Also called: Bridge Inspection Diver, NDT Diver
Inspects bridges, dams, and docks underwater for cracks, scour, and corrosion.
Inspection divers swim along bridge piers measuring erosion, testing steel thickness with ultrasonic tools, and filming damage for engineers. Some are also licensed engineers.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 2 years after high school. Commercial diving school (e.g., Divers Institute of Technology, CDA Technical Institute, The Ocean Corporation, or Santa Barbara City College's Marine Diving Technology program) with ADCI certification plus NDT certifications; some have engineering degrees.
Ways in: Trade school, Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Commercial Diving (trade school), Civil Engineering.
Growing much faster than average (about 9% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Sonar, drones and inspection ROVs cover more structures; close hands-on checks of piers and dams still need divers.
Classes: Physics, Geometry, Physical education and swimming.
Official data: O*NET occupation 49-9092.
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