Career comparison
Commercial Diver vs. Deckhand
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Commercial divers earn more at the median ($72,990 vs. $51,520), while deckhands usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks of training). Commercial divers work underwater to build, inspect and repair docks, pipelines and structures. Deckhands work aboard tugboats, barges, ferries and ships handling lines, cargo and maintenance.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Commercial Diver | Deckhand | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $72,990 ($35.09/hr) | $51,520 ($24.77/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $43,330 – $157,790 | $34,560 – $83,620 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.8% (about as fast as average) | +3.2% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 400 | 3,600 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | Diving school plus tending experience | 1–4 weeks |
| Key credential | ADCI certification | Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) |
| Work setting | Divers work in harbors, rivers, lakes, dams and offshore.. | Deckhands work on vessels in all weather, on slippery decks, around heavy lines and machinery and far from shore. |
What each job does
Commercial Diver
- Inspect underwater structures
- Weld and cut underwater
- Install equipment
- Repair docks and pipelines
- Recover objects
Deckhand
- Handle mooring lines and tie up vessels
- Build and break barge tows
- Stand lookout and security watches
- Load, secure and check cargo
- Clean, chip and paint the vessel
How they’re similar
Both careers involve hands-on work, physical work, travel, and working outdoors. They sit in different fields, skilled trades & construction and transportation & logistics, but share transferable skills such as calm under pressure and teamwork.
Which should you choose?
Choose commercial diver if…
- I love the water
- I stay calm in danger
- I’m physically fit
Choose deckhand if…
- I love being on the water
- I can be away for weeks at a time
- I like hard physical work
Still torn? Take the Commercial Diver fit quiz and the Deckhand fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, commercial diver or deckhand?
Commercial Divers earn more at the median: $72,990 versus $51,520 for deckhands, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Deckhands typically train faster (1–4 weeks) than commercial divers (Diving school plus tending experience).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects commercial divers to grow +4.8% from 2025–35, compared with +3.2% for deckhands.