For Educators: Military Resources
Military Divers
Median Salary
82,033
Workforce Count
28,174
Overview
What are the responsibilities of this role?
Underwater missions undertaken by military divers can be very demanding. They perform such tasks as reconnaissance, demolition, ship repair, search for missing persons, and salvage in underwater conditions. They usually specialize in either scuba diving or deep-sea diving.
What is the work environment like?
Divers work under water. However, they plan and prepare for work on land or aboard ships. Because diving is not usually a full-time job, divers often have another job specialty in which they work.
How many people have this role in the Military?
28,174
Compensation
Understanding How Military Pay is More Than Just a Salary
Base pay is the standard income you’ll earn as a service member, providing a stable foundation to start achieving your financial goals.
- Always fixed based on rank and service time.
- Distributed monthly.
What is the typical salary range?
Salary by Years of Service
$97,372
2 Years
$71,927
6 Years
$97,372
10+ Years
Median Salary
Military Details
What Service Branches offer this role?
Is this a staff or leadership role?
Enlisted service members execute vital tasks, support operations alongside officers and develop role-specific skills to achieve mission success.
Learn More About Enlisted and Officer PathsWhat does the training for this role entail?
All enlisted service members complete basic military training, which includes time spent in a classroom and in the field, and covers tactical and survival skills, physical training, military life and customs, and weapons training. Job training for divers consists of classroom and on-the-job instruction, including practice in diving and repair work. Training content varies depending on specialty and may include:
- Water adaptability
- Air and mixed gas diving
- Use and maintenance of tools and diving equipment
- Underwater welding and cutting
- Use of explosives for underwater demolition
- Recompression chamber operations
- Ship maintenance repair and salvage
Education
What level of education do professionals in this role have?
Which college majors best prepare you for this role?
- Diver, Professional and Instructor
Learn About How Military Can Pay for 100% of your College Degree
The Military has several programs that cover college costs — so you can pursue your education with little to no debt.
Learn More About Paying For CollegeSkills and Interest
What knowledge is essential to bring to the table?
- Mechanical
- Building and Construction
- Physics
- Customer and Personal Service
- Engineering and Technology
What personality traits help people thrive in this role?
Realistic
You love hands-on work and solving practical problems — like fixing things and building stuff.
Investigative
You love figuring out how things work and researching subjects that interest you.
Conventional
You like structure, staying organized, and working with systems to get things done efficiently.
RIASEC represents six broad interest areas—Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional—helping individuals identify careers that match their skills and preferences.
Take the RIASEC Test