Commercial divers
SOC Code: 49-9092
Commercial divers carries a 26% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $61,130 and +8.5% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 4,200 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Commercial divers (SOC 49-9092) carries an AI exposure score of 26%, placing it in the Medium automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 4,200 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +8.5% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $61,130, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Postsecondary nondegree award, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Commercial divers. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.
- 2. Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.
- 3. Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones.
- 4. Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.
- 5. Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
- 6. Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.
- 7. Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.
- 8. Inspect and test docks, ships, buoyage systems, plant intakes or outflows, or underwater pipelines, cables, or sewers, using closed circuit television, still photography, and testing equipment.
- 9. Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools.
- 10. Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.
Key Skills Required
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Operations Monitoring
- Speaking
- Quality Control Analysis
- Operation and Control
- Time Management
- Reading Comprehension
- Coordination
- Complex Problem Solving
Knowledge Areas
- Mechanical
- Building and Construction
- Physics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Design
- Medicine and Dentistry
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Commercial divers?
Commercial divers has an AI exposure score of 26%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Commercial divers?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Commercial divers is projected to grow by 8.5% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 4,200 workers.
What skills are needed for Commercial divers?
Key skills for Commercial divers include Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Operations Monitoring, and others. Typical entry-level education is Postsecondary nondegree award.
How much do Commercial divers earn?
The median annual wage for Commercial divers is $61,130, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Commercial divers?
The typical entry-level education for Commercial divers is Postsecondary nondegree award. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves Moderate-term on-the-job training. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Commercial divers?
Commercial divers roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).