Also called: Public Safety Diver, Underwater Recovery Diver
Dives into lakes, rivers, and harbors to recover evidence, vehicles, and drowning victims.
Police divers work in dark, cold water with near-zero visibility, searching by feel in grid patterns. They might recover a gun tossed off a bridge or a car that went into a river. Most also work regular patrol.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 5 years after high school. Police academy plus several years as a patrol officer, then selection and specialized training. Public safety diving certification.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Criminal Justice.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Police and detectives 2024-34 (approx.); specialty units are small.
Low risk for 10 years. Sonar and underwater drones find targets faster; recovering evidence and victims by feel stays human.
Classes: PE / swimming, Biology, Physics, Health / first aid.
Official data: O*NET occupation 33-3051.
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.