Service Branches
Work Environment
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.
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Military Status
Enlisted
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Median Military Salary This is the median, or the midpoint, of the salary range for this career.
$82,033
Military Salary Range Salary varies based on years of service, degree level, special pays, family status and location.
$24,876 - $229,073
Overview
They perform such tasks as reconnaissance, demolition, ship repair, search for missing persons, salvage in underwater conditions, or construction. They usually specialize in either scuba diving or deep-sea diving.
Military Training
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
Helpful Attributes
- A high degree of self-reliance
- Ability to stay calm under stress
- Interest in underwater diving
Related Civilian Careers
- Commercial Divers
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers
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