SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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. Excludes “Athletes and Sports Competitors” (27-2021), “Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers” (33-3051), and “Fishing and Hunting Workers” (45-3031).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 49-9092.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $43,330 | $3,611 | $833 | $20.83 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $54,810 | $4,568 | $1,054 | $26.35 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $72,990 | $6,082 | $1,404 | $35.09 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $101,550 | $8,462 | $1,953 | $48.82 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $157,790 | $13,149 | $3,034 | $75.86 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Commercial Divers is $72,990, which is 43% higher. Among the 51 occupations of the field Installation, Maintenance, and Repair, it ranks number 11 by median pay. With 3,450 jobs, it makes up about 0.2 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($88,320) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Commercial Divers pay by state
The highest median pay was in Washington ($161,800), New York ($157,800) and Rhode Island ($126,320). The lowest was in Texas ($46,490), South Carolina ($49,260) and Florida ($49,640). The most jobs were in Florida (370), California (310) and Louisiana (230). The occupation is most concentrated in Vermont, where its share of all jobs is 11.4 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | not published | $161,800 | $185,300 | $77.79 |
| New York | 170 | $157,800 | $130,790 | $75.87 |
| Rhode Island | not published | $126,320 | $117,430 | $60.73 |
| California | 310 | $101,540 | $98,740 | $48.82 |
| Hawaii | 70 | $95,750 | $89,180 | $46.04 |
| New Jersey | not published | $86,920 | $89,120 | $41.79 |
| Arizona | not published | $85,990 | $83,990 | $41.34 |
| Vermont | 80 | $85,780 | $88,000 | $41.24 |
| Indiana | not published | $83,510 | $84,410 | $40.15 |
| Maine | not published | $74,610 | $64,290 | $35.87 |
| Kentucky | not published | $63,550 | $64,300 | $30.55 |
| Missouri | not published | $63,030 | $65,960 | $30.30 |
| Virginia | not published | $62,340 | $67,250 | $29.97 |
| Louisiana | 230 | $62,230 | $65,190 | $29.92 |
| Connecticut | 120 | $59,690 | $65,090 | $28.70 |
| Michigan | 80 | $54,620 | $58,050 | $26.26 |
| Florida | 370 | $49,640 | $52,270 | $23.86 |
| South Carolina | 30 | $49,260 | $54,770 | $23.68 |
| Texas | not published | $46,490 | $48,860 | $22.35 |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$74,340 a year
- Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$74,330 a year
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$74,090 a year
- Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other$68,990 a year
- Rail Car Repairers$67,530 a year
- Watch and Clock Repairers$67,230 a year
Common questions
How much do Commercial Divers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $72,990 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $43,330 and the highest-paid 10% more than $157,790.
How many people work as Commercial Divers?
About 3,450 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.