | $47.47 | 310 | 0.02 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $39,980 | $39,980 | $101,540 | $131,110 | $152,760 | $98,740 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $15.59 | $23.50 | $29.92 | $35.81 | $47.67 | $31.34 | 230 | 0.12 | 5.40 |
| Annual | $32,430 | $48,890 | $62,230 | $74,470 | $99,160 | $65,190 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $30.00 | $47.03 | $75.87 | $75.87 | $75.88 | $62.88 | 170 | 0.02 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $62,400 | $97,820 | $157,800 | $157,820 | $157,820 | $130,790 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $25.74 | $28.00 | $28.70 | $34.27 | $40.24 | $31.29 | 120 | 0.07 | 3.29 |
| Annual | $53,540 | $58,250 | $59,690 | $71,280 | $83,700 | $65,090 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | Hourly | $35.16 | $60.73 | $60.73 | $60.74 | $60.74 | $56.77 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $73,130 | $126,320 | $126,320 | $126,340 | $126,340 | $118,070 | ||||
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | Hourly | $18.45 | $18.45 | $48.82 | $63.16 | $63.16 | $46.04 | 60 | 0.04 | 1.83 |
| Annual | $38,370 | $38,370 | $101,550 | $131,370 | $131,370 | $95,770 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $23.42 | $36.59 | $46.04 | $48.65 | $64.46 | $44.51 | 50 | 0.12 | 5.49 |
| Annual | $48,710 | $76,110 | $95,750 | $101,180 | $134,070 | $92,570 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $32.14 | $32.15 | $42.85 | $75.86 | $75.87 | $50.06 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $66,860 | $66,860 | $89,130 | $157,780 | $157,820 | $104,120 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $27.91 | $35.00 | $40.48 | $60.31 | $63.76 | $47.11 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $58,060 | $72,800 | $84,200 | $125,450 | $132,620 | $98,000 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $20.00 | $22.35 | $24.48 | $30.04 | $30.11 | $25.19 | 100 | 0.03 | 1.42 |
| Annual | $41,600 | $46,490 | $50,920 | $62,490 | $62,630 | $52,390 | ||||
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 100 | 0.07 | 3.10 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $20.83 | $22.03 | $26.65 | $30.70 | $35.53 | $27.35 | 90 | 0.03 | 1.41 |
| Annual | $43,330 | $45,820 | $55,440 | $63,860 | $73,890 | $56,880 | ||||
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | Hourly | $21.73 | $28.69 | $30.20 | $37.03 | $47.59 | $33.81 | 90 | 0.11 | 5.06 |
| Annual | $45,200 | $59,670 | $62,820 | $77,020 | $98,980 | $70,330 | ||||
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | Hourly | $25.74 | $28.39 | $28.70 | $29.62 | $34.27 | $30.11 | 70 | 0.12 | 5.25 |
| Annual | $53,540 | $59,050 | $59,690 | $61,600 | $71,280 | $62,620 | ||||
Top industries employing commercial divers
Other Support Services employ 44.6% of commercial divers nationally (1,540 jobs) at a median $76,350 a year ($36.71 an hour), followed by Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (27.2%) and Amusement Parks and Arcades (5.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Support Services NAICS 561900 | 1,540 | 44.6% | $76,350 | $36.71 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction NAICS 237900 | 940 | 27.2% | $104,980 | $50.47 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades NAICS 713100 | 180 | 5.2% | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions NAICS 712100 | 100 | 2.9% | $46,540 | $22.37 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation NAICS 488300 | 70 | 2.0% | $95,750 | $46.04 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (3,450). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $60,360 for commercial divers in May 2021 and $72,990 in May 2025, with employment of 2,670 and 3,450.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $60,360 | $29.02 | 2,670 |
| May 2022 | $68,300 | $32.84 | 3,860 |
| May 2023 | $61,300 | $29.47 | 2,790 |
| May 2024 | $61,130 | $29.39 | 3,430 |
| May 2025 | $72,990 | $35.09 | 3,450 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
19 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington profile | $77.79 | $161,800 | $122,290 | $250,960 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | New York profile | $75.87 | $157,800 | $62,400 | $157,820 | 170 | 0.02 | 0.81 |
| 3 | Rhode Island profile | $60.73 | $126,320 | $73,130 | $126,340 | ** | ** | ** |
| 4 | California profile | $48.82 | $101,540 | $39,980 | $152,760 | 310 | 0.02 | 0.76 |
| 5 | Hawaii profile | $46.04 | $95,750 | $49,010 | $134,060 | 70 | 0.11 | 4.89 |
| 6 | New Jersey profile | $41.79 | $86,920 | $65,200 | $144,470 | ** | ** | ** |
| 7 | Arizona profile | $41.34 | $85,990 | $85,810 | $92,530 | ** | ** | ** |
| 8 | Vermont profile | $41.24 | $85,780 | $83,260 | $101,690 | 80 | 0.25 | 11.38 |
| 9 | Indiana profile | $40.15 | $83,510 | $79,040 | $104,980 | ** | ** | ** |
| 10 | Maine profile | $35.87 | $74,610 | $37,300 | $80,110 | ** | ** | ** |
| 11 | Kentucky profile | $30.55 | $63,550 | $37,550 | $84,950 | ** | ** | ** |
| 12 | Missouri profile | $30.30 | $63,030 | $50,710 | $89,530 | ** | ** | ** |
| 13 | Virginia profile | $29.97 | $62,340 | $45,200 | $97,100 | ** | ** | ** |
| 14 | Louisiana profile | $29.92 | $62,230 | $32,430 | $99,160 | 230 | 0.12 | 5.40 |
| 15 | Connecticut profile | $28.70 | $59,690 | $53,540 | $83,700 | 120 | 0.07 | 3.29 |
| 16 | Michigan profile | $26.26 | $54,620 | $49,420 | $76,450 | 80 | 0.02 | 0.78 |
| 17 | Florida profile | $23.86 | $49,640 | $39,200 | $70,120 | 370 | 0.04 | 1.69 |
| 18 | South Carolina profile | $23.68 | $49,260 | $43,110 | $92,720 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.63 |
| 19 | Texas profile | $22.35 | $46,490 | $33,050 | $62,510 | ** | ** | ** |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (49-9090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 49-9092 Commercial Divers.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 49-9092, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 49-9092.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.