Career comparison
Commercial Diver vs. Ship Captain
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Ship captains earn more at the median ($92,460 vs. $72,990), while commercial divers usually get to work faster (Diving school plus tending experience of training). Commercial divers work underwater to build, inspect and repair docks, pipelines and structures. Ship captains command and navigate ships, tugs and ferries on oceans, rivers and lakes.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Commercial Diver | Ship Captain | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $72,990 ($35.09/hr) | $92,460 ($44.45/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $43,330 – $157,790 | $47,420 – $170,640 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.8% (about as fast as average) | +4.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 400 | 3,800 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | Diving school plus tending experience | Years of sea time and credentials |
| Key credential | ADCI certification | USCG Master or Mate license |
| Work setting | Divers work in harbors, rivers, lakes, dams and offshore.. | Captains work on vessels for weeks or months at a time.. |
What each job does
Commercial Diver
- Inspect underwater structures
- Weld and cut underwater
- Install equipment
- Repair docks and pipelines
- Recover objects
Ship Captain
- Navigate vessels
- Stand watch
- Supervise crew
- Plan voyages
- Oversee cargo
How they’re similar
Both careers involve travel, high-pay, working outdoors, and teamwork. They sit in different fields, skilled trades & construction and transportation & logistics, but share transferable skills such as calm under pressure and leadership.
Which should you choose?
Choose commercial diver if…
- I love the water
- I stay calm in danger
- I’m physically fit
Choose ship captain if…
- I love the water
- I can lead a crew
- I can be away for weeks
Still torn? Take the Commercial Diver fit quiz and the Ship Captain fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, commercial diver or ship captain?
Ship Captains earn more at the median: $92,460 versus $72,990 for commercial divers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Commercial Divers typically train faster (Diving school plus tending experience) than ship captains (Years of sea time and credentials).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects commercial divers to grow +4.8% from 2025–35, compared with +4.0% for ship captains.