Construction commercial diver
Also called scaphandrier, HAZMAT diver, inshore diver
Construction commercial divers work below the surface of the water to install equipment, such as hydraulic structures, waterways and marine facilities. They also inspect, remove and repair the structures.
What you'd do
Underwater divers · ILO- Taking safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths, and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin
- Checking and maintaining diving equipment such as helmets, masks, air tanks, diving suits, harnesses and gauges
- Descending into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits
- Working under water to lay and repair bridges, piers and harbour-wall foundations
- Inspecting for suspected damage and making minor repairs to ships' hulls and underwater installations
- Reporting on condition of wrecked ships
- Removing underwater obstructions
- Drilling holes for underwater blasting
- Performing various underwater tasks connected with salvage work or recovering dead bodies
- Gathering shellfish, sponges and other aquatic life forms
- Communicating with workers on the surface while under water, using signal lines or telephones
- Obtaining information about diving tasks and environmental conditions
- Mostly outdoors
- A mix of sitting and standing
- Constant contact with people
- Some freedom to decide
- Usually 40 hours a week
- Deadlines most weeks
- Some repetitive tasks
Will there be jobs?
Limited prospectsFewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.
Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.
What does it pay?
Below averagePay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €4,800 (Denmark), before tax.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.
Among craft and related trades workers in the EU, women earn 26% less per hour than men. Craft and related trades workers · Eurostat
What do I need to study?
Upper secondary or vocationalUpper secondary or vocational training in transport services is the usual route.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.
Will AI change it?
Very littleAI could help with only small parts of the tasks.
Average task score 0.16 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).
See the score for each of the 12 tasks
Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for underwater divers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).