CAREERS & PAY GUIDE • Published: October 2, 2026 • Last updated: October 22, 2026

Commercial Diver Salary in Louisiana and Texas (2026)

Louisiana employs more commercial divers than any other state, yet its average diver wage sits below the national figure. This page sets the official numbers next to salary-site estimates and explains the gap.

Louisiana mean (BLS) $54,840 (May 2023)

Texas mean (BLS) $56,730 (May 2023)

U.S. median (2025) $72,990

Most divers employed Louisiana (560)

Short answer

The latest official state figures we could retrieve (BLS, May 2023) put the mean commercial diver wage at $54,840 a year in Louisiana and $56,730 in Texas[1]. The Houma–Thibodaux metro, the densest diving hub in the U.S., averaged $64,540[1]. The 2025 national median is $72,990[2]. Offshore and saturation divers can earn far more; inland divers usually earn less[10].

On this page

• 1. Official wage data (BLS) • 2. Why Gulf averages sit below the national figure • 3. What salary websites report • 4. Where the jobs are • 5. What moves a diver up the pay scale • 6. FAQ

01. Official wage data (BLS)

The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes state wages for commercial divers (SOC 49-9092) in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The most recent state-level release we could access is May 2023[1]; national figures are available for 2025 through O*NET[2].

Area	Employment	Mean hourly	Mean annual	Data
Louisiana	560	$26.37	$54,840	BLS May 2023
Texas	150	$27.27	$56,730	BLS May 2023
Houma–Thibodaux, LA metro	130	$31.03	$64,540	BLS May 2023
United States	2,790	$36.33	$75,570	BLS May 2023

Source: BLS OEWS May 2023[1]. “Mean” is the average; it is not the same as the median.

United States, 2025	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$20.83	$43,330
Median	$35.09	$72,990
90th percentile	$75.86	$157,790

Source: O*NET OnLine, BLS 2025 wage data[2][3]. 2025 state figures for Louisiana and Texas were not retrievable at the time of writing.

Louisiana is the center of U.S. commercial diving

Louisiana had the most commercial diver jobs of any state (560) and a location quotient of 16.47 – diving jobs are about 16 times more concentrated there than in the U.S. economy overall. The Houma–Thibodaux metro’s location quotient was 90.88, the highest in the country[1].

02. Why Gulf averages sit below the national figure

Three things pull the Louisiana and Texas averages down, even though the Gulf is where most U.S. offshore diving happens:

•A few states pay far more. In May 2023 the highest-paying states were New York ($155,630), Washington ($154,630) and California ($134,310)[1], which lifts the national average.
•Many Gulf jobs are inland or inshore. Ocean Corp puts inland divers at about $49,500 on average, while “offshore divers regularly earn well above $80,000 annually”[10].
•Official data may miss part of offshore pay. Total pay often includes overtime, per diem, day rates and rotation bonuses[10], which vary from job to job.

03. What salary websites report

Salary websites estimate pay from job ads and user reports. Their numbers are newer than the official data but far less consistent:

Source	Area	Figure	Date / basis
ZipRecruiter[4]	Louisiana	Avg. $42,395/yr ($20.38/hr)	Oct 2026
ZipRecruiter[5]	Texas	Avg. $46,189/yr ($22.21/hr)	Aug 2026
Indeed[6]	Texas (“Diver”)	Avg. $83,279/yr	Sep 2026; 43 job-ad salaries
Glassdoor[7]	Houston, TX	Avg. total pay $70,174	User reports; date not shown
CareerExplorer[8]	Louisiana	Median $62,230	2025 update
CareerExplorer[9]	Texas	Median $46,490	2025 update

Figures as published. Sites define “commercial diver” differently, so compare with care.

For the offshore end of the scale, see Saturation Diver Day Rate in the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico).

04. Where the jobs are

•Houma, LA – the densest diving labor market in the U.S.[1]; home to private offshore diving contractors including CEES, Leviathan Offshore and Chet Morrison Contractors[11].
•Morgan City, LA – home of South Louisiana Community College’s commercial diving program at the Young Memorial campus[12].
•Houston, TX – a major subsea employment center; Glassdoor lists diver pay reports from employers including Oceaneering International and Subsea Global Solutions[7].

See the Gulf Coast Subsea contractor directory for a list of Texas and Louisiana firms, compiled from public sources.

05. What moves a diver up the pay scale

•Moving offshore – the biggest single step up[10].
•Mixed-gas and saturation qualifications – Ocean Corp puts the saturation diver average at about $117,000[10].
•Extra trade skills such as NDT inspection and underwater welding, which Gulf training programs teach alongside diving (see How to Become a Commercial Diver).

06. Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a commercial diver make in Louisiana? ↓

The latest official figure we could retrieve is a mean of $54,840 a year ($26.37 an hour) from BLS May 2023 data. In the Houma–Thibodaux metro the mean was $64,540. Salary websites report between about $42,000 and $62,000.

How much does a commercial diver make in Texas? ↓

BLS May 2023 data put the Texas mean at $56,730 a year ($27.27 an hour). Salary websites vary widely, from about $46,000 (ZipRecruiter) to $83,000 (Indeed, based on 43 job-ad salaries).

Why is diver pay in Louisiana lower than the national average? ↓

A few states such as New York, Washington and California pay far more and raise the national figure, and many Gulf jobs are inland or inshore, which pay less than offshore work. Offshore and saturation divers in the Gulf can earn well above the state averages.

Which state employs the most commercial divers? ↓

Louisiana, with 560 commercial divers in BLS May 2023 data. The Houma–Thibodaux metro had the highest concentration of diving jobs in the United States.

What is the national median salary for commercial divers? ↓

The 2025 U.S. median is $72,990 a year ($35.09 an hour), according to BLS data published on O*NET. The 10th percentile is $43,330 and the 90th percentile is $157,790.

Sources

All sources accessed October 2, 2026. Figures from salary aggregators and training schools are not official statistics and can change without notice.

Careers & Pay Saturation Diver Day Rate in the Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico) Careers & Pay How to Become a Commercial Diver on the Gulf Coast Directory Gulf Coast Subsea Contractors (Texas & Louisiana)

Independent information, not career or financial advice. Gulf Coast Subsea is an independent directory. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any employer, school, union or agency mentioned on this page. Pay figures are compiled from public sources, labeled by source and date, and may not reflect current offers. Confirm pay, training costs and certification requirements directly with employers, schools, ADCI, OSHA and the U.S. Coast Guard.