by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 7 U.S. colleges awarded 504 degrees and certificates in Diver, Professional & Instructor. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 52% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $55,096 one year after completing, rising to $78,025 after four years.
A major in Diver, Professional & Instructor involves the study of Diver, Professional And Instructor. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Function As Professional Deep-Water Or Scuba Divers, Diving Instructors, Or Diving Support Personnel. Includes Instruction In The Use Of Diving Equipment And Related Specialized Gear; Diving Safety Procedures; Operation And Maintenance Of Underwater Life-Support Systems; Underwater Communication Systems; Decompression Systems; Underwater Salvage; Exploration, Rescue, And Photography; And Installation And Fitting Of Underwater Mechanical Systems And Their Maintenance, Repair Or Demolition.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, diver, professional & instructor draws strong interest, with 504 degrees awarded annually. 7 colleges award diver, professional & instructor degrees, an average of 72 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 224.
By level, the 504 awards include 237 certificates, 5 associate degrees and 262 master’s degrees.
Women earned 6% of diver, professional & instructor degrees and certificates in the latest year (32 of 504). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (305) and Hispanic or Latino (79), and international students earned 4.
The most common diver, professional & instructor credential is the master’s degree: 262 of the 504 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to diver, professional & instructor call most for Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Mechanical, Building and Construction and Physics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Arm-Hand Steadiness.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a diver, professional & instructor degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 237 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 262 |
Postsecondary certificate is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to diver, professional & instructor, at 72.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 72.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 11.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 5.0% |
| Some college courses | 3.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Diver, Professional & Instructor, with an average median salary of $52,232; the strongest outlook belongs to Commercial Divers, at 13.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Hard Hat Diver, Navy Diver, Route Diver and Under Water Assistant (U/W Assistant).
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to diver, professional & instructor, at 402,389.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Divers | 402,389 | 13.6% |
Diver, Professional & Instructor graduates earn a median $55,096 one year after completing their program, $78,025 after four years and $66,829 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,096 |
| 4 years | $78,025 |
| 5 years | $66,829 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to diver, professional & instructor, with a median salary of $52,232.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Commercial Divers | $52,232 |
Diver, Professional & Instructor has 2 similar majors in the Transportation & Materials Moving field, which together award 584 degrees a year; the largest are Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer (501) and Marine Transportation, Other (83). Browse all Transportation & Materials Moving majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer | 501 |
| Marine Transportation, Other | 83 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.