by our College Data Analytics TeamA 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. Read on to learn the essential details every diver, professional & instructor student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering diver, professional & instructor programs.
Across the country, diver, professional & instructor draws strong interest, with 539 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Diver, Professional & Instructor Schools ranking analyzes these 6 schools to determine the best overall colleges for diver, professional & instructor students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of diver, professional & instructor programs later in this article.
Coursework for Diver, Professional & Instructor develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations diver, professional & instructor graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a diver, professional & instructor program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a diver, professional & instructor major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several diver, professional & instructor degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 298 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 4 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 237 |
People currently working in careers related to diver, professional & instructor tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in diver, professional & instructor careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in diver, professional & instructor prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to diver, professional & instructor.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to diver, professional & instructor.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Divers | 402,389 | 13.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of diver, professional & instructor graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,096 |
| 4 years | $58,110 |
| 5 years | $66,829 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for diver, professional & instructor graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers diver, professional & instructor grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Commercial Divers | $52,232 |
With 6 different diver, professional & instructor programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased diver, professional & instructor school rankings to help you.
Those considering diver, professional & instructor, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer | 561 |
| Marine Transportation, Other | 58 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
