Commercial Divers Salary
Commercial Divers in Florida make a median of $49,640 a year, or about $23.86 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $50,355 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 46.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $50K get you in Florida?
About commercial divers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Florida
Pay for commercial divers in Florida runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $73K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,658/month, which is 47.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for commercial diverss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level commercial divers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $31K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Divers salary by metro in Florida
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $55K | +12% | 90 |
| Jacksonville | $50K | +0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial divers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial diver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 47.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial divers in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial divers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,352/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 70% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is commercial diver a high-paying job in Florida?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $50K here vs. $73K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for commercial divers?
Florida pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $50K — below the national median.
How much do commercial divers make in Florida?
The median is $49,640 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $39,200, and experienced commercial divers can clear $70,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,494/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 47.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a commercial divers salary go in Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median commercial divers salary is worth about $50,355 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do commercial divers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.