Deep sea divers, particularly commercial and saturation divers, can earn substantial salaries due to the high-risk and specialized nature of their work.
- Saturation divers , who work at great depths and live in pressurized environments for extended periods, are among the highest earners. They can make around $3,000 per day in Australia, which translates to potentially over $180,000 annually if consistently working
. Some reports indicate saturation divers can earn between $150,000 to $250,000 per year, with top earners making even more, sometimes over $500,000 annually due to "depth pay" and bonuses
- Offshore commercial divers generally earn about $1,500 per day in Australia, with experienced divers making between $80,000 and $150,000 annually or more depending on skills and location
- Onshore commercial divers and other specialized divers have more varied pay. For example, construction divers may earn $400+ daily, while aquaculture divers might make around $80,000 per year
- In the U.S., commercial divers earn an average hourly wage of about $32.26, which equates to roughly $67,000 annually, with experienced divers making up to $119,830 per year or more
. Entry-level divers earn less, around $16 per hour, while highly experienced divers can earn over $60 per hour
- Average scuba divers (not necessarily deep sea or commercial) make about $49,600 per year nationally in the U.S., but this varies widely based on experience, employer, and diving type
In summary, deep sea and saturation divers can earn from around $80,000 to well over $250,000 annually, with the highest pay for those with advanced certifications and experience in demanding environments like saturation diving
