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Recovery Diver Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Super Company

Golf Ball Diver

Mountain View, CA

Super Company is seeking a Golf Ball Diver to support on-site operations at our Mountain View ... You will help maintain day-to-day operational readiness by performing ball recovery tasks and ...

STYL Residential

Service Technician II

Laguna Beach, CA · On-site

$27 - $28/hr

... recovery units, landscaping equipment and required safety equipment; all equipment must be used ... Valid Diver's license and reliable transportation Physical Requirements * Hands-on repair and ...

New

AccorHotel

Food & Beverage Supervisor

San Diego, CA

$30/hr

Exceptional guest recovery skills. * Strong Micros knowledge and experience * Ability to write reports and business correspondence. * Ability to effectively present information and respond to ...

New

Orangetheory Fitness

Sales Associate

San Diego, CA · On-site

$17.75/hr

After twelve minutes of hard work in the Orange Zone, your body burns additional calories as you recover over the next 24 hours. Our Philosophy For us, physical fitness transcends weight loss and ...

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All JobsRecovery Diver JobsRecovery Diver Jobs in California

Recovery Diver information

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$11

$23

$43

How much do recovery diver jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for recovery diver in California is $23.52, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.99 and $25.14 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a recovery diver?

Recovery divers are specialized professionals trained to locate and retrieve objects, vehicles, or bodies from underwater environments. They often work with law enforcement, rescue teams, or salvage companies to assist in accident investigations, evidence recovery, and environmental cleanups. Their work requires advanced diving skills, knowledge of underwater search techniques, and the ability to operate in challenging and sometimes hazardous conditions. Recovery divers play a crucial role in supporting public safety and maritime operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a recovery diver, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Recovery Diver, you need advanced scuba diving skills, dive certifications (such as PADI Rescue or commercial diving credentials), and knowledge of underwater search and recovery techniques. Familiarity with specialized recovery equipment, sonar systems, and underwater communication tools is typically required. Strong problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and composure under pressure are essential soft skills in this role. These capabilities are crucial for ensuring safe, efficient, and effective underwater recovery operations in challenging and potentially hazardous environments.

What are the typical challenges faced by recovery divers during underwater search and retrieval operations?

Recovery divers often face challenging conditions such as low visibility, cold water temperatures, strong currents, and the presence of debris underwater. These factors can make locating and safely retrieving objects or remains particularly demanding. Divers must also work efficiently as part of a coordinated team, often in high-pressure situations where time is critical. Adhering to strict safety protocols and maintaining clear communication with surface support teams are essential for ensuring both the success of the mission and diver safety.

What is the difference between Recovery Diver vs Commercial Diver?

AspectRecovery DiverCommercial Diver
CertificationsOpen water, advanced, rescue, specialty certificationsCommercial diving certifications, such as ADC or IMCA
Work EnvironmentUnderwater recovery, salvage, search operationsUnderwater construction, welding, inspection, and repair
Industry UsageSalvage, rescue, environmental cleanupOil & gas, infrastructure, ship repair

Recovery Divers focus on underwater salvage and rescue operations, requiring certifications in open water and rescue diving. Commercial Divers perform underwater construction, inspection, and repair, often holding specialized commercial diving certifications. While both work underwater, Recovery Divers typically operate in salvage and recovery scenarios, whereas Commercial Divers are involved in industrial projects. The roles differ in scope, certifications, and work environments, but both are vital in underwater operations.

How much do recovery divers get paid?

Recovery divers typically earn between $25,000 and $50,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the employer. Pay can increase with certifications, specialized skills, and working in high-demand environments such as shipwrecks or underwater salvage projects.

What are popular job titles related to Recovery Diver jobs in California?

For Recovery Diver jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Recovery Diver jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Recovery Diver jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Recovery Diver jobs?

Cities in California with the most Recovery Diver job openings:

Recovery Diver jobs near you
Infographic showing various Recovery Diver job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $48,928 per year, or $23.5 per hour.

