Commercial Divers Salary
Commercial Divers in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD make a median of $84,200 a year, or about $40.48 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.55), that's roughly $82,106 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,810/month, about 33.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $84K get you in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington’s Regional Price Parity (102.55). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About commercial divers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington sits well above the national pay line for commercial divers, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $73K. Rent runs $1,810/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.55) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for commercial divers in metros near Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $89K | $79K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD
Entry-level commercial divers (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $84K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Divers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Commercial Divers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $162K | +122% | N/A |
| New York | $158K | +116% | 170 |
| Rhode Island | $126K | +73% | N/A |
| California | $102K | +39% | 310 |
| Hawaii | $96K | +31% | 70 |
| New Jersey | $87K | +19% | N/A |
| Arizona | $86K | +18% | N/A |
| Vermont | $86K | +18% | 80 |
| Indiana | $84K | +14% | N/A |
| Maine | $75K | +2% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $64K | -13% | N/A |
| Missouri | $63K | -14% | N/A |
| Virginia | $62K | -15% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $62K | -15% | 230 |
| Connecticut | $60K | -18% | 120 |
| Michigan | $55K | -25% | 80 |
| Florida | $50K | -32% | 370 |
| South Carolina | $49K | -33% | 30 |
| Texas | $46K | -36% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 19 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track commercial divers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial diver afford a 2BR apartment alone in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $84K, rent takes 33.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,810/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,600/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial divers in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial divers typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,484/month. At HUD’s $1,810/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $84K here vs. $73K nationally.
How does Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington compare to the national average for commercial divers?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington pays $84K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $82K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial divers make in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD?
The median is $84,200 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,060, and experienced commercial divers can clear $132,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $84K enough to live in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,420/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,810/month, which eats 33.4% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington?
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.55 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median commercial divers salary is worth about $82,106 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.