潜水士 潜水士
What 潜水士 do
An English description is being prepared. Japanese description:
建設関係では、港湾や漁港の防波堤や岸壁、物揚場などの構造物の基礎を築造するため海底に石を投入して均す（ならす）作業、鋼構造物の水中溶接作業、コンクリートブロックの据付け作業等がある。
船舶関係ではサルベージ、船底の清掃、点検補修作業。漁業関係では魚貝類の採取、魚礁の設置などがある。その他にも、災害、事故などの際のレスキュー隊活動やマスコミ関係の水中撮影、各方面が行う調査・観察、水族館での魚の餌付け作業、レジャーダイビングのインストラクターなど活動は多岐にわたる。
潜水方式にはヘルメット式、スクーバ式、フーカー式の3方式がある。ヘルメット式とフーカー式はエアホースを介して潜水士に圧縮空気を送るが、スクーバ式は潜水士が背負う高圧のエアボンベから圧縮空気が供給される。どの潜水方式を選ぶかは、作業目的や作業時間、水温、潜水深度、海流といった作業条件の総合判断による。どの潜水方式であっても、潜っている人間同士だけでなく、船上や陸上の潜水支援員や監視員との密接なチームワークが不可欠である。
◇ よく使う道具、機材、情報技術等
エアホース、エアボンベ、作業中の保護具（ヘルメット、ゴーグル、グローブ、安全靴等）
潜水士 salary
The average annual pay for 潜水士 in Japan is ¥4.67M (≈ $29,690; Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), national). The estimated median is ¥4.34M, the typical range is ¥3.28M–¥7.79M and the top 10% earn about ¥6.75M.
How does your pay compare with people your age?
Your numbers are not sent or stored. The distribution is estimated from Japan's national wage statistics, including pay differences by age.
Pay by ageest.
Estimated from the average pay and average age (41.6) using the age-wage curve of the Basic Survey on Wage Structure.
Pay by experienceest.
Pay by employment typeest.
The average hourly wage of ¥2,161 is 1.8× Japan's national average minimum wage of ¥1,177 (fiscal 2026). Minimum wage by prefecture →
Japanese pay is shown in yen (¥5.57M = 5.57 million yen ≈ 557万円). Dollar figures use the current rate of 157.25 yen per dollar and are for reference only; purchasing power differs.
Pay over time
| Year | Average pay | Employment | Openings ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ¥4.32M | — | — |
| 2022 | ¥4.61M | — | — |
| 2023 | ¥4.53M | — | 4.82x |
| 2024 | ¥4.53M | — | 4.59x |
| 2025 | ¥4.67M | — | 4.37x |
Projected pay for 潜水士 (3, 5 and 10 years)est.
Today ¥4.67M → in 3 years ¥5.16M → in 5 years ¥5.51M → in 10 years ¥6.51M (10-year range ¥5.60M–¥7.56M). The model assumes pay growth of +3.4% per year.
What drives the annual growth rate
Projected pay = current pay × (1 + annual growth)^years. The annual growth rate starts from a base wage-growth rate and adds or subtracts labor demand (the job-openings-to-applicants ratio), wage momentum and AI replacement risk for each occupation. Projections are not guarantees. How it is calculated →
Outlook score for 潜水士
Each component is a percentile rank among all occupations in the same country (0–100). Weights: labor demand 25, wage momentum / openings 15, pay level 15, AI resistance 25, aging workforce 10 (Japan only), entry barrier 10.
Will AI replace 潜水士? AI replacement risk
How AI is changing this job
A written analysis for this occupation is being prepared.
AI replacement risk compares the parts of a job that are easy to hand to AI or software (processing information, documentation, repetitive computer work) with the parts that are hard to automate (physical work, working closely with people, judgment in unpredictable settings), using the MHLW job tag survey on work activities, work context, skills and knowledge. The result is a relative position among all occupations in the country, scaled to 0–100%. Methodology →
Labor demand for 潜水士
A ratio above 1.0 means there are more job openings than applicants (a labor shortage). The 5- and 10-year figures are estimates from the openings ratio, wage momentum and AI replacement risk.
The same job in the United States
| 潜水士 Japan | Commercial Divers United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median / average pay | ¥4.67M ≈ $29,690 | $72,990 |
| Pay in 10 years (est.) | ¥6.51M | $100,600 |
| Outlook score | 64 | 70 |
| AI replacement risk | 21% Low | 21% Low |
| Workers | — | 3,450 |
Matched by occupation (SOC code). Yen converted at 157.25 JPY/USD for reference; Japanese figures are averages, U.S. figures are medians, and the surveys define occupations differently.
Skills, education and requirements for 潜水士
Key skills
Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.
Key knowledge areas
Licenses and certifications (Japan)
- 潜水士
Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.
Education of workers
Training before entry
Related work experience
Difficulty of entry: ★★★☆☆ Moderate (from education, training, experience, licenses)
How to become 潜水士
The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.
Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
スクーバ式潜水については民間のダイビングスクールなどで指導を受けるのも一つの方法である。その他各潜水方式とも、所属する会社で先輩から指導を受け、潜水技術を習得することが一般的である。水産・海洋系の大学・高校などで潜水に関する講義や実習を行っているところもある。
潜水士の業務は陸上で行う作業をそのまま、潜水具を身に付けて水中で行うことが多く、潜水して行う作業についての資格や技能（溶接・溶断、発破、写真等）の習得も必要である。
なお、潜水士の資格取得者のうち職業潜水士は約4,400人となっている（2024年時点*）。
*一般社団法人日本潜水協会、会報「潜水」第89号
Career path and how to earn more as 潜水士
Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.