Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Postsecondary nondegree award
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Commercial divers work in a specialized technical trade that combines hands-on mechanical abilities with physical strength and stamina. Nationally, this occupation employs about 4,000 people, with a typical education level of a postsecondary nondegree award. The role favors people who are detail oriented and comfortable applying science, problem solving, and critical and analytical thinking in demanding environments. Leadership, adaptability, and creativity and innovation also appear among the top skills, suggesting that divers may need to make sound decisions and adjust quickly to changing conditions. The national median annual salary of $61,130 indicates solid earning potential, and some states and metro areas offer significantly higher median pay. With projected employment growth of 8.5%, commercial diving presents an opportunity for individuals who want a skilled, technical career path rather than a traditional four-year degree route. For students, career changers, or experienced tradespeople, this field can offer a focused, specialized direction built on both physical capability and technical skill.
Commercial divers earn a national median annual salary of $61,130, but pay can vary widely by location. Among the top states, New York shows the highest median salary at $157,800, followed by California at $101,540. Vermont, Hawaii, and Connecticut report median salaries of $85,780, $95,750, and $59,690, respectively. At the metro level, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA reports a median salary of $101,550, while Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD offers $84,200. Other highlighted metro areas, including Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, list median salaries of $50,920 and $55,440. These differences mean earning potential can shift significantly depending on where you work, with some states and metros offering compensation well above the national median. For anyone considering this career, comparing regional pay levels is an important part of long-term planning.
Commercial divers have national employment of about 4,000 workers, with projected employment growth of 8.5%. This projected growth suggests that the occupation is expected to expand over the projection period. However, the number of annual openings is listed as 0, indicating that projected new positions and replacement needs are not expressed as a separate openings figure here. Growth of 8.5% is also reflected consistently in the top states and metro areas highlighted for this career, suggesting similar projected change across those locations. For individuals thinking about entering this field, the combination of a relatively small national employment base and positive projected growth points to a niche occupation with defined opportunities. Because annual openings are not quantified, those interested in commercial diving may need to pay particular attention to regional demand patterns and timing when planning a transition or entry into the field.
Location can significantly shape opportunity for commercial divers. Among states, California and New York stand out with high median salaries of $101,540 and $157,800 and opportunity scores of 67.38 and 65.78, respectively. Vermont, Hawaii, and Connecticut also rank among the top states by opportunity score, with median salaries between $59,690 and $95,750 and employment ranging from 70 to 120. These figures show that strong opportunities exist in both higher- and moderate-employment states. At the metro level, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD leads with an opportunity score of 56.36 and a median salary of $84,200. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA and Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT also offer strong opportunity scores along with median salaries of $101,550 and $59,690. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL combine employment levels of 90–100 with mid-range salaries and solid opportunity scores, giving candidates multiple regional options to consider.
Commercial divers typically enter the field with a postsecondary nondegree award, rather than a traditional four-year college degree. This pathway can appeal to students and career changers who prefer focused, occupation-specific training. Success in this career draws on a broad mix of physical and cognitive skills. Physical strength and stamina, fine motor abilities, and mechanical skills are all highlighted, indicating the importance of hands-on capability. At the same time, science, problem solving and decision making, and critical and analytical thinking are key, pointing to the need to understand technical concepts and make sound judgments. Personal attributes such as being detail oriented, adaptable, and creative and innovative also matter, as does leadership. Together, this skill set suggests that training programs and early experience should help you build both physical readiness and strong technical and analytical abilities to support long-term development in commercial diving.
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