Commercial Divers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for commercial divers in the U.S. is $72,990 ($35.09 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $72,990
- Mean annual wage
- $88,320
- Median hourly wage
- $35.09
- Employment
- 3,450
3,450 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $43,330 | $20.83 |
| 25th percentile | $54,810 | $26.35 |
| Median (50th) | $72,990 | $35.09 |
| 75th percentile | $101,550 | $48.82 |
| 90th percentile | $157,790 | $75.86 |
Highest-paying states for commercial divers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $161,800 | — |
| New York | $157,800 | 170 |
| Rhode Island | $126,320 | — |
| California | $101,540 | 310 |
| Hawaii | $95,750 | 70 |
| New Jersey | $86,920 | — |
| Arizona | $85,990 | — |
| Vermont | $85,780 | 80 |
| Indiana | $83,510 | — |
| Maine | $74,610 | — |
Lowest-paying states
- Texas: $46,490 median annual wage
- South Carolina: $49,260 median annual wage
- Florida: $49,640 median annual wage
- Michigan: $54,620 median annual wage
- Connecticut: $59,690 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Set or guide placement of pilings or sandbags to provide support for structures, such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms.
- Drill holes in rock and rig explosives for underwater demolitions.
- Install, inspect, clean, or repair piping or valves.
- Salvage wrecked ships or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools and explosive charges, when necessary.
- Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.
- 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.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Postsecondary certificate
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 14.1% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 39.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 24.7% |
| Associate's degree | 9.8% |
| Bachelor's degree | 9.3% |
| Master's degree | 1.8% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.6% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$49,590
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$50,620
- First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,860
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,520
- Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$61,010
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,770
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,510
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$49,230
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.