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Employment Percentage
41.17647059
SOC ID
49-9092
SOC Title
Commercial Divers
ONET ID
49-9092.00
ONET Concat ID
49909200
Median Salary
58826.1
Ed Level High School
7.7
Ed Level Certificate
72.400002
Ed Level Some College
3.3
Ed Level Associates
11.57
Ed Level Bachelors
5.02
Ed Level Masters
0
Ed Level Doctors
0
Typical Ed Level
a certificate
Career Description
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.
Core Tasks
  • 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 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.
  • Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.
  • 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.
Start Annual Earnings
31157.45
Top Annual Earnings
212182.58
EMSI Career Title Slug
commercial-diver