Commercial Divers
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 49-9092.00
Work below surface of water, using surface-supplied air or scuba equipment to inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures. May use a variety of power and hand tools, such as drills, sledgehammers, torches, and welding equipment. May conduct tests or experiments, rig explosives, or photograph structures or marine life.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Low· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.16
0.09Range of values carried here0.70Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only25 rated tasks · 3 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (12.0%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- 1 rated task is not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; its score is kept as published for O*NET 27.2.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % |
|---|---|
Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.49-9092.00 | 0.0022100.0 |
| Not observed on any surface — 24 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | |
Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones. | —0 |
Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin. | —0 |
Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges. | —0 |
Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits. | —0 |
Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions. | —0 |
Inspect and test docks, ships, buoyage systems, plant intakes or outflows, or underwater pipelines, cables, or sewers, using closed circuit television, still photography, and testing equipment. | —0 |
Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools. | —0 |
Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports. | —0 |
Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects. | —0 |
Install pilings or footings for piers or bridges. | —0 |
Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures. | —0 |
Install, inspect, clean, or repair piping or valves. | —0 |
Remove obstructions from strainers or marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic or power hand tools. | —0 |
Salvage wrecked ships or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools and explosive charges, when necessary. | —0 |
Set or guide placement of pilings or sandbags to provide support for structures such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms. | —0 |
Perform activities related to underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery, or cleanup operations. | —0 |
Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers. | —0 |
Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea. | —0 |
Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures. | —0 |
Drill holes in rock and rig explosives for underwater demolitions. | —0 |
Remove rubbish or pollution from the sea. | —0 |
Perform offshore oil or gas exploration or extraction duties, such as conducting underwater surveys or repairing and maintaining drilling rigs or platforms. | —0 |
Cultivate or harvest marine species or perform routine work on fish farms. | —0 |
Set up dive sites for recreational instruction. | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Inspect and test docks, ships, buoyage systems, plant intakes or outflows, or underwater pipelines, cables, or sewers, using closed circuit television, still photography, and testing equipment.O*NET Task ID 13859 | 0.5 |
Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures.O*NET Task ID 13864 | 0.5 |
Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life.O*NET Task ID 13866 | 0.5 |
Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones.O*NET Task ID 13854 | 0.0 |
Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.O*NET Task ID 13855 | 0.0 |
Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.O*NET Task ID 13856 | 0.0 |
Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.O*NET Task ID 13857 | 0.0 |
Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.O*NET Task ID 13858 | 0.0 |
Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools.O*NET Task ID 13860 | 0.0 |
Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports.O*NET Task ID 13861 | 0.0 |
Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects.O*NET Task ID 13862 | 0.0 |
Install pilings or footings for piers or bridges.O*NET Task ID 13863 | 0.0 |
Install, inspect, clean, or repair piping or valves.O*NET Task ID 13865 | 0.0 |
Remove obstructions from strainers or marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic or power hand tools.O*NET Task ID 13867 | 0.0 |
Salvage wrecked ships or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools and explosive charges, when necessary.O*NET Task ID 13868 | 0.0 |
Set or guide placement of pilings or sandbags to provide support for structures, such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms.O*NET Task ID 13869 | 0.0 |
Perform activities related to underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery, or cleanup operations.O*NET Task ID 13870 | 0.0 |
Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.O*NET Task ID 13871 | 0.0 |
Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea.O*NET Task ID 13872 | 0.0 |
Drill holes in rock and rig explosives for underwater demolitions.O*NET Task ID 13873 | 0.0 |
Remove rubbish or pollution from the sea.O*NET Task ID 13874 | 0.0 |
Perform offshore oil or gas exploration or extraction duties, such as conducting underwater surveys or repairing and maintaining drilling rigs or platforms.O*NET Task ID 13875 | 0.0 |
Cultivate or harvest marine species or perform routine work on fish farms.O*NET Task ID 13876 | 0.0 |
Set up dive sites for recreational instruction.O*NET Task ID 13877 | 0.0 |
Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures.O*NET Task ID 20809 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (24)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones. | Core |
| Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin. | Core |
| Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges. | Core |
| Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits. | Core |
| Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions. | Core |
| Inspect and test docks, ships, buoyage systems, plant intakes or outflows, or underwater pipelines, cables, or sewers, using closed circuit television, still photography, and testing equipment. | Core |
| Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools. | Core |
| Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports. | Core |
| Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects. | Core |
| Install pilings or footings for piers or bridges. | Core |
| Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures. | Core |
| Install, inspect, clean, or repair piping or valves. | Core |
| Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life. | Core |
| Remove obstructions from strainers or marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic or power hand tools. | Core |
| Salvage wrecked ships or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools and explosive charges, when necessary. | Core |
| Set or guide placement of pilings or sandbags to provide support for structures, such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms. | Core |
