Commercial Divers
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
Work happens below the surface on scuba or surface-supplied air, after checking helmets, tanks, harnesses, and gauges and registering with authorities. Helpers assist the descent; once down, work may include inspecting steel or wood, checking docks, ships, pipelines, or cables with cameras and test gear, or welding with torches. Conditions are reviewed first, dive times and depths are watched, and the surface is reached by signal line or telephone. Some dives include photography or tests; experienced divers may also train others. Suits people who accept strict safety rules and physical work in water, and who follow surface instructions while diving.
Typical education: Post-Secondary Certificate (vocational/technical)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$72'990
Median Wage Market Position
$72'990
What you might do
- Descend underwater in scuba or diving suits
- Inspect docks, ships, and underwater pipelines
- Examine steel and wood structures below water
- Signal the surface crew while underwater
- Check helmets, air tanks, and dive gauges
- Track dive time and depth for safety
Skills that matter
- Judging safe dive times and depths
- Checking tanks, helmets, and gauges
- Using phones and lines to the surface
- Inspecting underwater steel and wood
- Testing docks, pipelines, and intakes
- Training and supervising other divers
AI & the future of this role
Underwater inspection and repair demand specialized diving skill, physical endurance, and real-time judgment in unpredictable conditions. Remotely operated vehicles may take on more routine checks, yet complex installations and emergency work are likely to stay with trained divers.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details