Also called: Research Diver
Dives for science—collecting samples, surveying reefs, and installing underwater instruments.
Makes three dives a day off a research boat to count fish along a measuring tape and photograph kelp, then logs dives and rinses gear.
Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in a science plus AAUS scientific diver certification.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Marine Biology, Biology, Oceanography.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Estimate.
Low risk for 10 years. Underwater drones handle some surveys, but sampling and installing gear by hand still needs certified divers.
Classes: Biology, Physics, Earth science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-4021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.