| Perform activities related to underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery, or cleanup operations. | Core |
| Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers. | Core |
| Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea. | Core |
| Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures. | Core |
| Drill holes in rock and rig explosives for underwater demolitions. | Supplemental |
| Remove rubbish or pollution from the sea. | Supplemental |
| Perform offshore oil or gas exploration or extraction duties, such as conducting underwater surveys or repairing and maintaining drilling rigs or platforms. | Supplemental |
| Cultivate or harvest marine species or perform routine work on fish farms. | Supplemental |
0.66/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges. | E0 none |
| Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits. | E2 structured facilities |
| Inspect and test docks, ships, buoyage systems, plant intakes or outflows, or underwater pipelines, cables, or sewers, using closed circuit television, still photography, and testing equipment. | E2 structured facilities |
| Repair ships, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using caulk, bolts, and hand tools. | E0 none |
| Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment, jigs, and supports. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install pilings or footings for piers or bridges. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures. | E2 structured facilities |
| Install, inspect, clean, or repair piping or valves. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Operate underwater video, sonar, recording, or related equipment to investigate underwater structures or marine life. | E2 structured facilities |
| Remove obstructions from strainers or marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic or power hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Salvage wrecked ships or their cargo, using pneumatic power velocity and hydraulic tools and explosive charges, when necessary. | E0 none |
| Set or guide placement of pilings or sandbags to provide support for structures, such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Perform activities related to underwater search and rescue, salvage, recovery, or cleanup operations. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers. | E0 none |
| Carry out non-destructive testing, such as tests for cracks on the legs of oil rigs at sea. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Inspect the condition of underwater steel or wood structures. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Drill holes in rock and rig explosives for underwater demolitions. | E0 none |
| Remove rubbish or pollution from the sea. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Perform offshore oil or gas exploration or extraction duties, such as conducting underwater surveys or repairing and maintaining drilling rigs or platforms. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
- Employment, 2025
- 4K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 4K
- Change (2025–35)
- +4.8%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $72,990
- Typical education needed for entry
- Postsecondary nondegree award
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78492 | 잠수 기능원 | Same scope | confirmed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 7541Underwater Divers
The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.
Underwater divers work under the surface of water, with or without the aid of underwater breathing apparatus, to inspect, install, repair and remove equipment and structures, conduct tests or experiments, rig explosives, photograph structures or marine life, collect various forms of aquatic life for commercial or research purposes, and find and recover missing items and persons.
Tasks
- (a) taking safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths, and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin;
- (b) checking and maintaining diving equipment such as helmets, masks, air tanks, diving suits, harnesses and gauges;
- (c) descending into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits;
- (d) working under water to lay and repair bridges, piers and harbour-wall foundations;
- (e) inspecting for suspected damage and making minor repairs to ships' hulls and underwater installations;
- (f) reporting on condition of wrecked ships;
- (g) removing underwater obstructions;
- (h) drilling holes for underwater blasting;
- (i) performing various underwater tasks connected with salvage work or recovering dead bodies;
- (j) gathering shellfish, sponges and other aquatic life forms
- (j) communicating with workers on the surface while under water, using signal lines or telephones;
- (k) obtaining information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
Example occupations
Oyster diver · Salvage frogman · Sponge diver · Underwater worker
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- construction commercial diverESCO 7541.1This occupation is broader
Commercial divers work below the surface of the water to install equipment, such as hydraulic structures, waterways and marine facilities. They also inspect, remove and repair the structures.
- harvest diverESCO 7541.2This occupation is broader
Harvest divers perform extraction and collection of marine resources, such as algae, coral, razor shells, sea urchins and sponges, in a safe, competent and responsible manner to a depth of 12 metres, using apnoea diving techniques as well as air supply equipment from the surface, open-circuit.
- rescue diverESCO 7541.3This occupation is broader
Rescue divers are divers that manage underwater emergencies. They prevent and manage problems underwater, handle dive emergencies and operate rescue equipment. Rescue divers manage diving operations in seas or waterways. They work under demanding physical conditions to rescue and retrieve people or objects.
- underwater construction supervisorESCO 3123.2Overlapping, not the same
Underwater construction supervisors monitor underwater construction projects such as tunnels, canal locks and bridge pillars. They guide and instruct construction commercial divers and make sure they adhere to safety regulations.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| I1502 | Plongeur scaphandrier / Plongeuse scaphandrière | Same scopeprovisional |
| I1509 | Scaphandrier inspecteur / Scaphandrière inspectrice | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| I1513 | Chef d'équipe scaphandrier / Cheffe d'équipe scaphandrière | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| I1510 | Plongeur / Plongeuse scientifique et technique | Related, not a match |
| K1722 | Plongeur démineur / Plongeuse démineuse militaire dans les fonds marins | Related, not a match |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 7891 | Buceadores | Same scopeprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 24432 | Industrietaucher/innen und andere Taucherberufe - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Same scopeprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 669 | その他の建設従事者 | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources