Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2008

49-9092 Commercial Divers

Work below surface of water, using scuba gear 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. Exclude "Fishers and Related Fishing Workers" (45-3011), "Athletes and Sports Competitors" (27-2021), and "Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers" (33-3051).

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
State profile for this occupation
Metropolitan area profile for this occupation


National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
2,370 10.8 % $26.42 $54,940 3.8 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $15.04 $17.62 $22.28 $32.19 $46.73
Annual Wage (2) $31,280 $36,660 $46,340 $66,950 $97,190


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Other Support Services 840 $29.62 $61,600
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 330 $25.42 $52,880
Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction 60 $18.79 $39,090
Amusement Parks and Arcades 50 $24.87 $51,740
Local Government (OES designation) 40 $29.19 $60,710

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Other Support Services 840 $29.62 $61,600
Local Government (OES designation) 40 $29.19 $60,710
Scientific Research and Development Services (8) $27.20 $56,580
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 330 $25.42 $52,880
Amusement Parks and Arcades 50 $24.87 $51,740


State profile for this occupation: Top

States with the highest published employment concentrations and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all States with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

States with the highest concentration of workers in this occupation:

State Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of State employment
Louisiana 740 $28.85 $60,020 0.039%
Alaska 60 $38.01 $79,070 0.019%
Hawaii 60 $17.64 $36,690 0.010%
Mississippi 40 $18.69 $38,880 0.004%
New Jersey 100 $39.16 $81,460 0.003%

Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of State employment
New Jersey 100 $39.16 $81,460 0.003%
Alaska 60 $38.01 $79,070 0.019%
California 140 $37.25 $77,470 0.001%
Ohio 40 $34.27 $71,270 0.001%
New York (8) $32.34 $67,260 (8)


Metropolitan area profile for this occupation: Top

Metropolitan areas with the highest published employment concentrations and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all Metropolitan areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of workers in this occupation:

MSA Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of MSA employment
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA 360 $33.19 $69,040 0.070%
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA 50 $28.12 $58,490 0.004%
Orlando-Kissimmee, FL 40 $25.49 $53,020 0.004%

Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:

MSA Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of MSA employment
Anchorage, AK (8) $42.33 $88,040 (8)
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA 360 $33.19 $69,040 0.070%
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA 50 $28.12 $58,490 0.004%
Orlando-Kissimmee, FL 40 $25.49 $53,020 0.004%
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC (8) $23.53 $48,950 (8)


About May 2008 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in every State and the District of Columbia. The top five employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable Excel files (XLS).

Percentile wage estimates show the percentage of workers in an occupation that earn less than a given wage and the percentage that earn more. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.


Other OES estimates and related information:

May 2008 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2008 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2008 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2008 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order

List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order

Download May 2008 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped Excel files

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: May 04, 2009