Also called: Navy Underwater Construction Team (UCT) Diver, Seabee Diver
Seabee builders and electricians who dive to build and repair piers, pipelines, and underwater cables at naval bases around the world.
UCT divers inspect pier pilings in murky water, pour underwater concrete, weld and cut steel, and lay cables on the seafloor. Teams deploy to remote ports and islands for months. Between projects they train constantly on dive safety and construction skills.
RMC (base pay + housing/food allowances + tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-7 ranks, 2026 estimate, plus the special-duty, flight or hazardous-duty pays this job usually earns.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. High school diploma, Navy boot camp, a Seabee construction rating school, then Navy dive school. Free-college benefits: Tuition Assistance (up to $4,500/yr) while serving, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (36 months of tuition + housing stipend) afterward, and SkillBridge internships before separating.
Ways in: Military, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Construction Technology, Marine Technology.
Growing about average. Military specialties are not in BLS projections. The services recruit for this job every year and openings track force size and retention rather than market growth.
Low risk for 10 years. Underwater drones help inspect; building and repairing stays hands-on.
Classes: Shop class, Swimming, Physics.
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.