Prevailing Wage for Commercial Divers
Commercial Divers working in the United States under H-1B, E-3, or green card sponsorship must meet the DOL prevailing wage floor for SOC 49-9092. Whether the position is titled Diver, Hard Hat Diver, or Salvage Diver, DOL sets four experience-based wage levels and the required floor shifts significantly depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 covers entry-level divers with limited underwater work experience, typically performing routine tasks under close supervision. These workers are building foundational skills in surface-supplied air or scuba operations and have not yet demonstrated independent judgment on complex dive assignments.
Level 2 applies to qualified divers who handle standard inspection, repair, or installation tasks with moderate supervision. This is the most common filing level for Commercial Divers, reflecting journeyman-level underwater proficiency and familiarity with power tools and rigging procedures.
Level 3 covers experienced divers who work independently on complex underwater assignments, including non-destructive testing, welding, or demolition work. These professionals typically supervise dive tenders and bring specialized technical certifications to multi-phase offshore or industrial projects.
Level 4 applies to fully competent lead divers directing dive operations, establishing safety protocols, and making independent technical decisions. Roles at this level often involve project management responsibility, specialized saturation or mixed-gas diving credentials, and oversight of entire dive teams.
Prevailing Wage for Commercial Divers by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Commercial Divers and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Watch for title mismatches in offshore contracts
Employers sometimes file LCAs under generic maintenance or construction SOC codes rather than SOC 49-9092. If your offer letter says Diver Tender or NDT Diver but the LCA lists a different occupation code, the prevailing wage floor on your petition may not reflect the correct Commercial Divers benchmark.
Account for depth pay and hazard bonuses correctly
Offshore dive contracts frequently include depth premiums and hazard pay on top of a base rate. DOL prevailing wage compliance is measured against base salary only, so confirm the base component alone clears the applicable wage level before evaluating any supplemental dive pay.
Prioritize Seattle and New York offers over Gulf Coast postings
The wage gap between top and bottom metros for this occupation is steep. Seattle and New York carry prevailing wage floors well above the national median, while Corpus Christi and Houston sit near the bottom. Comparing offers across regions requires checking the specific worksite city, not a national average.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsors with dive hiring history
Employers who have sponsored Commercial Divers before are far more likely to navigate the LCA process correctly for this niche role. Migrate Mate shows historical sponsorship counts by employer, so you can identify companies that have actually filed for divers rather than those sponsoring the role for the first time.
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Find Jobs for Commercial DiversPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 49-9092.00 alongside Commercial Divers, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Diver Prevailing Wage
Diver Prevailing Wage
Diver positions fall under SOC 49-9092.00 (Commercial Divers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Diver Tender Prevailing Wage
Diver Tender Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Diver Tender for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-9092.00 (Commercial Divers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Hard Hat Diver Prevailing Wage
Hard Hat Diver Prevailing Wage
Hard Hat Diver is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-9092.00 (Commercial Divers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Non Destructive Testing Under Water Welder (NDT U/W Welder) Prevailing Wage
Non Destructive Testing Under Water Welder (NDT U/W Welder) Prevailing Wage
Non Destructive Testing Under Water Welder (NDT U/W Welder) positions fall under SOC 49-9092.00 (Commercial Divers). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Salvage Diver Prevailing Wage
Salvage Diver Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Salvage Diver for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-9092.00 (Commercial Divers). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Tender Prevailing Wage
Tender Prevailing Wage
Tender is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-9092.00 (Commercial Divers). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Commercial Divers?
DOL derives prevailing wages for Commercial Divers from Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics across metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. OFLC then publishes four wage levels for SOC 49-9092 in each survey area. Employers filing an LCA for a sponsored diver must offer at least the level that matches the position's actual skill and supervision requirements.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
The four levels reflect increasing skill, independence, and supervisory responsibility. Level 1 covers entry-level divers under close supervision. Level 2 represents qualified journeyman divers, the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 applies to experienced divers handling complex or specialized tasks independently. Level 4 covers lead divers directing operations. Your level should match the actual duties and supervision structure described in your job offer, not just your years of experience.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same diver role vary so much by city?
OFLC bases wage floors on regional OES survey data, so areas with dense offshore energy infrastructure, port activity, or heavy construction markets produce different benchmarks than lower-cost regions. The LCA requires the employer to list the actual worksite location, and compliance is measured against that area's wage, not a national figure. A dive role in Seattle or New York carries a substantially higher floor than the same title in Corpus Christi or Houston.
What happens if a job offer falls below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot file or certify an LCA if the offered wage is below the applicable DOL prevailing wage for the worksite area and wage level. USCIS will not approve an H-1B or other employment-based petition without a certified LCA showing wage compliance. If an offer is below the floor, the employer must raise the base salary to the required level before filing. Accepting a below-floor offer does not protect the worker from denial.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for Commercial Divers in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up SOC 49-9092 for any metropolitan area covered by OES data. Select the survey area matching your worksite city, choose the applicable wage level, and compare the published floor to your offer's base salary. You can also search O*NET for occupation context. To see which employers have historically sponsored divers, Migrate Mate filters visa-sponsorship job listings by role and location.
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