Diver - West Coast

Winters, CA • On-site

J.F. Brennan Company, Inc.
Environmental Consulting Services • 201 - 500 employees

9.0

Company rating: 9.0 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Great coworkers

People enjoy working here

Good employer

Learn more about J.F. Brennan Company, Inc.external

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

We are hiring Divers for our West coast operations! Our Divers will work below the surface of water to inspect, repair, move, and install equipment and structures.
If you have proven experience in commercial diving for construction or related industry this is an ideal position for you.
Diver Responsibilities:
  • Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths before diving expeditions begin
  • Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, and gauges
  • Perform activities related to underwater search, salvage, recovery, and cleanup operations
  • Inspect and or repair dock walls, plant intakes and outflows, underwater pipelines, cables, vessels, bridge foundations, or other structures below the water line, using underwater video system, acoustic imagining equipment, small hydraulic or pneumatic hand tools
  • Cut and weld steel, using underwater welding equipment and burning equipment.
  • Recover objects by placing rigging around sunken objects, hooking rigging to crane lines, and operating winches, derricks, or cranes to raise objects
  • Take test samples or photographs to assess the condition of vessels or structures
  • Remove obstructions from screens or marine railway or launching ways, using pneumatic or hydraulic power hand tools
  • Set or guide placement of pilings to provide support for structures such as docks, bridges, cofferdams, or platforms
  • Ability to travel 100% of the time

Diver Qualifications:
  • 1+ years of previous commercial diving experience
  • Dive school diploma required
  • ADCI compliant physical (requires MD or DO signature)
  • First Aid/CPR/AED (meets requirements of Red Cross)
  • Emergency O2 provider (meets requirements DAN)
  • Current ADCI certification card, HAZWOPER and rigging preferred
  • The ability to verbally and draw/sketch images to accurately describe your underwater findings to topside personnel while underwater
  • Strong interpersonal skills; must be a self-starter, highly organized, and creative
  • Superior time management and organizational capabilities, including the ability to accurately benchmark project length, deliver on deadlines

Who is Brennan?
J.F. Brennan Company, Inc. (Brennan) is a 100-year-old, family-owned company that specializes in water-based environmental remediation and marine construction headquartered in La Crosse, WI that offers our employees growth, challenging work, empowerment, and meaningful work. Brennan is known for tackling complex maritime projects, providing unique solutions through teamwork and collaboration, and maintaining a family-orientated culture.
Why choose us?
  • We are a company voted by our employees as a certified Great Place to Work®, and recognized by Fortune magazine as a Best Workplace in Construction.
  • Our culture sets us apart. We strive to make our company the best possible place to work. We work hard to continue to build a culture in which every individual is important and the key to our success.
  • Our focus on safety and quality is unmatched in the industry, and our ability to innovate has enabled us to succeed.
  • We are a family-focused company and are determined to provide a rewarding career that offers above-average compensation.
  • We offer an industry-leading benefits package. We are proud to offer our employees and their families group health, dental and vision insurance plans, 401(K) program with generous matching, annual bonus eligibility and profit-sharing program.

Compensation:
  • Pay is IAW Union CBA for each region. Non-billable shop rate (dive gear maintenance) is 60% of Journeyman pile buck scale with full fringe package, billable rate (loading/unloading diving equipment for billable projects) is full journeyman pile buck scale with fringes.

J.F. Brennan Company, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Notice to Staffing Agencies
J.F. Brennan Company Inc. ("Brennan") and its subsidiaries will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Brennan, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Brennan mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Brennan employees, or to Brennan's resume database will be considered Brennan property. Brennan will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Brennan will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. Agencies must obtain advance written approval from Brennan's recruiting function to submit resumes, and then only in conjunction with a valid fully executed contract for service and in response to a specific job opening. Brennan will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have such an agreement in place. Agency agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by Brennan's Chief Human Resources Officer or his/her designee. No other Brennan employee is authorized to bind Brennan to any agreement regarding the placement of candidate by Agencies.
Accessibility: If you need an accommodation as part of the employment process please contact Human Capital at:
Phone: 608-784-7173
Email: jobs@jfbrennan.com
Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.
If you want to view the Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal poster and/or view the Pay Transparency Policy State please click here.
For more information on federal labor laws please click here.

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