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Commercial Divers

What do they do?

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.

Education Required

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

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What Does This Job Pay?
Tennessee Average Salary: $86,000-$175,000
Median Annual Salary: $61,300
Median Hourly Salary: $29
Salary distribution bell curve graph
$39,430
$61,300
$136,990
One out of ten earn less than $39,430
The median salary is $61,300
One out of ten earn more than $136,990
Top Skills For This Job
  • Basic Skills
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
  • Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
  • Social
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions
  • teaching people how to do something
Will There Be Jobs?
Jobs more likely

New job opportunities are very likely in the future.

View high demand jobs.
Are You On Track?
Typical education needed: Post-secondary certificate
Post-secondary certificate
Associate's degree
High school diploma or equivalent
72%
12%
8%
Typical Daily 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.