Commercial Diver Salary Guide

Commercial divers perform underwater construction, inspection, maintenance, salvage, and repair tasks for marine, industrial, and infrastructure projects. They operate from surface-supplied or saturation systems, use specialized tools and welding equipment, follow strict safety and decompression protocols, and often work in challenging offshore, inland, and port environments.

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What is the average Commercial Diver salary?

Entry Level

$40,000 - $60,000

Mid Level

$60,000 - $90,000

Senior Level

$90,000 - $140,000+

How does Commercial Diver salary grow with experience?

$40,000 - $55,000
0-2
$55,000 - $75,000
3-5
$75,000 - $100,000
6-10
$100,000 - $160,000++
10+
Base (min)
Top of range (max)
Max: $160k

Commercial Diver salary by location

Gulf Coast (Houston/New Orleans/Corpus Christi)$55,000 - $120,000
Alaska (offshore & remote projects)$70,000 - $140,000
Pacific Northwest (Seattle/Portland)$50,000 - $110,000
Southern California (San Diego/Los Angeles)$50,000 - $115,000
Gulf of Mexico Offshore$80,000 - $160,000+
Base (min)
Top of range (max)

What factors affect a Commercial Diver's salary?

  • Certifications and specialized skills (underwater welding, saturation diving, hyperbaric operation)
  • Work environment and location (offshore, remote, hazardous conditions)
  • Type of employer and contract (oil & gas, marine construction, salvage, government)
  • Experience level and safety record
  • Union membership and collective bargaining agreements

How to compare Commercial Diver pay figures

The generated ranges in this guide have not been independently source-verified. Check the underlying occupation, location and data period before using a range as a market benchmark. Keep the original source alongside any figure you save. A page updated recently can still contain wages measured in an earlier year, and a broad occupational category may cover several different job titles.

Compare the work as well as the title

Read a vacancy's responsibilities, required experience, working hours and location before placing it beside another role. Two positions called Commercial Diver can have different scope. Record the duties you would own, the team or customers you would support, and any supervisory expectations. Use those details to decide whether a comparison is relevant instead of assuming that a matching title means matching pay.

Keep compensation definitions consistent

Confirm the currency and whether a figure is hourly, monthly or annual. Check the paid hours before converting between periods. Separate guaranteed base pay from bonuses, commissions, overtime, equity and benefits. Ask which parts are guaranteed and which depend on targets, company results or vesting conditions. Compare the same components across offers; a total-compensation figure and a base-salary figure answer different questions.

Identify the statistic too. A median divides the measured workforce into two equal halves. A percentile describes a point in that distribution; it does not automatically describe an entry-level or senior employee. Do not turn national survey percentiles into a personal experience-based pay prediction. Use local, role-relevant evidence when it is available and record any mismatch in coverage.

Build a comparison you can check later

For each job listing, survey or offer, save the role, responsibilities, location, currency, pay period, compensation components, source link and date checked. Mark missing information as unknown. Keep the employer's stated range separate from any expectation you calculate yourself. If the figures differ, first check their definitions and scope rather than averaging incompatible numbers into a new estimate.

When discussing an offer, prepare clear examples of the responsibilities and results you can support with your experience. Ask the recruiter about the role's level, the approved range and how the package is structured. Keep those answers with your comparison so you can assess the offer using confirmed information. This guide gives you questions to investigate; the employer's written terms establish the actual package being offered.

Read the salary source and comparison checklist

Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Diver Salaries

How much does a commercial diver make on average?

Average pay varies by experience and location: entry-level commercial divers typically earn $40,000–$60,000, mid-career $60,000–$90,000, and senior divers $90,000–$140,000 annually.

What certifications raise a commercial diver's salary?

Certifications that increase pay include commercial diving school graduation, IMCA/ADC (industry) qualifications, welding/underwater welding certificates, hyperbaric chamber operator training, and specific offshore safety tickets (e.g., BOSIET/PET).

Do commercial divers get paid more for offshore work?

Yes. Offshore and hazardous environment roles typically pay a premium due to increased risk, remote travel, and longer rotations; offshore rates can add 10–50% or more to base pay depending on region and contract.

Can commercial divers earn overtime or contract bonuses?

Yes. Many commercial divers earn significant additional income through overtime, shift premiums, per-diem, hazard pay, project completion bonuses, and premium rates for specialized tasks like underwater welding or saturation diving.

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