Also called: Sat Diver, Deep-Sea Commercial Diver
Lives for weeks inside a pressurized chamber so they can work hundreds of feet underwater on pipelines and oil rigs.
Sat divers live in a steel chamber the size of a small RV aboard a ship, breathing a helium mix, then ride a diving bell down 300-1,000 feet to weld, bolt, and inspect subsea equipment in total darkness. A single 'sat' can last 28 days, including several days to slowly decompress. It is one of the most dangerous and highest-paid hands-on jobs on Earth.
Paid mostly by day rate and depth pay; top sat divers can clear $200k-$300k+ in busy years, but work is cyclical.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 8 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, then typically 5-10 years as a surface diver and tender before getting a saturation slot.
Ways in: Trade school, Certification, On-the-job training, Military. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Commercial Diving (trade school), Marine Diving Technology (2-year).
Growing much faster than average (about 9% over 10 years). BLS projects about 9% growth for all commercial divers (2024-34).
Low risk for 10 years. Resident subsea robots take more inspection work, but complex repairs on pipelines and wellheads still need divers' hands.
Classes: Physical education and swimming, Welding CTE class, Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 49-9092.
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