Commercial Divers Salary
Commercial Divers in Michigan make a median of $54,620 a year, or about $26.26 an hour. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $58,174 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,272/month, about 35.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Michigan. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $55K get you in Michigan?
About commercial divers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Michigan
Pay for commercial divers in Michigan runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $73K. Rent runs $1,272/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 35% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level commercial divers (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track commercial divers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial diver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 35% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial divers in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial divers typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,965/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Michigan?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $55K here vs. $73K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for commercial divers?
Michigan pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do commercial divers make in Michigan?
The median is $54,620 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,420, and experienced commercial divers can clear $76,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,634/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 35% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $58,174 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.