Jobs Similar to Commercial Divers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to commercial divers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters and Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators.
Commercial Divers: $72,990 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Commercial Divers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators | 79% | $53,340−27% | High school |
| 2 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | 79% | $63,800−13% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining | 79% | $57,430−21% | High school |
| 4 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersSame group | 79% | $95,320+31% | High school |
| 5 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 79% | $78,620+8% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Rail Car Repairers | 79% | $67,530−7% | High school |
| 7 | Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas | 78% | $60,190−18% | High school |
| 8 | MillwrightsSame group | 78% | $65,700−10% | High school |
| 9 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorSame group | 78% | $74,340+2% | Training or associate |
| 10 | RiggersSame group | 78% | $62,640−14% | High school |
| 11 | Pipelayers | 78% | $49,000−33% | High school |
| 12 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 78% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 13 | Helpers--Electricians | 78% | $42,670−42% | High school |
| 14 | Roustabouts, Oil and Gas | 78% | $46,960−36% | High school |
| 15 | Solar Photovoltaic Installers | 78% | $53,140−27% | High school |
| 16 | Roof Bolters, Mining | 78% | $78,540+8% | High school |
| 17 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 77% | $49,880−32% | High school |
| 18 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersSame group | 77% | $39,630−46% | High school |
| 19 | Pile Driver Operators | 77% | $73,3000% | High school |
| 20 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | 77% | $65,510−10% | Training or associate |
- 1Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators
79% similar · $53,340 (−27%) · High school
- 2Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
79% similar · $63,800 (−13%) · Training or associate
- 3Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining
79% similar · $57,430 (−21%) · High school
- 4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
79% similar · $95,320 (+31%) · High school · Same group
- 5Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
79% similar · $78,620 (+8%) · Training or associate
- 6Rail Car Repairers
79% similar · $67,530 (−7%) · High school
- 7Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas
78% similar · $60,190 (−18%) · High school
- 8Millwrights
78% similar · $65,700 (−10%) · High school · Same group
- 9Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
78% similar · $74,340 (+2%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 10Riggers
78% similar · $62,640 (−14%) · High school · Same group
- 11Pipelayers
78% similar · $49,000 (−33%) · High school
- 12Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
78% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 13Helpers--Electricians
78% similar · $42,670 (−42%) · High school
- 14Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
78% similar · $46,960 (−36%) · High school
- 15Solar Photovoltaic Installers
78% similar · $53,140 (−27%) · High school
- 16Roof Bolters, Mining
78% similar · $78,540 (+8%) · High school
- 17Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
77% similar · $49,880 (−32%) · High school
- 18Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
77% similar · $39,630 (−46%) · High school · Same group
- 19Pile Driver Operators
77% similar · $73,300 (0%) · High school
- 20Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
77% similar · $65,510 (−10%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than commercial divers.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators79% similar · High school
- Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators, Surface Mining79% similar · High school
- Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers79% similar · High school
- Rail Car Repairers79% similar · High school
- Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas78% similar · High school
- Millwrights78% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for commercial divers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where commercial divers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (79)
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (79)
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (78)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (77)
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (74)
- Electricians (74)
- Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (74)
- Rail Car Repairers (74)
- Crane and Tower Operators (73)
- Pipelayers (73)
Questions about jobs like commercial divers
What jobs are most similar to commercial divers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators (79% similar), Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters (79% similar), Excavating and Loading Machine and Dragline Operators (79% similar), Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers (79% similar) and Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (79% similar).
Which jobs like commercial divers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers ($95,320, +31%; usually a high school diploma), Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators ($78,620, +8%; usually training or an associate degree) and Roof Bolters ($78,540, +8%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with commercial divers ($72,990). Without more preparation than commercial divers usually need: Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers, Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators and Roof Bolters.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.